Reconstruction era: the story on HearLore

Lincoln's Moderate Plan

In December 1864, Lincoln proposed a moderate plan for reconstructing captured Confederate state of Louisiana requiring only ten percent of its electorate to take loyalty oath before readmission. This approach granted amnesty to rebels who pledged allegiance while Black freedmen workers were tied to labor on plantations at $10 monthly pay rate for one year. The state had to abolish slavery in new constitution under this framework. Identical plans adopted in Arkansas and Tennessee by December 1864 saw legislatures sending senators and representatives to Washington though Congress refused counting votes from these states rejecting Lincoln's moderate approach entirely. Congress controlled by Radicals proposed Wade Davis Bill demanding majority of state electorates swear loyalty oath before admission to Congress. Lincoln pocket vetoed bill widening rift between moderates focused on preserving Union winning war versus radicals seeking complete societal change within South. Frederick Douglass denounced Lincoln's ten percent electorate plan as undemocratic since state admission depended solely on minority vote rather than broader participation. On the 3rd of February 1865, Lincoln met with three Southern representatives including Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens discussing peaceful reconstruction possibilities. Southerners proposed recognizing Confederacy joint attack on Mexico oust Emperor Maximilian I alternative subordinate status servitude Blacks instead slavery. Lincoln flatly rejected recognition saying slaves covered Emancipation Proclamation would not be re-enslaved urging governor Georgia remove Confederate troops ratify constitutional amendment taking effect say five years stating slavery doomed. Although meeting cordial parties did settle agreements leaving questions unresolved about how well Lincoln handled Congress during post-war process if he lived longer. One historical camp argues flexibility pragmatism superior political skills solved Reconstruction less difficulty while other believes Radicals attempted impeach him just they did successor Andrew Johnson in 1868.

Johnson's Presidential Reckoning

Vice President Andrew Johnson succeeded Lincoln after assassination the 14th of April 1865 becoming president taking much softer position pardoning many Confederate leaders former Confederates though Former Confederate President Jefferson Davis held prison two years others not tried treason charges only executed Captain Henry Wirz commandant Andersonville Georgia prison camp guerilla leaders Champ Ferguson Henry C. Magruder war crimes trials never occurred despite jury empaneled May 1867 United States Circuit Court Virginia Richmond for treason trial Jefferson Davis ultimately didn't happen. Johnson's racist view excluded blacks government involvement refusing heed Northern concerns Southern state legislatures implemented Black Codes setting freedmen status lower whites. Smith argues Johnson carried forward considered Lincoln plans McKitrick says 1865 strong support Republican Party drawing comfort great moderate sector Unionist opinion North Ray Allen Billington states one faction moderates under leadership Presidents Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson favored mild policy toward South David A Lincove citing biographers James G Randall Richard N Current argued historians generally agree inept politician lost advantages unskilled maneuvering broke Congress early 1866 defiant blocking enforcement Reconstruction laws passed U.S Congress constant conflict constitutionally Radicals over status freedmen whites defeated South Benjamin Franklin Perry provisional governor South Carolina words Negro invested political power antagonism interest capital labor work out result fears planter elite leading white citizens partly assuaged actions President ensuring wholesale land redistribution planters freedmen did occur ordered confiscated abandoned lands administered Freedmen Bureau redistributed freedmen returned pardoned owners land forfeited Confiscation Acts passed Congress 1861 1862 repudiated Sherman Special Field Order Number 15 source 40 acres mule promise reparations former slaves.

Radical Reconstruction Era

Congressional Republicans took control Reconstruction policies after election 1866 ignoring policy mandate openly encouraging Southern states deny ratification Fourteenth Amendment except Tennessee all former Confederate states refused ratification border states Delaware Maryland Kentucky. Radical Republicans led Stevens Sumner opened way suffrage male freedmen generally control though compromised moderate Republicans Democrats Congress almost no power period called Radical Reconstruction congressional reconstruction Foner entitles sixth chapter Making Radical Reconstruction Benedict argues conservatives many issues business spokesmen North opposed Radical proposals analysis 34 major business newspapers showed twelve discussed politics one Iron Age supported radicalism other eleven opposed harsh Reconstruction policy favored speedy return Southern states congressional representation opposed legislation designed protect freedmen deplored impeachment President Andrew Johnson. South White leaders held power immediate post-bellum era before vote granted freedmen renounced secession slavery not White supremacy people previously held power angered 1867 new elections held New Republican lawmakers elected coalition White Unionists freedmen Northerners settled South tried accommodate conditions constitutional amendments Three adopted Thirteenth abolishing slavery ratified 1865 Fourteenth proposed 1866 ratified 1868 guaranteeing citizenship born naturalized granting federal civil rights Fifteenth proposed late February 1869 passed early February 1870 decree right vote denied race color previous condition servitude left unaffected states determine voter registration electoral laws amendments directed ending slavery providing full citizenship freedmen northern congressmen believed providing Black men right vote rapid means political education training viewed panacea resolve freedman strife relieving northerners responsibility defending them Blacks took active part voting political life rapidly continued build churches community organizations Following Reconstruction White Democrats insurgent groups used force regain power state legislatures pass laws effectively disenfranchised most Blacks many poor Whites South 1890 to 1910 passed new constitutions completed disenfranchisement Blacks U.S Supreme Court rulings upheld provisions new Southern state constitutions prevented voting until mid-1960s civil rights movement.

