Overview
This lecture covers Andrew Johnson's approach to Presidential Reconstruction after the Civil War, focusing on his lenient policies toward the South and the contrasting views of Radical Republicans.
Johnson's Presidential Reconstruction
- Johnson announced his plan for Presidential Reconstruction on May 29, 1865.
- His approach favored rapid, lenient restoration of the Union with minimal changes to the Constitution.
- Blanket pardons were issued for most former Confederates.
- Rebel states were encouraged to quickly form new governments with little federal interference.
- Requirements for readmission were minimal: admit defeat, accept the end of slavery and secession.
Treatment of Southern Elites and Poor Whites
- Wealthy planters and Confederate leaders had to personally ask Johnson for pardons to regain rights and property.
- Unpardoned elites could not vote, hold office, or reclaim seized property.
- Johnson, himself from a poor background, aimed to protect poor whites from competition with newly freed African Americans.
- African Americans were not included in Johnson's vision, aside from being laborers without rights or land.
Reaction and the Radical Republicans
- Johnson’s leniency shocked many Northerners and angered some in Congress.
- Thaddeus Stevens and the Radical Republicans pushed for a longer, more transformative Reconstruction.
- Radicals believed the South needed political reinvention, greater democracy, and expanded suffrage.
- Most Republicans supported only limited civil rights and education for African Americans, not radical social change.
- The Radical Republicans were a minority within the party and risked alienating white Northern voters.
Congressional Opposition
- Congress could not challenge Johnson’s policies until December when it reconvened.
- Radical leaders watched Southern elites seek pardons during the summer, with outcomes uncertain.
- Johnson insisted that only white men should govern the South.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Presidential Reconstruction — Johnson’s post-Civil War plan for quickly restoring Southern states to the Union with lenient terms.
- Radical Republicans — Congressional Republicans who advocated for harsh Reconstruction policies and expanded rights for African Americans.
- Pardon — Formal forgiveness for Confederates, restoring political rights and property.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key differences between Presidential and Radical Reconstruction.
- Prepare to discuss the impact of Johnson’s policies on Southern society and African Americans.