SOCIAL STUDIES NOTES

Section 1

Americans faced many difficult issues over how reconstruction, or rebuilding the south, should be carried out. Lincoln proposed in 1863 the 10% plan for accepting Southern states. When 10% of voters of a state tool an oath of loyalty to the union, the state could form a new gov`t and adopt a new constitution banning slavery.

Lincoln wanted southerners who supported the union to take charge of the state gov`t. he offered amnesty to all white southerners who were willing to swear loyalty to the union, except confederate leaders. He supported giving educated African Americans or those who served in the union army the right to vote.

A more radical plan proposed by radical republicans called for tougher approach to reconstruction. Since the radical republicans controlled congress, they voted to deny seats to any state reconstructed under Lincoln`s plan.

Congress developed its own harsh plan in July 1864 by passing the Wade-Davis bill.

A majority of white males had swore to loyalty

Only white males that agreed with the union could vote for delegates to a state convention.

Former confederates were denied the right to hold public office.

If a new state constitution abolishing slavery was adopted, then the state could be readmitted to the union.

Lincoln refused to sign the bill. He knew he would need to compromise.

Another issue was to free enslaved people. The freedman`s Bureau, was made to help former slaves, distributed food and clothing, medical services, and schools. It helped blacks buy land get gobs, and receive fair wages.

On April 14, 1865, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at the fords theater in Washington. A few hours later he died at a home of a nearby tailor.

Vice President Andrew Johnson became president. He was the only southern senator to support the union.

Andrew Johnson`s plan for restoration: Most southerners would be granted amnesty once

they swore an oath of loyalty to the union. High ranking confederate officials and wealthy

landowners could only be pardoned if pres. Applied Pres. Would appoint governors and require them to

hold elevations for state constitutional conventions Only whites that swore loyalty could vote Before entering union constitutional convention had

to denounce secession and abolish slavery States had to ratify the 13th amendment passed in

hand 1865 that destroyed slavery. By the end of 1865 Johnson declared restoration

almost complete because all former confederate states except Texas had established new gov`ts and were ready to rejoin the union.

Section 2

The new southerner states passed a series of laws called black codes. These laws re-established slavery in disguise.

Some laws allowed local officials to arrest and fine unemployed blacks and make them work for white employers to pay off their fines.

Other laws banned blacks from owning or renting farms. 1 law allowed whites to take orphaned black children as unpaid apprentices. Congress challenged the code. It passed civil rights acts of 1866 giving citizen ship to blacks and gave the gov`t

the right to intervene in state affairs to protection. It overturns the codes and contradicted the 1857 Supreme Court Dred Scott decision saying blacks weren’t citizens.

Johnson vetoed the bills. Republicans overrode it and the bills became laws June 1866 congress passed 14th amendment to constitution granting citizenship It didn’t include voting rights for blacks It barred former confederates from holing national of state office unless it pardoned by a two-thirds vote of

congress. Congress said south must ratify amendment to be readmitted to union. Republicans won in the elections of 1866. They increased they majors in both houses and gained control of every

northern state government. Reconstruction began when congress passed reconstruction acts. The 1st reconstruction act passed on March 2,

1867, called for the creation of new got in thaw 10 southern states that didn’t ratify the 14th amendment. The 10 state were divided into 5 military districts under command of officers. black makes were guaranteed right to vote Former confederate leaders couldn’t hold public office. People had to ratify the 14th amendment to be readmitted to congress. In 1868, 7 southern states made new got and met the conditions for readmit ion. They were Alabama, Arkansas,

Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In 1870 3 states readmitted were Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas.

The rift of congress and Johnson was worse. Congress passed the tenure of office act in March 1867 to limit power.

Because of Johnson’s actions, the house impeaches him. The case went to the senate for trial and lasted 3 months.

The senate was 1 vote short of the two thirds majority needed, so Johnson remained in office until March of 1869. In 1868 election was a vote of reconstruction; states had rejoined union by election. Americans chose republican

and former northern general Ulysses s. grant as president. 15th amendment legislation was another major topic. Prohibited state and federal gov`t from denying the right to

vote of any male. It became law on February of 1870.

Section 3

The Republican Party had 3 group that controlled politics for south: blacks, whites who had policies and settlers from the north,

Most whites opposed efforts to expand black rights. Plantation owners tried to keep control of the freed people.

They kept them on plantations and didn’t give them land. Storeowners refused to give credits, and employers refused to work.

During reconstruction secret societies committed violence against blacks and white supporters of blacks. The Ku Klux Klan of 1866 killed them and burned their homes, churches, and schools.

South opposed violence and termism appealed to gov`t. in 1870 and 1071, congress passed laws with no success.

Reconstruction bought changes. Public schools for both races were created in 1870s. Generally both races attended different schools.

The other change informed most blacks couldn’t rent, instead they rented a plot of land and a shack, and some seeds and tools. They were sharecroppers.

it wasn’t better than slavery since the land had to pay the landowner by giving him crops. nothing was left, and they rarely got any money

The end!