Reconstruction
1865-1877
, Abraham Lincoln: 1861-1865
• Ten Percent Plan (1864): Admittance of rebel states into the Union
ten percent of their electorate agreed to an oath of further allegian
to the USA.
• Wade-Davis Bill (June 1865): 50 percent of the rebel state’s elector
had to agree to the oath. It excluded Confederacy states from
government roles in future. Lincoln vetoed it.
• The 13th Amendment (1865): Formal freeing of all slaves in America
• Freedmen’s Bureau (1865): US agency set up for a year to help form
slaves and gave advice on education and employment and helped
establish schools for African-Americans.
, Andrew Johnson: 1865-1869
• Opposition from Radical Republicans.
• Civil Rights Bill (1866): Vetoed by Johnson but overturned by Congress. Gives minimum righ
African-Americans.
• The 14th Amendment (1868): All citizens granted equality under the law and citizenship.
Opposed by ex-Confederate states (except Tennessee) and failed to get the 75% approval fr
the states for it to be law.
• Congressional Bills:
• Military Reconstruction Bill (1867): Military rule on the 10 Southern states. States grouped
5 military districts and placed under a federal commander. To get back into the Union, the
states had to elect national conventions which would accept black suffrage and the 14 th
Amendment.
• Command of the Army Act: Reduced Johnson’s military powers.
• Tenure of Office Act: Prevented Johnson removing office-holders.
, Ulysses S. Grant: 1869-1877
• The 15th Amendment (1869): Citizens of any race or colour could vote,
wherever they lived.
• Scandals:
• Black Friday (September 1869): Speculators attempted to influence the
government and manipulate the gold market. The failed plot resulted in a
financial panic. Grant’s reputation suffered because he was associated wi
two of the speculators.
• The Whiskey Ring Scandal (1975): Network of distillers, distributors and
public officials who conspired to defraud the federal government of millio
in liquor tax revenue. Grant’s private secretary, Orville Babcock was
indicated in the scandal but acquitted thanks to Grant.
1865-1877
, Abraham Lincoln: 1861-1865
• Ten Percent Plan (1864): Admittance of rebel states into the Union
ten percent of their electorate agreed to an oath of further allegian
to the USA.
• Wade-Davis Bill (June 1865): 50 percent of the rebel state’s elector
had to agree to the oath. It excluded Confederacy states from
government roles in future. Lincoln vetoed it.
• The 13th Amendment (1865): Formal freeing of all slaves in America
• Freedmen’s Bureau (1865): US agency set up for a year to help form
slaves and gave advice on education and employment and helped
establish schools for African-Americans.
, Andrew Johnson: 1865-1869
• Opposition from Radical Republicans.
• Civil Rights Bill (1866): Vetoed by Johnson but overturned by Congress. Gives minimum righ
African-Americans.
• The 14th Amendment (1868): All citizens granted equality under the law and citizenship.
Opposed by ex-Confederate states (except Tennessee) and failed to get the 75% approval fr
the states for it to be law.
• Congressional Bills:
• Military Reconstruction Bill (1867): Military rule on the 10 Southern states. States grouped
5 military districts and placed under a federal commander. To get back into the Union, the
states had to elect national conventions which would accept black suffrage and the 14 th
Amendment.
• Command of the Army Act: Reduced Johnson’s military powers.
• Tenure of Office Act: Prevented Johnson removing office-holders.
, Ulysses S. Grant: 1869-1877
• The 15th Amendment (1869): Citizens of any race or colour could vote,
wherever they lived.
• Scandals:
• Black Friday (September 1869): Speculators attempted to influence the
government and manipulate the gold market. The failed plot resulted in a
financial panic. Grant’s reputation suffered because he was associated wi
two of the speculators.
• The Whiskey Ring Scandal (1975): Network of distillers, distributors and
public officials who conspired to defraud the federal government of millio
in liquor tax revenue. Grant’s private secretary, Orville Babcock was
indicated in the scandal but acquitted thanks to Grant.
