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Lincoln's 10% Plan
Lincoln's 10% plan required ten percent of a southern state's voters to take an oath of loyalty to the US and accept the Union's proclamations concerning slavery. After that, the state could organize their new state government. Those that took the oath were granted amnesty, and military officers and Confederate officials were not permitted to take the oath. This plan is considered to be leniant in comparison to the others. -
Wade-Davis Bill
The Wade-Davis Bill required the majority of a Confederate state to take an oath of allegiance to the Union. The state could then hold a Constitutional convention to create a new state government. Each convention was required to abolish slavery, reject all debt and deprive former Confederate government officials and military officers of the right to vote or hold office. This plan was harsher than Lincoln's. -
13th Ammendment
The 13th Amendment banned slavery in the United States. -
Freedman's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau was the creation of Thaddeus Stevens, leader of the Radical Republicans. It was thought up to combat the lack of attention given to the African Americans by president Johnson. Its purpose was to ease the transition for African Americans from slavery to freedom, helping with bare necessities such as food and clothing. -
Lincoln Assassinated
On the evening of April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth while attending a performance. Lincoln's assassination was all part of a greater conspiracy, but Wilkes Booth was the only one who was successful. -
Johnson's Plan for Reconstruction
Johnson's plan offered pardon to all citizen's who took and oath of loyalty to the Union and returned to their property. This excluded former Confederate officials and citizens that owned 20,000 or more acres of land. These people could personally apply (aka grovel) to Johnson for the pardon. Each state then had to call a Constitutional Convention to revoke its ordinance of secession, ratify the 13th amendment and reject all civil war debts. -
14th Ammendment
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and declared that no state could deprive any person of life, liberty, or property "without due process of the law". -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was all about equality. It was put into action because Johnson's Plan made no mention of equality for African Americans. So, Congress passed its own way to help them. The Civil Rights Act was also issued to combat the Black Codes by providing protection and fighting for equality for the freed slaves. -
Military Reconstruction
Military Reconstruction was created by Congress to wipe out all of Johnson's programs and protect the freed slaves. It divided the former confederacy into 5 military districts, placing a union general in charge of each district. Each former Confederate state then had to hold another Constitutional Convention in which they needed to give the right to vote to all male citizens, regardless if their race. After all this, and ratifying the 14th amendment, they could then elect members to Congress. -
Johnson's Impeachment
Johnson's Impeachment was the doing of the Radical Republicans. They viewed him as an obstacle, and decided they needed to get rid of him. The Radical Republicans had Congress pass two (unconstitutional) laws, which restricted the power of the president. Johnson had no choice but to break them, and the House immediately convened and impeached him. He was then found not guilty by just one vote, yet Johnson was virtually powerless because of the Radical Republican's control. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment declared the right to vote "shall not be denied...on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." -
KKK Act
The Ku Klux Klan Act was enacted by president Grant to protect the African Americans from the Klan activity by punishing and outlawing the Klan all together. Klansmen were prosecuted in federal court, and federal officials were used to enforce the act. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was an economic depression which involved the failure of banks and businesses. People became hard-crusted about money, and were worried about their own troubles, not those of the South. This event was important, as it took focus off of Reconstruction. -
Whiskey Ring
The Whiskey Ring was a political scandal which took place during the administration of president Grant. Whiskey distillers were defrauding the government of the taxes from the liquor, and the treasurer was involved in taking kick backs and ignored the tax fraud. -
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 decided the election of 1876. The trade-off decided upon between the Democrats and Republicans was that, in exchange for control of the states of Floridam South Carolina, and Louisianna, the Democrats would give the presidency to the Republicans. The Republicans bailed on the South and took office, and this Compromise ended Reconstruction.
