01:512:104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: John Wilkes Booth, Thaddeus Stevens, Reconstruction Era
13 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Chapter 15 - Reconstruction and the New South
1)The Problems of Peacemaking
a)The Aftermath of the War and Emancipation
i)Southern towns and fields ruined, many whites stripped of slaves and
capital, currency worthless, little property. Thousands of soldiers (>20% of
adult white male pop) had died, ppl wanted to preserve what was left
ii)Many emancipated slaves wandered looking for family, work. Almost none
owned land or possessions
b)Competing Notions of Freedom
i)Freedom to blacks meant end to slavery, injustice, humiliation. Rights and
protections of free men also desired
ii)AAs differed over how to achieve freedom: some wanted economic
redistribution including land, others wanted legal equality and opportunity. All
wanted independence from white control
iii)Whites wanted life w/o interference of North or federal govt. Thirteenth
Amendment (Dec 1865) had abolished slavery, but many planters wanted
blacks to be tied to plantations
iv)March 1865 Congress created Freedmen’s Bureau to distribute food, create
schools, & help poor whites. Only a temporary solution, only operated for 1 yr
c)Issues of Reconstruction
i)Political issue when S states rejoined Union b/c Democrats would be
reunited, threatened Repub nationalistic legislation for railroads, tariffs, bank
and currency. Many in N wished to see S punished for suffering rebellion
caused
ii)Repubs split btwn Conservatives and Radicals- Con wanted abolition but
few other conditions for readmission, Radicals (led by Rep Thaddeus Stevens
of PA + Sen Charles Sumner of MA) wanted Confed leaders punished, black
legal rights protected, property confiscation. Moderates in between
d)Plans for Reconstruction
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
i)Lincoln proposed 1863 lenient Reconstruction plan- favored recruiting former
Whigs to Repubs, amnesty to white Southerners other than high Confed
officials. When 10% of ppl took loyalty oath state govt could be established.
Questions of future of freedmen deferred for sake of rapid reunification
ii)The occupied Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee rejoined under plan in
1864
iii)Radicals unhappy with mild plan. Wade-Davis Bill 1864 proposed governor
for each state, when majority of ppl took allegiance oath constitutional
convention could be held w/ slavery abolished, former Confed leaders couldn’t
vote. After Congress would readmit to Union. Lincoln pocket vetoed
e)The Death of Lincoln
i)April 14, 1865 Lincoln assassinated by John Wilkes Booth
ii)Hysteria in N w/ accusations of conspiracy. Militant republicans exploited
suspicions for months, ensured a mild plan would not come soon
f)Johnson and “Restoration”
i)Johnson became leader of Moderate and Conservative factions, enacted his
“Restoration” plan while Congress in recess during summer 1865
ii)Plan offered amnesty to southerners taking allegiance oath, Confed officials
+ wealthy planters needed special presidential pardon. Like Wade-Davis Bill
had provisional governors, constitutional convention had to revoke ordinance
of secession, abolish slavery, ratify 13th Amdt. State govts, then readmission
iii)By end of 1865 all seceded states has new govts, waiting for Congress to
recognize. Radicals refused to recognize Johnson govts b/c public sentiment
more hostile- (e.g. Georgia’s choice of Confed Alexander Stephens as Sen)
2)Radical Reconstruction
a)The Black Codes
i)1865 + 1866 S state legislatures passed laws known as Black Codes- gave
whites power over former slaves, prevent farm ownership or certain jobs
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
ii)Congress reacted by widening powers of Freemen’s Bureau to nullify
agreements forced on blacks. 1866 passed first Civil Rights Act- made blacks
US citizens, gave fed govt power to intervene to protect rights of citizens
iii)Johnson vetoed both bills, but both were overridden
b)The Fourteenth Amendment
i)14th Amendment defined citizenship- anybody born in US or naturalized
automatically a citizen + guaranteed all rights of Const. No other citizenship
requirements allowed, penalties for restricting male suffrage. Former Confed
members couldn’t hold state or fed office unless pardoned by Congress
ii)Radicals offered to readmit those who ratified amendment, only TN did so
iii)S race riots helped lead to overwhelming Repub majority (mostly Radicals)
in 1866 Congressional elections, could now act over President’s objections
c)The Congressional Plan
i)Radicals passed 3 Reconstruction plans in 1867, established coherent plan
ii)TN readmitted, but other state govts rejected. Cong formed five military
districts w/ commanders who registered voters (blacks + white males
uninvolved in rebellion) for const convention that must include black suffrage
iii)After const ratified needed Congressional approval, state legislature had to
ratify 14thAmdt. By 1868 10 former Confed states fulfilled these conditions
(14th Amdt now part of Const) and readmitted to Union
iv)Congress also passed 1867 the Tenure of Office Act (forbade pres to
remove civil officials w/o Senate consent) and the Command of the Army Act
(no military orders except thru commanding general of army or w/ Sen
approval)
v)Supreme Court case Ex parte Milligan had declared military tribunals where
civil courts existed unconst, Radicals feared same ruling would apply to
military districts so proposed bills threatening court—court didn’t hear
Reconstruction cases for 2 years
d)The Impeachment of President Johnson
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 15 - reconstruction and the new south. 1)the problems of peacemaking a)the aftermath of the war and emancipation i)southern towns and fields ruined, many whites stripped of slaves and capital, currency worthless, little property. Thousands of soldiers (>20% of adult white male pop) had died, ppl wanted to preserve what was left ii)many emancipated slaves wandered looking for family, work. Almost none owned land or possessions b)competing notions of freedom i)freedom to blacks meant end to slavery, injustice, humiliation. Rights and protections of free men also desired ii)aas differed over how to achieve freedom: some wanted economic redistribution including land, others wanted legal equality and opportunity. All wanted independence from white control iii)whites wanted life w/o interference of north or federal govt. Amendment (dec 1865) had abolished slavery, but many planters wanted blacks to be tied to plantations iv)march 1865 congress created freedmen"s bureau to distribute food, create schools, & help poor whites.
