Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Reconstruction
(1865-1877)
Reconstruction
Begins
Reconstruction was the process the U.S.
government used to readmit the
Confederates states to the Union after the
Civil War.
Reconstruction lasted from 1865 to 1877.
After the assassination of President Lincoln,
Andrew Johnson became the 17th President
of the U.S.
Andrew Johnson was a Democrat
Reconstruction
After the Civil War, Radical
Republicans were congressman who
favored using federal powers to give
African Americans full citizenship
(14th Amendment) and the right to
vote (15th Amendment).
During Reconstruction, the
Freedmens Bureau was set up to
help formers slaves after the Civil War.
The Freedmens Bureau set up schools
and hospitals for African Americans
and distributed clothes, food, and fuel
throughout the South.
Rebuilding Brings
Conflict
President Johnson offered amnesty, or
official pardon, and promised to return
property to the Southerners.
In return, Southerners had to pledge
loyalty to the United States.
Some of the new state governments in the
South refused to ratify the Thirteenth
Amendment.
Governments in the South passed laws
known as black codes, which limited the
freedom of former slaves.
WATCH President Johnsons Reconstruction
Plan
Radical
Reconstruction
If a state did not allow African
Americans to vote, the state would
lose representatives in Congress.
President Johnson and every former
Confederate state except Tennessee
refused to support the Fourteenth
Amendment.
Republicans in Congress passed the
Reconstruction Act of 1867, which
started a period known as Radical
Reconstruction.
Radical Reconstruction was led by
the Republicans in Congress.
Johnson Is
Impeached
Reconstruction Acts of 1867 divided the
South into five military districts, each run
by an Army commander.
President Johnson assigned exConfederates as military commanders in
the South.
In 1867, Congress passed the Tenure of
Office Act, which prohibited the president
from firing government officials without
approval from the Senate.
In February 1868, President Johnson fired
Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, over
disagreements about Reconstruction.
Johnson Is
Impeached
3 days after President Johnson fired one
of the cabinet members, the House of
Rep. voted to impeach the President.
Impeach means to formally accuse the
President of improper conduct while in
office.
The trial was in the Senate, and after
several weeks of testimony the Senate
voted.
President Johnson was acquitted by a
single vote.
WATCH and DISCUSS Bill Clintons
Impeachment
Reconstruction and
Daily Life
Starting Schools
The Fifteenth
Amendment
The Radical Republicans proposed
the Fifteenth Amendment, which
stated that citizens could not be
stopped from voting on account
of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude.
The 15th Amendments did not
apply to Native Americans on tribal
lands.
The 15th Amendment did not apply
to women.
WATCH Magic Candle Video
Scandal Weaken
Republicans
President Grant appointed his
former army friends and his
wifes relatives in government
positions although many were
unqualified.
Grants administration were
accused of taking bribes.
In 1872, some Republicans
broke away and formed the
new Liberal Republican party.
Panic Weaken
Republicans
During
the Panic of 1873,
several banks ran out of money
because of bad loans.
Reconstruction Ends
In the Presidential Election of 1876 the
Democrats nominated Samuel Tilden and the
Republicans nominated Rutherford Hayes.
The votes were so close both the Democrats
and Republicans claimed victory.
8 Republicans and 7 Democrats made a deal
known as the Compromise of 1877:
1) The government would remove federal
troops from the South.
2) The government would provide land grants
and loans for the construction of railroads.
3) South would receive federal funds for
construction and improvement projects.
4) Hayes would appoint a Democrat to his
cabinet.
5) The Democrats promised to respect African
Americans civil and political rights.