RECONSTRUCTION

1865-1877
Reconstruction- The twelve year period following
the Civil War in which those states that seceded
were let back into the Union.
Lincolns Reconstruction Plan-
Let them up easy.
Amnesty- Lincoln offered a general
pardon to most southerners
who took an oath of loyalty to the United States.
When 10 percent of a southern states
population took the loyalty oath, that
state would be let back into the Union.
Radical Republicans- Upon Lincolns death,
members of Congress who want harsher treatment
for the South take control.
The Freedmans Bureau- Created by Congress
in 1865, this organization worked
to assist the former slaves transition into freedom.
13
th
Amendment Outlaws slavery
everywhere in the US.
Black Codes- Passed in southern states to
restrict the liberties of the former slaves.
Black codes required African Americans to
enter into annual labor contracts with their
former slave owners.
Sharecropping- Economic system created
in the South following the Civil War
which allowed the former slaves to rent
land from the former slave owner in
exchange for a share of the crop produced.
In 1866 the14
th
Amendment gave African-Americans
citizenship and equal protection
under the law.
Ku Klux Klan- Emerged as a reaction to civil rights
given to newly freed
blacks. White southerners created the Klan and
other white supremacist organizations.
Andrew Johnson replaced Lincoln as president.
As a southerner , Johnson disagreed
with the Radical Republicans in Congress
and began to veto their bills regarding
Reconstruction.
Tenure of Office Act- In order to trap Johnson
and remove him from office,
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act, which
state the Senate must approve presidential
firings.
When Johnson fires his Secretary of War,
he is impeached.
In his Senate trial his job is saved
by one vote. His power as President
is broken and the Radical Republicans
take control of Reconstruction.
15
th
Amendment- 1870- Black male suffrage.
All African American males
21 years of age become eligible to vote.
In an attempt to restrict blacks
from voting, southern states enact
literacy tests and poll taxes.
Under Radical Republicans, the
South is divided in 5 military districts
and occupied by Federal Troops until 1877.
In the end, Reconstruction failed as it did not give
Blacks either economic or political power.