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5.10 Reconstruction

4 min readdecember 29, 2022

Robby May

Robby May

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Robby May

Robby May

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

The were:

  1. What do we do with the former Confederates?

  2. What do we do with the formerly enslaved people?

  3. Who should be in charge of deciding #1 & #2: Congress or the President?

Reconstruction Amendments

The Civil War and Reconstruction led to enormous political changes in the United States. First, the federal government was much more powerful after the Civil War and protected the rights of citizens in new ways. The best examples are the three :

  • The abolished slavery.

  • The granted African Americans citizenship and equal protection under the laws.

  • The granted African American men voting rights. Women’s rights were dealt a setback when they were not included in the 14th and rights, and this split the movement, which had previously included both black rights advocates and women’s rights advocates.

Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan

Prior to Lincoln’s assassination, he had established the (often called the ), which provided: 

  •  Full presidential pardons would be granted to most Confederates who (1) took an oath of allegiance to the Union and the US Constitution and (2) accepted the emancipation of slaves.

  • A state government could be reestablished and accepted as legitimate by the United States president as soon as at least 10% of the voters in that state took the loyalty oath.

Congress and Wade-Davis Reconstruction

Many Republicans in Congress objected to Lincoln’s , arguing that it would allow a supposedly reconstructed state government to fall under the domination of disloyal secessionists. In 1864, Congress passed the , which proposed far more demanding and stringent terms for Reconstruction. It required:

  • 50% of the voters of a state take a loyalty oath

  • Permitted only non-Confederates to vote for a new state constitution. 

Lincoln exercised a pocket veto by refusing to sign the bill before Congress adjourned. 

Freedmen's Bureau 

In March 1865, Congress created an important new agency: the , known simply as the Freedmen’s Bureau. The bureau acted as an early welfare agency, providing food, shelter, and medical aid for those made destitute by the war—both blacks (chiefly freed slaves) and homeless whites.

The bureau's greatest success was in education. Under the leadership of , it established nearly 3000 schools for freed blacks, including several colleges. 📚

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan

After Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat who was on Lincoln’s 1864 ticket to provide national unity appeal, became president. He began, in 1865, a process called , where the South was allowed to reenter the Union with the ratification of the . They were also allowed to pass and discriminate against Freedmen (former slaves). 

What were Black Codes?

restricted the rights and movements of former slaves. The codes:

  • Prohibited blacks from either renting land or borrowing money to buy land. 💸

  • Placed freedmen into a form of semi-bondage by forcing them, as “vagrants” and “apprentices,” to sign work contracts.

  • Prohibited blacks from testifying against whites in court. ⚖️

  • Most codes made black unemployment a crime, which meant that blacks had to make long-term contracts with white employers or be arrested for vagrancy.

  • Others limited the occupations that they could have to include servants or laborers only. 

Congressional Radical Republican Reconstruction 

When Congressional Radical Republicans came into session, they rejected Johnson’s plans and clashed with him repeatedly over Reconstruction policies. They passed numerous laws over his veto.

Radical Republicans also passed the that declared all people born in the US citizens and deserving of equal rights (repudiating Dred Scott and later reinforced by the ). Over Johnson’s veto, Congress passed the , which:

  • Placed the South under military occupation, dividing the former Confederate states into five military districts, each under the control of the Union army.

  • States had to ratify the to be readmitted. 

  • Placed guarantees in its constitution for granting the franchise (vote) to all adult males, regardless of race. 

This period of Congressional Reconstruction also led to the first black congresspeople, including Blanche K. Bruce & Hiram Revels as the first Black US Senators. 

Johnson’s Impeachment

The obstacle to enforcing congressional Reconstruction was Johnson. He sought to thwart the will of Congress by administering the plan in his own fashion. He began to dismiss officeholders who sympathized with Radical Reconstruction and countermanded the orders of generals in charge of southern military districts who were enforcing the new legislation.

Congress responded by passing legislation limiting presidential authority over Reconstruction matters. The required Senate approval for the removal of Cabinet officers and other officials whose appointment needed the consent of the Senate.

When Johnson tried to discharge (the only Radical in the Cabinet) and persisted in his efforts despite disapproval by the Senate, the pro-impeachment forces gained strength. The House voted overwhelmingly to impeach the president on February 24. He was then placed on trial before the Senate. 

The effort to remove him from office fell one vote short.

