Chapter 18 The Reconstruction Era (1865-1896)

Lesson1 Reconstruction Plans

Reconstruction Debate

• The Union was saved
• Challenge was reuniting and rebuilding
• The Southern states needed to be readmitted and rebuilt
• The period of rebuilding is called Reconstruction

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Lincoln’s Plan

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• Ten Percent Plan
• When 10% of voters in a state swore loyalty to Union, that state could form government
• New constitution that banned slavery
• Lincoln believed that punishing the South would serve no purpose

Lincoln’s Plan Continued

• Lincoln offered amnesty (a pardon)
• To all loyal white Southerners
• Except Confederate leaders

Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee set up governments under the plan

• Congress refused to seat the states’ reps

The Radicals’ Plan

• Some Republicans saw Lincoln’s plan too forgiving
• They favored a more radical approach and were called the Radical Republicans
• Congress was controlled by the Radical Republicans and voted to deny seats to reps

Wade-Davis Bill

• Congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill
• Requirements to rejoin
• 1. Majority of the state’s white males had to swear loyalty to Union
• 2. Only white males who swore they had not fought against the Union could vote
• 3. New state constitutions had to ban slavery
• Confederate can’t hold office

Lincoln’s Response

• Lincoln refused to sign the Wade-Davis Bill
• Lincoln wanted order restored in the South as soon as possible
• Lincoln would have to compromise with the Radical Republicans

The Freedmen’s Bureau

• Lincoln and Congress set up the Freedmen’s Bureau
• Helped African Americans adjust to freedom
• Provided food, clothing, and medical services
• helped freed people acquire land or find work
• Also set up schools/universities

April 14^th, 1865

• President Lincoln attended a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
• John Wilkes Booth entered the private box and shot Lincoln in the head
• Lincoln died hours later
• Vice President Andrew Johnson became president

Restoration

• Johnson’s plan would grant amnesty to most Southerners once they swore loyalty
• High-ranking Confederates could be pardoned only by appeal
• Johnson wanted to humiliate South leaders
• Johnson said only loyal, pardoned whites could vote for delegates
• Johnson opposed equal rights for African Americans

Restoration Continued

• States had to denounce secession and ban slavery before reentering the Union
• States also had to ratify the 13^th amendment (Abolished slavery in the US)
• By the end of 1865 all former confederate states had new governments and were ready to rejoin the Union
• Except Texas!!