US History Final Exam Review Chapter 15

US History Final Exam Review Chapter 15 Reconstruction Amendments - - - The Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment freed all slaves in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of African Americans in the South faced new difficulties: finding a new way to forge an economically independent life in the fact of hostile whites, little or no education, and few other resources such as money. Many African Americans were quite prepared for freedom, as they demonstrated in 1865 and after by demanding their civil rights, the vote, the reunion of their families, education and economic opportunities. Freedman’s Bureau was a temporary agency the federal government established in 1865, to provide clothing, food, and medical care to refugees in the south, especially freed slaves. Special boards established schools for African Americans in the south and black and white teachers from the north and south worked to help young and old become literate. Some African Americans in the south were encouraged to move to Northern cities where jobs would be available. It was seen as enough to aid 4 million newly freed people. Conservative Republicans: - States must accept abolition of slavery Few other conditions Moderate Republicans: - States must accept abolition of slavery States must protect some African American rights Radical Republicans: - Want additional punitive measures Civil rights guaranteed Many wanted to grant suffrage to African American males Lincoln’s Proposal for Reconstruction: - - Lincoln’s 10% plan o Proposed in 1863 o When 10% of the number of voters in 1860 took a loyalty oath, those loyal voters could set up a state government Congress proposes Wade-David Bill in 1864 as a response to Lincoln’s Plan - o Lincolns pocket vetoes Lincoln assassinated shortly after end of civil war. Andrew Jackson replaces Lincoln. Lincoln’s blueprint for Reconstruction included the Ten Percent Plan, which specified that a southern state could be readmitted into the Union once 10 percent of its voters swore an oath of allegiance to the Union. Voters could elect delegates to draft revised state constitutions and establish new state governments. All southerners excepts for high ranking confederate army officers and government officials would be granted a full pardon. Lincoln guaranteed southerners that he would protect their private property, though not their slaves. Most moderate Republicans in Congress supported the president’s proposal for reconstruction because they wanted to bring a quick end to the war. Johnson’s Restoration “presidential reconstruction”: - President Andrew Johnson believed in quickly readmitting the South with white supremacy intact. Congress was in recess from April 1865 until December 1865. Johnson started a process of southern reconstruction o Offers pardons to southerners who will take the loyalty oath o States required to uphold the abolition of slavery o States required to pay off their war debt. o After that, states given a lot of leeway to rebuild their own governments o Several states readmitted under Johnson’s Plan while congress is in recess. Black codes: - - In November 1865, the government that President Andrew Johnson had set up in Mississippi passed a set of oppressive laws that only applied to African Americans. Other southern states quickly followed suit Intent of these laws was to restrict African Americans’ freedom and compel them to work for white employers in a situation reminiscent of slavery Demonstrated steadfast commitment to ensuring white supremacy and the survival of plantation agriculture in the postwar years. After congress returns, Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Bill of 1866 and two freedmen’s bureau bills. Northerners have, in the meantime, become more hostile to the south and refuse to accept state governments formed under Johnson’s plan. Congress extends the power of freedman’s bureau and passes the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Civil rights Act: - - Passed April 9, 1866- house overrides President Johnson’s veto 122 to 41 Mandated all persons born in the United States be declared citizens of the United States Declared all citizens to have the “full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property.” Radical republicans, who believed the federal government had a role in shaping a multiracial society in the postwar south, thought this act made sense following ratification of the 13th amendment on December 18, 1865. The very first piece of civil rights legislation in the reconstruction era. 1868- 14th amendment- defines citizenship and guarantees equal protection. Indigenous people are not allowed to become citizens of the United States until 1924. This is weird because they were the first people here. The laws are gonna treat you equally. The radical republicans are trying to protect and expand the rights of African American people. Congressional Reconstruction Plan: Reconstruction Act of 1867 - Readmit any state that ratifies the 14th amendment: granted “equal protection” of the construction to formerly enslaved people. Rejected the other 10 confederate states recognized by the Lincoln- Johnson plans. Organized those 10 states into 5 military districts with a military commander In order to readmitted to the Union: o Qualified voters= adult black males and adult white males who had not participated in the rebellion o State constitutions had to include black suffrage and had to be OK’d by congress o Had to ratify the 14th amendment By 1868, 7 of 10 states had been readmitted o Texas, Virginia and Mississippi additionally had to ratify the 15th amendment because they held out until 1869-1870 Compromise of 1877 - Commission awards disputed votes to Hayes In exchange federal troops are removed from south Reconstruction is officially over o Blacks in a better position legally, but once troops are withdrawn, south introduces segregation in the form of Jim Crow Laws.