Violence And Political Resistance

Southern state governments quickly enacted restrictive Black Codes abolished 1866 seldom had effect because Freedmen Bureau handled legal affairs freedmen indicated plans Southern whites former slaves would have more rights free Blacks before war still second-class civil rights no voting rights citizenship couldn't own firearms serve jury lawsuit involving whites move employment without. Black Codes outraged Northern opinion overthrown Civil Rights Act 1866 gave freedmen more legal equality though right vote. Freedmen strong backing Freedmen Bureau rejected gang labor work patterns used slavery Instead family-based labor groups forced planters bargain labor bargaining soon led establishment system sharecropping giving freedmen greater economic independence social autonomy lacked capital planters continued own means production tools draft animals land entered crop-lien system widespread poverty disruption agricultural economy too dependent cotton falling price routine indebtedness majority freedmen poverty many planters Northern officials varying reports conditions freedmen South harsh assessment Carl Schurz reported situation states along Gulf Coast documented dozens extrajudicial killings claimed hundreds thousands African Americans killed report included sworn testimony soldiers officials Freedmen Bureau Selma Alabama Major J P Houston noted whites killed twelve African Americans district never came trial Many more killings official cases Captain Poillon described white patrols southwestern Alabama Much violence perpetrated against African Americans shaped gender prejudices regarding Black women particularly vulnerable situation convict white man sexually assaulting Black women period exceedingly difficult South judicial system wholly refigured make primary purpose coercion African Americans comply social customs labor demands whites Trials discouraged attorneys Black misdemeanor defendants difficult find goal county courts fast uncomplicated trial resulting conviction Most Blacks unable pay fines bail common penalty nine months year slave mine lumber camp South's judicial system rigged generate fees claim bounties ensure public protection.

The Compromise Of 1877

the 6th of November 1876 presidential election Hayes Tilden resulted electoral dispute Florida South Carolina Louisiana Rutherford highly disputed victory 1877 coincides removal federal troops South. Historians generally mark end Reconstruction conventional date 1877 reduction role federal troops regional politics Later dates suggested Fritzhugh Brundage proposed ended 1890 Republicans failed pass Lodge Bill secure voting rights Black Americans South Heather Cox Richardson argued periodization 1865 until 1920 when election President Warren G Harding marked end national sentiment favor using government promote equality Manisha Sinha periodized 1860 Lincoln won office president opposed slavery until 1920 America ratified Nineteenth Amendment United States Constitution affirming right women vote called last Reconstruction amendment drew upon Reconstruction belief government protect civil political rights Efforts enforce federal civil rights South ended 1890 failure Lodge Bill Dating historically dated from end Civil War 1865 until 1877 though other periodization schemes proposed recently 20th century most scholars began review 1865 end formal hostilities North South landmark 1988 monograph Eric Foner proposed 1863 starting Emancipation Proclamation Port Royal Experiment earnest debate Reconstruction policies war By 2017 among scholars widely understood started either 1863 Emancipation Proclamation 1865 end war Reconstruction Era National Historical Park proposed 1861 starting interpreting beginning soon Union captured territory Confederacy Downs Masur began first US soldiers arrived slaveholding territory enslaved people escaped Soon afterwards early discourse experimentation began regarding Reconstruction policies provided opportunities enslaved Gullah populations Sea Islands became free overnight the 7th of November 1861 Battle Port Royal slaveholders fled After battle reconstruction policies implemented under Port Royal Experiment education landownership labor reform transition free society called Rehearsal Reconstruction.

Common questions

When did the Reconstruction era begin and end?

The Reconstruction era began in 1865 following the end of hostilities on land after General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant on the 9th of April 1865. The conventional date for the end of the period is 1877 coinciding with the removal of federal troops from the South.

What were the three constitutional amendments passed during Reconstruction?

The Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery was ratified in 1865. The Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing citizenship born naturalized granting federal civil rights was proposed in 1866 and ratified in 1868. The Fifteenth Amendment decreeing right vote denied race color previous condition servitude was passed early February 1870.

How many enslaved people gained freedom through the Emancipation Proclamation?

Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on the 1st of January 1863 which declared that all persons held as slaves within Confederate territory were forever free. This proclamation altered the legal status of 3.5 million persons held as slaves but did not apply to states like Tennessee or Kentucky where slavery remained legal under state law.

Who succeeded Abraham Lincoln as president after his assassination?

What happened during the election dispute between Hayes and Tilden in 1876?

The presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden resulted in an electoral dispute over Florida South Carolina Louisiana leading to a highly disputed victory for Hayes in 1877. This event coincides with removal federal troops from the South marking the end of Reconstruction by historians generally.

Reconstruction era.