The Reconstruction

Quinn Davis, Alyssa Hannah, Nicholas McGowan, and Grace Watson

Our Agenda...

● Lincoln’s assassination● The Reconstruction Amendments● Life as a free slave● Lincoln’s vision of Reconstruction and how

it was changed

-- Abraham Lincoln to General Edward H. Ripley April 5, 1865, nine days before his assassination.

“I cannot bring myself to believe that any human being lives who

would do me any harm.”

Lincoln’s Assassination● On April 14, 1865 President

Abraham Lincoln was shot.● Lincoln was at a play with his

wife when John Wilkes Booth shot him in the back of the head.

● “Sic semper tyrannis!”● Booth escaped the theater

while Lincoln died.

John Wilkes Booth

The Mourners ● Lincoln was said to be “like Moses,” and

“something greater than greatness itself” at his funeral.

● There were stories dedicated to Lincoln.● People hung pictures of Lincoln in their

homes.● Lincoln’s wife, Mary, shut herself up in her

room and refused to be seen by the public.● Lincoln’s sons were shocked and very

saddened as well.

Ribbon In Memorial of Lincoln

The Nation’s Reactions to Lincoln’s Death

● Even the South was angry about Booth shooting Lincoln

● The South still believed Lincoln was wrong in his beliefs.

● The North and Blacks were all devastated.● Everybody was searching for Booth, wanting

revenge.● The Northerners were so angry, they all

wanted Booth hung or killed.

Poster Asking for the Capture of the Men

The Other Assassins● Lewis Powell attacked Secretary of State

William H. Seward● John H. Surratt was a suspect of the

Seward attack, but was falsely accused.● David Herold was an acomplinese of

Booth, and helped him get away.● Vice President Andrew Johnson was

targeted, George Atzerodt was assigned to kill him but ran away.

● Many other men were part of the act, although most were not found out.

What Happened to the Assassins● John Wilkes Booth escaped from Washington to

Maryland. ● All the assassins were in hiding.● $100,000 was being offered for the capture of the

men.● Booth and his men were in hiding, going from house

to house.● Booth and Herold were eventually found, and

although Herold surrendered, Booth refused and was shot.

Map of the Assassins Hideouts

The Assassin’s Plan and Motives● Booth had always loved the South and slavery.● Booth turned to avenging the South instead of

loving it.● Lincoln’s reelection enraged Booth.● August 1864 Booth and some of his friends

(former Confederate agents) met and started to plan to kidnap Lincoln.

● In the end, Booth decided to kill Lincoln, not kidnap him.

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

● 13th - Passed by Congress January 31, 1865; Ratified December 6, 1865

● 14th - Passed by Congress June 13, 1866; Ratified July 9, 1868

● 15th - Passed by Congress February 26, 1869; Ratified February 3, 1870

13th Amendment● Slavery is no longer legal in the United

states.● Involuntary servitude (bondage) is also

not legal unless used as punishment for a crime.

● Congress has the right to enforce this amendment when needed.

14th Amendment● All citizens of the United States shall be treated equal.● State and federal government cannot make laws

discriminating any group of people.● Representatives of each state will be decided by the

population including all people except for indians who are not taxed.

● No person who has been involved in any rebel action can be elected for any government position.

● The U.S. promises to pay its Civil War debt.● All debts acquired by the confederate government are illegal.

The 14th Amendment

15th Amendment● Every citizen of the United States has the

right to vote.● Federal and State Governments cannot

deny any person the right to vote.● Congress has the right to enforce this

amendment when needed.

Hurray, Slaves are Freed!

Freed Slaves can now:

● Vote!● Hold a Government Position!● Have the Right of Speech!

BTS: The Challenges African Americans Faced After the Civil War

● Many former slaves couldn’t go anywhere.

● Disease that killed many African Americans.

● Jim Crow Law’s formed with a strong force of segregation.

Life After Being Freed● Freed slaves had no where to go due to no education

or life skills.● Most blacks had to go to contraband camps to survive.● Most camps were abandoned slave pens and the only

way out was going back to your old master to work.● Disease like smallpox and cholera was caused

because of low sanitation in these contraband camps, about one fourth of 4 million African Americans died from 1862-1870 from disease.

Jim Crow Laws The unwritten rules of segregation.Voting

● Poll taxes were enforced on blacks that most could not afford.● Literacy tests, blacks had to take almost impossible tests to vote.Segregation

● Blacks were called “Boy” “Girl” “Nigger” by whites, but blacks referred to whites as “Mr.” and “Mrs.”

● Blacks couldn’t have any relation to whites.● Jobs and schools were limited to blacks.http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/tools.html

Lincoln’s Vision of Reconstruction● “The Greatest Question ever presented to practical

statesmanship” -- Lincoln● All southerners, except high-ranking Confederate

Officers could swear an oath that pledged future loyalty to the Union

● Once 10% of the voting population of the state pledged loyalty to the Union, the citizens of the state could vote in order to change the state’s government and constitution

● This was called the “Ten Percent Plan”

Henry Davis and Benjamin Wade

The Wade-Davis Bill

● Several Radical Republicans in Congress thought that the Ten-Percent Plan was too lenient

● A more stringent plan was proposed by Senator Benjamin F. Wade and Representative Henry Winter Davis

● February, 1864● Would require 50% of white males to pledge allegiance

and for the state to allow blacks to vote.

Image of the Wade-Davis Bill

Wade-Davis Bill Aftermath

● Both houses of Congress pass the Wade-Davis Bill and it goes to Lincoln’s desk

● Lincoln pocket-vetoed the bill and kept advocating tolerance for Reconstruction

● The veto of the bill outraged members of Congress and led to some calling for his resignation

Johnson’s Changes

● Johnson would appoint governors himself● Governors would be allowed to appoint

officials in state administrations● New Southerners ended up enacting a

system of laws called “Black Codes”

Andrew Johnson

Congress’s Changes to Reconstruction

● Extended length of the Freedmen’s Bureau (federal agency to aid former slaves)

● Civil Rights Act of 1866● President Johnson eventually vetoed both bills

After the Congressional Elections of 1866...

● Congress “effectively” eliminated all of Johnson’s control over Reconstruction and ratified the Fourteenth Amendment.

● Passed the Reconstruction Acts● Due to Congressional control and harsh policy,

Reconstruction was prolonged resulting in violent attacks against blacks.

● After: The Jim Crow Era

Sources and Works Cited● The Battle over Reconstruction. National Endowment for The Humanities, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. <http://edsitement.neh.gov/curriculum-

unit/battle-over-reconstruction>.

● The Charters of Freedom. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2014. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-

27.html>.

● Harris, Paul. “How the End of Slavery Led to Starvation and Death for Millions of Black Americans.”

● The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 16 June 2012. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.

<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/16/slavery-starvation-civil-war>.

● Holzer, Harold. The President Is Shot. Honesdale: Boyds Mills, 2004. Print.

● Our Documents -- Wade-Davis Bill (1864). National History Day, The National Archives and Records Administration, and USA Freedom

Corps., n.d. Web. 1 May 2014. <http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=37>.

● “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow.” PBS. Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2002. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.

<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/>.