US History: The Reconstruction Era

End of the Civil War

• April 9, 1865: Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.
• Civil War resulted in over 620,000 deaths and lasted five years.

Reconstruction Period (1865-1877)

• Era of rebuilding the nation, especially the South, after the Civil War.
• Controversy and competing ideas on re-integrating the South and dealing with nearly 4 million former slaves.

Phases of Reconstruction

1. Presidential Reconstruction

• Focus of this lecture; next lecture will cover Radical Republicans' plan.

Lincoln's 10% Plan

• Proposed in 1863 for quick readmittance of former Confederate states.
• Full pardon offered to all southerners (except high-ranking officials) who took an oath of loyalty to the U.S.
• States could rejoin the Union once 10% of voters in 1860 Election took the loyalty oath.
• States had to accept the Emancipation Proclamation.
• Opposition from Radical Republicans who sought a stricter plan.
• Lincoln's assassination on April 15, 1865, halted his plan.

Andrew Johnson's Plan

• Took over after Lincoln's assassination.
• Lenient towards the South; similar to Lincoln's plan.
• High-ranking Confederates mostly pardoned.
• States required to ratify the 13th Amendment (abolished slavery).
• Failed to protect rights of former slaves (freedmen).

Effects of Presidential Reconstruction

• Former Confederates elected to state governments.
• South returned to racial, political, and economic status quo.
• Black Codes adopted by states:
  • Restrictive laws designed to limit rights of African Americans.
  • Prevented African-Americans from testifying in court, voting, holding office, or avoiding labor contracts.
  • Aimed to maintain a condition similar to slavery.

Consequences and Transition

• Presidential Reconstruction failed to address civil rights for freedmen.
• Little change in life for freedmen in the South.
• Radical Republicans in Congress opposed Johnson’s lenient policies.
• Tension led to conflict between Congress and President Johnson.
• Result: Impeachment of President Johnson.