-
Abraham Lincoln Assassinated
On the night of April 14th, 1865, at the Ford's Theater in Washington D.C., John Wilkes Booth killed president Abraham Lincoln with a single bullet while he was watching a play. This took place only five days after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee to U.S. Grant and the northern army. This effectively brought to a close the ideals of Lincoln's "Ten Percent Plan" for reconstruction, which called for any southern state to be re-admitted to the Union once 10 percent of voters swore allegiance. -
Conspirators of John Wilkes Booth Executed
After a trial lasting around seven weeks, the Lewis Powell, Mary Surratt, David Herold, and George Atzerodt were hung in Washington, D.C. for their connection to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. -
Joint Reconstruction Committee is Formed
In opposition to the apparent lack of effort for reconstruction and the rights of freedmen by Johnson, Radical republicans called their moderate counterparts to form a coalition to fight back. The Committee planned out a whole new plan for southern reconstruction- one that involved muchs tricter requirements for re-joining the union, and in their eyes, would promote a fair chance for the new class of freedmen. -
Andrew Johnson Vetoes the Freedmen's Bureau Bill
Fearing that supporting the Freedmen's Bureau would display unattractive federal power that belonged to the states, Andrew Johnson Vetoed the Freedmen's Bureau Bill of 1866. Stripping the Bureau of its power would become detrimental for the white southerners to again take hold of the southern economy for themselves. -
First Reconstruction Act - South Under Military Rule
When the Radical Republicans took control of the government in 1867, the first Reconstruction Act was passed, splitting the south into five military districts. 20,000 U.S. troops were sent to regulate the districts. This was in order to control the actions of the southern states, and to demote the idea of another rebellion agaisnt the Union. This move was also used to help promote the welfare of the freemen in the south. -
Second Reconstruction Act is Passed
The Second Reconstruction Act provided two new objectives for the union: first, that when a civilian was to go vote, they were to pledge their alligence to the constitution and their obidience to judicial law. Second, that instead of a majority of all registered voters to ratify a constitution, only a majority of all votes cast was needed. This made it easier for the ratification process to happen, and thus gave more power to the North. -
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
After several vetoes and blocking of bills pushed by radical republicans in the senate and house, Andrew Johnson was impeached in the U.S. House of Representatives. Presented with his accused charges in court, he was only aquitted by one vote. But after the impeachment trial, no one would would take Andrew Johnson for face value ever again, for he continued to dodge reconstruction bills and any radical action. -
The Fourteenth Amendment
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States..."
It was the 14th amendment that allowed freedmen to become U.S. citizens, and start to gain the rights that white citizens had had all along. This is often looked at as a precursor to the 15th amendment, which allows voting age male citizens to vote, and therefore, freedmen under this category to as well. -
Ulysses S. Grant becomes President
Much more radical than the former president, the inauguration of U.S. Grant would prove to be much more fufilling for the reconstruction movement. He met with both white and black leaders during his term and hired his closest generals to prosecute the Klansmen in the south. During his term he allowed for passage of the 15th amend, which gave freedmen voting rights. -
Fifteenth Amendment
"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
For the first time in American history, African Americans were allowed to vote.
