Post Civil War

After the North defeated the South in the Civil War, all that remained of the divided country was ruins of towns, cities, factories, and homes. The Northern and Southern people were divided into two different parts, and so politicians had to face the task of putting the divided country back together into the Union. The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 laid out the process for readmitting Southern States into the Union. In the South Reconstruction meant rebuilding the economy, establishing new state and local governments and establishing a new social structure between whites and blacks, but many social and political views made it much difficult.

President Lincoln came up with 10% Plan to reconstruct the South which stated that a state could be readmitted into the Union if 10% of its voters swore a oath of allegiance to Union; as well as, the plan meant that those southern states had to abolish slavery, but radicals opposed his plan and wrote Wade-Davis Bill in contrast to 10% plan that made re-admittance to the Union with the majority votes instead of 10% votes. Andrew Johnson became President in 1865 after the assassination of Lincoln. He carried out Reconstruction Act with his restoration plan. According to his plan, pardons would be offered to all southern whites except wealthy Confederate supporters and the main Confederate leaders. He rejected the radical program of harsh reconstruction and thus political warfare existed between Johnson (allied with Democrats) and the Radicals.

Under Johnson’s presidency, Black Codes was passed that was unfair for African Americans. Republicans opposed his plan as it was disloyal to blacks. Also, Congress rejected Johnson’s argument that he had the power to decide what to do. Tenure of Office Act was passed that denied the president power to remove anyone unless approved by the senate. As Congress took over the power from the president in Reconstruction Acts, congressional reconstruction began which divided up the south...