Presidential Reconstruction

Andrew Johnson's presidency

Johnson's background

Johnson was a very open racist and a southern slave owner who also hated southern planters and was a self made man

Opposers of Johnson considered him a tactless man

Johnson was a senator for Tennessee before the Civil War who heavily opposed secession

Hated by the south for opposing secession, Johnson left the south after Tennessee's secession out of fear for his life

Johnson takes office

Following Lincoln's assassination, Democratic Vice President Andrew Johnson becomes the 17th president of the United States

Congress hasn't reformed since the Civil War, almost a year without them

Johnson's policy

Johnson took a very laissez-faire approach during his presidency

He believed that states should be sovereign with limited federal government

Sympathetic for the South

Johnson's plan

Pardons would be granted to southerners if they pledge their loyalty to the Union and if they didn't own land in value excess of $20,000

A state must abolish slavery and repeal secession before rejoining the Union

New states could hold Constitutional Conventions without Lincoln's 10% plan

The South had to accept their Civil War debt before returning

Putting his plan in action

Johnson was very sympathetic to the South, makes the North initially happy, but when Congress forms again they start to dislike him

Reasoned that the South never technically seceded and should be easily readmitted to the Union

Granted pardons to almost anybody with the exception of Southern officials who received "special presidential pardons"

Nothing really special about it, just pardons for Southerners of prominence or criminals during the Civil War

Abolishment and repealing secession

The 13th amendment was already set in place before Johnson's presidency

Johnson was extremely against the 14th amendment and vetoed it initially. Finally Republicans in Congress overruled Johnson and it was then ratified

Johnson is now forcing all Southern states to ratify the 13th and 14th amendment and repeal secession in order to rejoin the Union

Southern conventions

Southern states would hold a vote to determine who their government officials would be to reform their state and Lincoln's 10% plan didn't matter.

Southern war debts

The southern states must accept their war debts in order to return to the Union

The South must also repay war debts to the Union

Northern reaction

Northerners were very pleased with Johnson and how he handled the South after the Civil War at first

Northerners then realize how easy he was being on the South and saw him as too soft on the South and Reconstruction couldn't be done with Johnson being so laid back

Southern reaction

Expected to get the worst treatment from Johnson possible after their treatment of the former Tennessee Senator

Surprisingly Johnson did the opposite and treated the South with sympathy

South very grateful for it and supported him for the most part but still acting out

How Congress saw Johnson

Johnson and Congress disagreed on everything

Congress was primarily ruled by moderate and radical Republicans who obviously opposed Johnson's Democratic views

Determined to take down Johnson, Congress overruled all his vetoes which disallowed Johnson to have a say in anything

End of Presidential Reconstruction

Republicans only gain more power in Congress rendering Johnson ineffective

Reconstruction Acts are passed by Congress marking the end of this era leaving Johnson humiliated by Republicans

Sources

encyclopedia.com

whitehouse.gov

authentichistory.com

presidentprofiles.com

sparknotes.com

education-portal.com

infoplease.com