🎥 Watch: AP US History - Reconstruction

Key Terms to Review (23)

10% Plan

: This was a plan proposed by President Lincoln during the Civil War for reconstructing the Southern states after their surrender. It required only 10% of voters in each Southern state to take an oath of allegiance to the Union for it to be readmitted.

13th Amendment

: The 13th Amendment is a part of the U.S. Constitution that was ratified in 1865, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

14th Amendment

: The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves, and guaranteed all citizens "equal protection of the laws."

15th Amendment

: The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1870) prohibited governments from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Black Codes

: These were laws passed by Southern states in 1865 and 1866, after the Civil War, with the intent to restrict African Americans' freedom and compel them to work in a labor economy based on low wages or debt.

Blanche K. Bruce & Hiram Revels

: Blanche K. Bruce and Hiram Revels were African-American politicians during Reconstruction. Revels was first African American senator while Bruce was first elected black senator to serve a full term.

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands

: This is another name for the Freedmen's Bureau. It was established by Congress in 1865 with the aim of helping former black slaves and poor whites in South after Civil War.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

: This was the first United States federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law. It was mainly intended to protect the civil rights of African-Americans in the wake of the American Civil War.

Congress and Wade-Davis Reconstruction

: This was a plan proposed by Radical Republicans in Congress for reconstructing Southern states after the Civil War. It required a majority of white males in each state to swear loyalty to the Union, and it denied political rights to anyone who had voluntarily fought for the Confederacy.

Congressional Radical Republican Reconstruction

: This refers to the period following the Civil War when Radical Republicans in Congress took control of Reconstruction policies. They aimed at ensuring equal rights for freed slaves, punishing former Confederates, and preventing them from regaining power.

Freedmen's Bureau

: Officially known as Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, it was established by Congress in 1865 to help former black slaves and poor whites in South after Civil War. It provided food, housing, medical aid, established schools and offered legal assistance.

General Oliver Howard

: General Oliver Howard was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and a key figure in post-war Reconstruction. He headed the Freedmen's Bureau, an agency aimed at helping freed slaves transition to freedom and citizenship.

Johnson’s Impeachment

: This refers to President Andrew Johnson's impeachment in 1868 by the House of Representatives on charges of violating the Tenure of Office Act, but he was acquitted by the Senate.

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan

: This was President Andrew Johnson's plan for rebuilding the South after the Civil War. It offered amnesty to Southerners who pledged loyalty to the Union, except high-ranking Confederate officials and wealthy plantation owners. It also allowed Southern states to rejoin once they had rewritten their state constitutions abolishing slavery.

Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan

: This was President Abraham Lincoln's plan to reunify the country after the Civil War, offering a lenient way for Southern states to rejoin the Union. It included pardoning Southerners who swore allegiance to the Union and allowing a state to form its own government after 10% of its voters pledged loyalty to the U.S.

Presidential Reconstruction

: This refers to the period immediately following the Civil War (1865-1867) when Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson took charge of Reconstruction, aiming to quickly reunite the country while also protecting former slaves' rights.

Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction

: This was a proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the Civil War. It offered pardon to Confederates who would swear loyalty to the Union, excluding high-ranking officials and those accused of crimes against prisoners of war.

Reconstruction Act of 1867

: The Reconstruction Act of 1867 was a law passed by the U.S. Congress that divided the South into five military districts, each under a Union general, in order to protect the rights of freed slaves and ensure fair elections.

Reconstruction Amendments

: The Reconstruction Amendments are the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments added to U.S Constitution between 1865-1870 during post-Civil War era known as "Reconstruction". They abolished slavery (13th), granted citizenship rights (14th) and voting rights (15th) to former slaves.

Secretary of War Edwin Stanton

: Edwin McMasters Stanton served as Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln during most of American Civil War. His effective management helped organize massive military resources needed for war.

Tenure of Office Act

: The Tenure of Office Act was a federal law enacted by the United States Congress in 1867, during the Reconstruction Era. It restricted the power of the President to dismiss certain officeholders without the Senate's approval.

Three big questions of Reconstruction

: The three big questions of Reconstruction refer to the major issues that the United States grappled with after the Civil War. These include how to reintegrate Southern states into the Union, what status freed slaves should have, and who would control this process.

Wade-Davis Bill

: The Wade-Davis Bill was a proposal for the Reconstruction of the South written by two Radical Republicans, Benjamin Wade and Henry Winter Davis, in 1864. It required 50% of a state's voters to take an "ironclad" oath of allegiance (swearing they had never voluntarily aided the rebellion) before the process of restoration could begin.

