Chapter 12
How do you believe southerners felt about military rule by northern generals?
ANGRY!!!!!!!!
Why were there rival plans for Reconstructing the US?
Congress and President Lincoln disagreed over how the seceded states would rejoin the Union.
15th Amendment, describe it.
Forbid any state from denying male suffrage on the grounds of race, color or previous condition of servitude. 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are called the Reconstruction Amendments.
What was the Civil Rights Act of 1866?
Guaranteed all Civil Rights for former slaves and would overturn all of the "Black Codes" in each state. Andrew Johnson vetoed the act and was openly defying the wishes of Congress.
Which group did Johnson dislike in the south?
He disliked wealthy plantation owners of the South and made them write personal letters of apology addressed to Johnson for a pardon. Had little sympathy for African Americans by stating the US was a government for "white men". Supported a States Right for banning African Americans from voting.
Who is Andrew Johnson?
He was a Southern Democrat Senator who refused to join the Confederacy. Lincoln made him Vice-President because he hoped to win some Democrat votes in the Election of 1864. Became the 17th President when Lincoln was assassinated.
What were the three major issues of reconstruction.
How to return the eleven states back to the Union. How to rebuild the South's struggling economy. How to promote the lives of former slaves.
What is Impeachment and why did Congress impeach President Johnson?
Impeachment is when Congress attempts to forcefully remove the President of the US. Congress was upset that Johnson removed a Radical Republican from his cabinet without their consent. Congress was one vote short of removing Johnson.
What was General Sherman's proposal for restoring the south? Why did some disagree?
Land abandoned by planters should be given to former slaves. "40 Acres and a mule" for every former slave. This would solve the problem of former slaves and help rebuild the economy.
What were the Black Codes?
Laws that specifically limited the rights and freedoms of former slaves in the South. They kept AA as landless workers by only allowing them to work as servants or farm labor. White southerners openly used violence and intimidation to enforce the Black Codes.
What was the purpose of the Freedman's Bureau?
Lincoln agreed with this Radical Republican plan which called for an agency to provide clothing, food, healthcare, and education for both black and white refugees in the South. The Bureau helped reunite families separated by slavery and negotiate a contract between former slaves and white landowners.
What is the 14th Amendment and what punishments did a state endure if they did not allow the vote to former slaves?
One of the most important amendments! Guarantees "equality to all citizens under the law". Any state that refused AA voting would lose their representative in Congress.
What were the specifics of the Military Reconstruction Act of 1867?
Overrode a Veto to divide the South into 5 military districts governed by former Union Generals. Each state could not rejoin the Union until they passed African Americans male suffrage and the 14th amendment.
What was the Wade-Davis Bill?
Radical Republicans passed the Bill forcing 50%+ of a state's population to sign a loyalty oath before the process of reconstruction could begin. Demanded full African American equality. Lincoln killed this plan by vetoing the Bill.
Why was Congress angry with the South?
Radical Republicans were furious with Southern State's and President Johnson's behavior. Demanded an investigation on the treatment of former slaves in the South.
Why do some disagree with Sherman's plan?
Southern landowners rejected the idea that the government can give away land.
How did Southerners restore their old ways of life under the Johnson Plan?
Southern leaders quickly obeyed Johnson's small demands and created State constitutions that limited the rights of African Americans. Soon the South looked like pre-war South.
What stipulations did many want the south to meet before being allowed back?
Southern states had to swear loyalty to the US. Adopt State Constitutions that guarantee rights to freed slaves.
Explain the issues around the fights African Americans will have?
The 13th Amendment freed the slaves but did not guarantee former slaves the rights and privileges of full citizenship. No guarantee of voting rights or access to education. Most Republicans supported full citizenship but white southerners vigorously opposed this idea.
Why was the Civil Rights Act of 1866 unprecedented?
The Republican Congress with a 2/3rds majority overrode the Presidents veto and passed the law. Congress believed Johnson was too weak, they need to guide Reconstruction.
Explain the issues surrounding how the southern states would rejoin the union?
The US Constitution provided no rules for readmitting the states. Should the states be punished? Readmitted quickly? How to Southern Representatives come back to Congress?
Explain the issues surrounding how the southern economy will be Rebuilt?
The Union army destroyed factories, plantations, and railroads. ¼ of the male population (20 to 40) died during the war. 3 million freed slaves have no homes or jobs. The land was the most valuable asset, but who should get the land?
Define Reconstruction.
The era between 1865-1877 when the US tried to fix their broken nation.
Describe Lincoln's "Ten Percent Plan."
The goal was to make it easy for a state to rejoin the Union. In Lincoln's view, they never left. The union is unbreakable. As long as 10% of the populations had signed loyalty pledges, the state could set up a new Government. If the State Constitution abolished slavery and provided the pledge they would regain representation in Congress.
Who were the Radical Republicans and why did they oppose the Ten Percent Plan?
They insisted the South should be punished because they committed crimes against humanity with slavery and the war. They favored harsh terms for the South and Sherman's plan of taking land and giving it to the Slaves. They thought Lincoln was too soft on the South.
Describe Andrew Johnson's plan for restoring the union.
Wanted to quickly restore the Southern States into the Union. Offered the restoration of land to any Democrat who swore allegiance to the US. Required that each state ratify the 13th amendment, abolishing slavery.