Reconstruction

Created by: Bobwilliams
Created on: 05-06-15 20:12

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Reconstruction
- Emancipation proclomation 1863
  - Slavery would remain untouched in the states that returned to the union by January 1863
  - There after all slaves in emenemy territory conquered by Union armys would be foreever free
  - Changed war aims to end slavery
- 13th Amendment 1865
  - Abolished slavery
- Reconstruction confederate style
  - After following Johnsons steps and becoming a state they then proceeded to elect legislatures,govoners and members of congress
  - The south then searched for means of keeping the free men under control
    - No state southern state granted equal citizenship and the vote to blacks
      - Instead introduced Black codes. To ensure that blacks remained second class citizens
        Some codes meant that blacks had to carry around employment documents with them .
        Those that were broke or unemployed could forcibly be sent to work
        Some codes prevented blacks from renting/buying land
        Some prevented them from receiving poor relief and education
        
        Enforced by a white legal system that made little that justic was being enforced correctly
  - Wanted to return the South back to how it was
  - Although Johnson new this was happening but he believed in a states rights ideollogy
  - Restoration was complete in December 1865
- Colonisation schemes
  - Lincoln was worried that Blacks and whites would not get on therefore set up schemes for them to move to latin America/ Carrabian
- Congress vs Johnson
  - Congress tried to enlarge the powers of the Freemens bureau
    - Johnson vetoed it
      - Republicans could no longer work with him
        Moderate and radical republicans joined forces
        Introduced a civil rights act in which aimed to give minimal rights to blacks
        Define all people born in the USA as national citizens
        Measure allowed federal government to intervene in states affairs where necessary to protect rights of US citizens
        Johnson vetoed this act
        April 1866 a two thirds majority override Johnsons vetoe
        Cicil rights act become law few weeks later congress passed a second freedmen bureau act over Johnsons vetoe
- Freedmens bureau March 3rd 1865
  - Set up to help relieve suffering of Southern blacks and poor whites
    - By providing food ,cloths ,medical care , established schools and offered legal assistance
      - Setttled ex slaves onto confederate confiscated lands
  - The bureau was prevented from fully carrying out its programs due to a shortage of funds and personnel
    - Closed in 1872
- Death of Lincoln 14th April 1865
  - Killed by John Booth
- Andrew Johnson Reconstruction 1865
  - Had said previous that he would take a togher approach to the rebels
  - Said he would continue Lincolns policies and kept his cabinet
  - Wanted USA to return to normal ASAP
  - Saw no alternative but to work with ex-confederates
  - May 1865 extended recognition to Southern governments creayed under Lincolns administartion
  - General amnesty to Southerners made them swear an oath of allegiance
  - Confederate office holders were exempted however they could apply for a pardon in which he gave thousands
    - If pardoned land was returned to them
  - Made the process of states returning to the union easy
    - Appointed provisional state governors
      - They held elections where whites could vote for state conventions
        The new conventions were to draw up new constitutions in which made slavery illegal
        When this was done states were readmitted into the union
- 14th Amendment
  - Two prevent the Civil righhts act could not be changed in the future both houses of congress embodied the civil rights act
    - This therefore guranteed all citizens equality through the law
  - Added to constitution July 1868
- 1866 midterm election
  - Republicans won all but 3 states
    - Had two thirds majority in both houses meaning they could override any presedential vetoe
- Radical (congressional reconstruction
  - Republicans dominated congress it now took over the reconstruction process
    - In 1867 passed congress passed a military reconstruction act
      - No legal governments excisted in any ex confederate states except Tennessee
      - 10 southern states to be divided into 5 military districts
        Each under a federal commander
      - To return to the union southern states had to ellect contitutional conventions which would accept the 14th amendment
      - Also reduced Johnsons power
        Commander of Army act - reduced Johnsons military power
        
        Tenure office act - barred him from removing office holders
- Johnson impeached
  - Republicans convinced that Johnson had broken the law
  - After a two month trial Johnson he was not impeach due to not having a two thirds majority against him (short by 1 vote)
  - Although he survived for most of his term he was a lame duck president
    - However he pardonned loads of leading southerners
- Grant becomes president 1868
  - Won easily due to Democrats campaighning against black equality
- 15th Amendment
  - Added to constitution in 1870
  - Stated that the right to vote should not be denied on account of race , colour of previous conditions of servitude
- Civil rights act of 1875
  - Forbidding discrimination in hotels, trains, and other public spaces, was unconstitutiona
- 1877 Compromise
  - Cause
    - 1876 election Tilden vs Hayes
  - Solutution
    - Hayes acepted as president
      - In return all troops withdrawn from the South
    - Recognise democrat government in the 3 disputed states

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Reconstruction

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