Topic 1.1: Aims of Reconstruction
The aims of Reconstruction varied for different groups of Americans depending upon their goals:
Abraham Lincoln’s aim for Reconstruction
Abraham Lincoln’s aim was to preserve the Union and end the Civil War as quickly as possible. He promised an easy Reconstruction in order to persuade southern states to surrender. Lincoln promised that if 10% of the people of a state would pledge their allegiance to the United States of America and ratify the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery, they could form a new state government, elect representatives to Congress and fully participate in the Union again. Lincoln was assassinated soon after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox courthouse. His assassination did not immediately change the course of Reconstruction. However, Reconstruction policy did change within a year. It is a common assumption that Lincoln’s easy Reconstruction policy would have continued if he had lived. However, Lincoln was determined to protect the rights of the freed slaves and his policy may have become stricter as southerners defied the intention of the 13th amendment.
Abraham Lincoln’s aim was to preserve the Union and end the Civil War as quickly as possible. He promised an easy Reconstruction in order to persuade southern states to surrender. Lincoln promised that if 10% of the people of a state would pledge their allegiance to the United States of America and ratify the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery, they could form a new state government, elect representatives to Congress and fully participate in the Union again. Lincoln was assassinated soon after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox courthouse. His assassination did not immediately change the course of Reconstruction. However, Reconstruction policy did change within a year. It is a common assumption that Lincoln’s easy Reconstruction policy would have continued if he had lived. However, Lincoln was determined to protect the rights of the freed slaves and his policy may have become stricter as southerners defied the intention of the 13th amendment.
Andrew Johnson’s aim for Reconstruction
When Vice President Andrew Johnson became president, he continued Lincoln’s basic policy. However, Johnson’s aim was also to humiliate the southern elite. He required southerners who owned large amounts of property to ask for a presidential pardon. Johnson wanted the elite southerners to acknowledge his power, but he granted pardons easily. While Congress was not in session, Johnson allowed southern states to form new state governments.
When Vice President Andrew Johnson became president, he continued Lincoln’s basic policy. However, Johnson’s aim was also to humiliate the southern elite. He required southerners who owned large amounts of property to ask for a presidential pardon. Johnson wanted the elite southerners to acknowledge his power, but he granted pardons easily. While Congress was not in session, Johnson allowed southern states to form new state governments.
Southerners aim for Reconstruction
Once they were defeated, the aim of many southerners was return their lives to as normal as possible, but many did not want the society they knew to change politically, socially, or economically. They were willing to recognize the end of slavery, but were not willing to grant rights to the freedmen. Southern states passed laws known as Black Codes that replaced the slave codes and kept the freedmen in positions of social, political and economic inferiority. Southerners used violence and threats to intimidate their former slaves. Southerners also elected former Confederates to Congress. |
United States Congress aim for Reconstruction
The aim of the United States Congress for Reconstruction was different from that of Southerners or the President. They wanted to ensure that the Civil War had not been fought in vain and that the freed slaves would indeed be free. They refused to allow the former Confederates elected as senators and representatives by the southern states to take their seats in Congress. They passed a bill extending the Freedman’s Bureau so that it could continue to protect the rights of the freedman against the Black Codes. President Johnson vetoed the bill, but Congress overrode the veto. Congress also passed the 14th amendment, which recognized the citizenship of African Americans, and recognized the rights of all citizens to “due process of law” and “equal protection of the laws.” Southern states refused to ratify the amendment and President Johnson campaigned against the 14th amendment in the Congressional elections of 1866. Because the violence against freedmen had been described in the Northern newspapers, voters elected Republicans to Congress who promised to protect the outcome of the war and the freedom of the freedmen (and would, in turn, receive their voting loyalty-4 million strong!). This Republican Congress then established a new Congressional Reconstruction policy calling for military occupation of the southern states. Southern states were required to write new constitutions that would recognize the 14th amendment and the rights of African American citizens. This Congressional Reconstruction policy has been called Radical Reconstruction. This was a term that was used by southern critics to discredit Congressional Reconstruction by labeling it radical or excessive.
The aim of the United States Congress for Reconstruction was different from that of Southerners or the President. They wanted to ensure that the Civil War had not been fought in vain and that the freed slaves would indeed be free. They refused to allow the former Confederates elected as senators and representatives by the southern states to take their seats in Congress. They passed a bill extending the Freedman’s Bureau so that it could continue to protect the rights of the freedman against the Black Codes. President Johnson vetoed the bill, but Congress overrode the veto. Congress also passed the 14th amendment, which recognized the citizenship of African Americans, and recognized the rights of all citizens to “due process of law” and “equal protection of the laws.” Southern states refused to ratify the amendment and President Johnson campaigned against the 14th amendment in the Congressional elections of 1866. Because the violence against freedmen had been described in the Northern newspapers, voters elected Republicans to Congress who promised to protect the outcome of the war and the freedom of the freedmen (and would, in turn, receive their voting loyalty-4 million strong!). This Republican Congress then established a new Congressional Reconstruction policy calling for military occupation of the southern states. Southern states were required to write new constitutions that would recognize the 14th amendment and the rights of African American citizens. This Congressional Reconstruction policy has been called Radical Reconstruction. This was a term that was used by southern critics to discredit Congressional Reconstruction by labeling it radical or excessive.
African Americans aim for Reconstruction
The aim of southern African Americans for Reconstruction was different from that of Southern whites and often from that of the United States Congress. African Americans wanted to consolidate their families and communities; establish a network of churches and other autonomous institutions; stake a claim to equal citizenship, which included access to land and education; and carve out as much independence as possible in their working lives.
(Source: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/ccr/Standards-Learning/documents/Grade5.pdf)
The aim of southern African Americans for Reconstruction was different from that of Southern whites and often from that of the United States Congress. African Americans wanted to consolidate their families and communities; establish a network of churches and other autonomous institutions; stake a claim to equal citizenship, which included access to land and education; and carve out as much independence as possible in their working lives.
(Source: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/ccr/Standards-Learning/documents/Grade5.pdf)