Reconstruction

Reconstruction

Presidential ReconstructionEven while Abraham Lincoln was President, the Republicans in Congress did not like his plan for ReconstructionIn 1864 Congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill (a.k.a. the Radical Republican plan).Required a majority of a states white male citizens to pledge loyalty to the Union before being readmitted to the Union.Lincoln pocket-vetoed the billWhy do you think the Wade-Davis Bill caused division among the Republican Party?

Presidential ReconstructionAfter Lincolns assassination Andrew Johnson wanted to control ReconstructionNortherners were upset that Johnsons plan was allowing former Confederates to take back power and the mistreatment of the freedmenRepublicans in Congress decided to take control of ReconstructionHow can Congress go against the President when making decisions?

Congressional ReconstructionIn 1866 Congress passed a bill to support the Freedmens BureauThey also passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 gave African Americans citizenship and guaranteed them the same legal rights as white AmericansHowever, President Johnson vetoed both bills, which greatly angered Republicans in CongressDo you think Presidents should be allowed to veto laws? Why or why not?

Congressional ReconstructionCongress went even further by passing the 14th Amendment required states to grant citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. Why would Congress pass an amendment to the Constitution when Johnson had already vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866?

Republicans Take OverFrom 1867-1868 Congress passed four reconstruction bills against Johnsons vetoDivided the south into 5 military controlled districtsStates had to ratify (pass) the 14th amendment before being readmitted to the UnionStates had to write new constitutions guaranteeing freedmen the right to voteCongress also passed the Tenure of Office Act required the Senates permission for the removal of any appointed government official.

Johnson ImpeachedThe Republicans knew that Johnson would violate the Tenure of Office Act. When he did they impeached JohnsonWhat does it mean to be impeached?When the Senate voted Johnson escaped removal from office by 1 vote.

Republicans in ChargeIn 1868 Republican and Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant is elected PresidentIt was a close election and Grant owed his victory to over 500,000 votes from African-AmericansIn 1869 the 15th Amendment was passed protected the voting rights of African-Americans.Why would Republicans want to protect the voting rights of African-Americans?

Republicans in ChargeDuring this time Republicans controlled the governments in the SouthScalawags- a derogatory term for white Southerners who supported the Republican governmentsCarpetbaggers- Northerners who came to the South to educate, make money, or work in governmentShould we use negative terms to describe these types of people?

Describe these 3 pictures and how they relate to scalawags and carpetbaggers

Republicans in ChargeDuring Reconstruction 700 African-Americans served in state legislatures and 22 were elected to CongressSchool systems were put in placeAfrican-Americans were allowed to voteIt was illegal for railroads, hotels, etc. to discriminate against African-Americans.

FreedomFormer slaves were now able to: search for long-lost relativesOwn landFind jobsLive where they wantedBecome educatedEstablish their own churchesPlay baseballIn your opinion, were African-Americans better off during this time of Reconstruction than they were in the 1950s?

The End of ReconstructionEven though there were many positive changes for African-Americans there were still problemsKKK and other violenceEventually many government leaders in the north became tired of dealing with ReconstructionAn economic depression in 1873 took the focus of Congress away from ReconstructionSupport for the Republican controlled state governments lessened which allowed for the old South to regain controlThe Final StrawThe Presidential Election of 1876 was too close to callIn one of the most corrupt bargains ever, the Republican, Rutherford B. Hayes was named President. In return Republicans promised to withdraw federal troops from the South.What do you think happened once federal troops left the South?