5.10 Reconstruction

4 min readdecember 29, 2022

Robby May

Robby May

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

Robby May

Robby May

Caleb Lagerwey

Caleb Lagerwey

Jillian Holbrook

Jillian Holbrook

The were:

  1. What do we do with the former Confederates?

  2. What do we do with the formerly enslaved people?

  3. Who should be in charge of deciding #1 & #2: Congress or the President?

Reconstruction Amendments

The Civil War and Reconstruction led to enormous political changes in the United States. First, the federal government was much more powerful after the Civil War and protected the rights of citizens in new ways. The best examples are the three :

  • The abolished slavery.

  • The granted African Americans citizenship and equal protection under the laws.

  • The granted African American men voting rights. Women’s rights were dealt a setback when they were not included in the 14th and rights, and this split the movement, which had previously included both black rights advocates and women’s rights advocates.

Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan

Prior to Lincoln’s assassination, he had established the (often called the ), which provided: 

  •  Full presidential pardons would be granted to most Confederates who (1) took an oath of allegiance to the Union and the US Constitution and (2) accepted the emancipation of slaves.

  • A state government could be reestablished and accepted as legitimate by the United States president as soon as at least 10% of the voters in that state took the loyalty oath.

Congress and Wade-Davis Reconstruction

Many Republicans in Congress objected to Lincoln’s , arguing that it would allow a supposedly reconstructed state government to fall under the domination of disloyal secessionists. In 1864, Congress passed the , which proposed far more demanding and stringent terms for Reconstruction. It required:

  • 50% of the voters of a state take a loyalty oath

  • Permitted only non-Confederates to vote for a new state constitution. 

Lincoln exercised a pocket veto by refusing to sign the bill before Congress adjourned. 

Freedmen's Bureau 

In March 1865, Congress created an important new agency: the , known simply as the Freedmen’s Bureau. The bureau acted as an early welfare agency, providing food, shelter, and medical aid for those made destitute by the war—both blacks (chiefly freed slaves) and homeless whites.

The bureau's greatest success was in education. Under the leadership of , it established nearly 3000 schools for freed blacks, including several colleges. 📚

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan

After Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat who was on Lincoln’s 1864 ticket to provide national unity appeal, became president. He began, in 1865, a process called , where the South was allowed to reenter the Union with the ratification of the . They were also allowed to pass and discriminate against Freedmen (former slaves). 

What were Black Codes?

restricted the rights and movements of former slaves. The codes:

  • Prohibited blacks from either renting land or borrowing money to buy land. 💸

  • Placed freedmen into a form of semi-bondage by forcing them, as “vagrants” and “apprentices,” to sign work contracts.

  • Prohibited blacks from testifying against whites in court. ⚖️

  • Most codes made black unemployment a crime, which meant that blacks had to make long-term contracts with white employers or be arrested for vagrancy.

  • Others limited the occupations that they could have to include servants or laborers only. 

Congressional Radical Republican Reconstruction 

When Congressional Radical Republicans came into session, they rejected Johnson’s plans and clashed with him repeatedly over Reconstruction policies. They passed numerous laws over his veto.

Radical Republicans also passed the that declared all people born in the US citizens and deserving of equal rights (repudiating Dred Scott and later reinforced by the ). Over Johnson’s veto, Congress passed the , which:

  • Placed the South under military occupation, dividing the former Confederate states into five military districts, each under the control of the Union army.

  • States had to ratify the to be readmitted. 

  • Placed guarantees in its constitution for granting the franchise (vote) to all adult males, regardless of race. 

This period of Congressional Reconstruction also led to the first black congresspeople, including Blanche K. Bruce & Hiram Revels as the first Black US Senators. 

Johnson’s Impeachment

The obstacle to enforcing congressional Reconstruction was Johnson. He sought to thwart the will of Congress by administering the plan in his own fashion. He began to dismiss officeholders who sympathized with Radical Reconstruction and countermanded the orders of generals in charge of southern military districts who were enforcing the new legislation.

Congress responded by passing legislation limiting presidential authority over Reconstruction matters. The required Senate approval for the removal of Cabinet officers and other officials whose appointment needed the consent of the Senate.

When Johnson tried to discharge (the only Radical in the Cabinet) and persisted in his efforts despite disapproval by the Senate, the pro-impeachment forces gained strength. The House voted overwhelmingly to impeach the president on February 24. He was then placed on trial before the Senate. 

The effort to remove him from office fell one vote short.

