Human toll of the Civil War: The North lost 364,000 soldiers. The South lost 260,000

soldiers. Between 1865 and 1877, the federal

government carried out a program to repair the damage to the South and restore the

southern states to the Union. This program was known as ReconstructionReconstruction.

FreedmenFreedmen (freed slaves) were starting out their new lives in a poor region with slow

economic activity. Plantation owners lost slave labor worth $3

billion. Poor white Southerners could not find work

because of new job competition from FreedmenFreedmen.

The war had destroyed two thirds of the South’s shipping industry and about 9,000

miles of railroad.

Three Major Issues/Problems that the Federal Government Must Address

1. Southern Leadership – Those that Rebelled

2. Re-admission of Southern States

3. Freedmen

EQ: What steps should the federal Government take to ensure a fair and stable re-building of

the Union?

South after war 1

•Remained loyal to the Union during the Civil

War.

•Lincoln chose him as his VP to help with the

South’s Reconstruction.

•Supported Lincoln’s Plan = Promise not

Punishment

•Engaged in a power struggle with Congress

over who would lead the country through

Reconstruction.

•Remained loyal to the Union during the Civil

War.

•Lincoln chose him as his VP to help with the

South’s Reconstruction.

•Supported Lincoln’s Plan = Promise not

Punishment

•Engaged in a power struggle with Congress

over who would lead the country through

Reconstruction. John Picture background info

Lincoln/Johnson’s plan to readmit the South was considered too gentlegentle.

Amnesty:Amnesty: Presidential pardonPresidential pardon•Rebels sign an oath of allegianceRebels sign an oath of allegiance

•10% of the population10% of the population•Even high ranking Confederate officialsEven high ranking Confederate officials

Write new state ConstitutionsWrite new state Constitutions•approve the approve the 13th Amendment13th Amendment

•reject secession and state’s rightsreject secession and state’s rights•submit to U.S. Government authoritysubmit to U.S. Government authority

No mention ofNo mention of•Education for freedmenEducation for freedmen

•Citizenship and voting rightsCitizenship and voting rightsPresidential Reconstruction

pardon

Plans compared

•AmnestyAmnesty : : Presidential pardonPresidential pardon•oath of allegiance---50%

•high ranking Confederate officials•loose voting rights if you don’t sign oath

•Write new state ConstitutionsWrite new state Constitutions•Ratify: 13, 14 & 15 Amendments•reject secession and state’s rights

•submit to U.S. Government authority•Help for FreedmenHelp for Freedmen

•Freedmen’s Bureau for education•Divide the South into 5 military districts until

the above provisions were met.

Reconstruction Act of 1867-Reconstruction Act of 1867--76 (Harsh)(Harsh)

Thaddeus Stevens Charles Sumner

•Wanted to the see the South punished for the Civil War.

•Advocated political, social and economic equality for the Freedmen.

•Would go after President Johnson through the impeachment process after he vetoes

the Civil Rights Act of 1866.Radical Republicans

Thaddeus Stevens, in Congress, Thaddeus Stevens, in Congress, 18661866

“Strip a proud nobility of their bloated estates, send them forth to labor and you

will thus humble the proud traitors.”

Thaddeus Steven, in Congress, Thaddeus Steven, in Congress, 18671867

“I am for Negro suffrage in every rebel state. If it be just, it should not be denied: if it be necessary, it should be adopted: if it be a punishment of traitors, they deserve

it.”

Quotes of Radicals

•President Johnson vetoed the Civil

Rights Act of 1866

•first United States federal law to define US citizenship and affirmed that all

citizens were equally protected by the law.

It was mainly intended to protect the civil rights of African-Americans

•Congress believed Johnson was working

against Reconstruction and overrode his veto

assuming full power over Reconstruction.

•President Johnson vetoed the Civil

Rights Act of 1866

•first United States federal law to define US citizenship and affirmed that all

citizens were equally protected by the law.

It was mainly intended to protect the civil rights of African-Americans

•Congress believed Johnson was working

against Reconstruction and overrode his veto

assuming full power over Reconstruction.

Johnson’s Veto

An inflexible President, 1866: Republican cartoon shows Johnson knocking over Blacks of the

Freedmen’s Bureau by his veto.

An inflexible President, 1866: Republican cartoon shows Johnson knocking over Blacks of the

Freedmen’s Bureau by his veto.

Brought up on 11 charges of high

crimes and misdemeanors.

Tenure in Office Tenure in Office Act:Act: Law Congress passed. President can’t fire any of his cabinet members

without consulting Congress.

fired Edwin Stanton

Missed being removed from office

by 1 vote

With Congress and the President not getting

along…Congress brought Johnson up on

charges for impeachment