🎥 Watch: AP US History - Reconstruction

Key Terms to Review (23)

10% Plan

: This was a plan proposed by President Lincoln during the Civil War for reconstructing the Southern states after their surrender. It required only 10% of voters in each Southern state to take an oath of allegiance to the Union for it to be readmitted.

13th Amendment

: The 13th Amendment is a part of the U.S. Constitution that was ratified in 1865, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

14th Amendment

: The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves, and guaranteed all citizens "equal protection of the laws."

15th Amendment

: The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1870) prohibited governments from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Black Codes

: These were laws passed by Southern states in 1865 and 1866, after the Civil War, with the intent to restrict African Americans' freedom and compel them to work in a labor economy based on low wages or debt.

Blanche K. Bruce & Hiram Revels

: Blanche K. Bruce and Hiram Revels were African-American politicians during Reconstruction. Revels was first African American senator while Bruce was first elected black senator to serve a full term.

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands

: This is another name for the Freedmen's Bureau. It was established by Congress in 1865 with the aim of helping former black slaves and poor whites in South after Civil War.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

: This was the first United States federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law. It was mainly intended to protect the civil rights of African-Americans in the wake of the American Civil War.

Congress and Wade-Davis Reconstruction

: This was a plan proposed by Radical Republicans in Congress for reconstructing Southern states after the Civil War. It required a majority of white males in each state to swear loyalty to the Union, and it denied political rights to anyone who had voluntarily fought for the Confederacy.

Congressional Radical Republican Reconstruction

: This refers to the period following the Civil War when Radical Republicans in Congress took control of Reconstruction policies. They aimed at ensuring equal rights for freed slaves, punishing former Confederates, and preventing them from regaining power.

Freedmen's Bureau

: Officially known as Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, it was established by Congress in 1865 to help former black slaves and poor whites in South after Civil War. It provided food, housing, medical aid, established schools and offered legal assistance.

General Oliver Howard

: General Oliver Howard was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and a key figure in post-war Reconstruction. He headed the Freedmen's Bureau, an agency aimed at helping freed slaves transition to freedom and citizenship.

Johnson’s Impeachment

: This refers to President Andrew Johnson's impeachment in 1868 by the House of Representatives on charges of violating the Tenure of Office Act, but he was acquitted by the Senate.

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan

: This was President Andrew Johnson's plan for rebuilding the South after the Civil War. It offered amnesty to Southerners who pledged loyalty to the Union, except high-ranking Confederate officials and wealthy plantation owners. It also allowed Southern states to rejoin once they had rewritten their state constitutions abolishing slavery.

Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan

: This was President Abraham Lincoln's plan to reunify the country after the Civil War, offering a lenient way for Southern states to rejoin the Union. It included pardoning Southerners who swore allegiance to the Union and allowing a state to form its own government after 10% of its voters pledged loyalty to the U.S.

Presidential Reconstruction

: This refers to the period immediately following the Civil War (1865-1867) when Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson took charge of Reconstruction, aiming to quickly reunite the country while also protecting former slaves' rights.

Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction

: This was a proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the Civil War. It offered pardon to Confederates who would swear loyalty to the Union, excluding high-ranking officials and those accused of crimes against prisoners of war.

Reconstruction Act of 1867

: The Reconstruction Act of 1867 was a law passed by the U.S. Congress that divided the South into five military districts, each under a Union general, in order to protect the rights of freed slaves and ensure fair elections.

Reconstruction Amendments

: The Reconstruction Amendments are the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments added to U.S Constitution between 1865-1870 during post-Civil War era known as "Reconstruction". They abolished slavery (13th), granted citizenship rights (14th) and voting rights (15th) to former slaves.

Secretary of War Edwin Stanton

: Edwin McMasters Stanton served as Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln during most of American Civil War. His effective management helped organize massive military resources needed for war.

Tenure of Office Act

: The Tenure of Office Act was a federal law enacted by the United States Congress in 1867, during the Reconstruction Era. It restricted the power of the President to dismiss certain officeholders without the Senate's approval.

Three big questions of Reconstruction

: The three big questions of Reconstruction refer to the major issues that the United States grappled with after the Civil War. These include how to reintegrate Southern states into the Union, what status freed slaves should have, and who would control this process.

Wade-Davis Bill

: The Wade-Davis Bill was a proposal for the Reconstruction of the South written by two Radical Republicans, Benjamin Wade and Henry Winter Davis, in 1864. It required 50% of a state's voters to take an "ironclad" oath of allegiance (swearing they had never voluntarily aided the rebellion) before the process of restoration could begin.


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.