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Lincoln sets forth 10 percent Reconstruction plan
This plan decreed that a state could be reinstated into the Union when 10 percent of voters pledged allegiance to the U.S. and agreed to accept emancipation. After electing a state government, the legislature would write a new constitution that abolished slavery forever. Members of Congress did not like this plan
Picture from: www.nps.gov
Title picture from: www.sitemason.com -
Wade-Davis Bill passes Congress but is pocket vetoed by Lincoln
This greatly contrasted Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan. It required a majority in each Southern state to say they had never supported the Confederacy. The bill passed both houses of Congress, but was pocket vetoed by Lincoln and never took effect. Picture from: www.library.jhu.edu -
Johnson moves to reconstruct the South of his own initative
Vice President Andrew Johnson spoke of hanging rebel Confederates, but when he succeeded Lincoln as President, Johnson took a much lighter approach. He pardoned many Confederate leaders and former Confederates, only executing one for war crimes.
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Congress refuses to seat representatives and senators elected from the states reestablished under presidential plan
Men in congress, mostly from the North, felt that the elections had not been fair. In many cases, a new election was held, In others, the loser, who was most commonly a Republican, was seated instead. Picture from: www.destination360.com -
Johnson vetoes Freedman's Bureau Bill
The bill was created by Lincoln and was meant to last for one year after the civil war. It's purpose was to to aid former slaves through education, health care, and employment, When it went up for renewal, Johnson disbanded it. Picture from: www.wikimedia.org -
Johnson vetoes Civil Rights Act; it passes over his veto
The act declared that all persons born in the United States were now citizens, without regard to race or color. They could make and enforce contracts, sue and be sued, give evidence in court, and inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property Picture from: www.unomaha.org -
Congress passes 14th Amendment
This amendment provides a broad definition of citizenship, overruling the decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford. The amendment's Equal Protection Clause requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all people. Picture from: www.thirteen.org -
Republicans increase their congressional majority in the fall election
The Republicans won a landslide, with enough votes to override Johnson's vetoes. Only three states voted Democratic (Delaware, Maryland and Kentucky). Picture from: www.nowpublic.net -
First Reconstruction Act is passed over Johnson's veto
This act divided the rebel states into military districts. It then put the US military in charge of these districts. Picture from: www.usg.edu -
Johnson is impeached; he avoids conviction by one vote
Johnson was impeached in House of Representatives on eleven articles of impeachment detailing his "high crimes and misdemeanors". The House's primary charge against Johnson was his removal of Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War, from office which went against the violation of the Tenure of Office Act.
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Southern blacks vote and serve in constitutional conventions
The first year Southern blacks were able to participate in federal elections was 1868. In most of the South, majority turnout for Republicans was a fair indicator of black enfranchisement. Picture from: www.k12.ms.us -
Grant wins presidential election, defeating Horatio Seymour
Grant won convincingly in the Electoral College, but the popular vote margin was only about 300,000. With 500,000 black votes cast, it was clear that former slaves provided the margin of victory. Picture from: www.historyplace.com -
Congress passes 15th Amendment, granting African Americans the right to vote
There are two sections to this Amendment. Section 1: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
And Section 2: The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Picture from: www.aakulturezone.com -
Congress passes Ku Klux Klan Acts to protect black voting rights in the South
The main reason for its passage was to protect southern blacks from the Ku Klux Klan by providing a civil remedy for abuses that were committed in the South. It has been subject to minor changes since then, but has been the subject to multiple interpretation by courts. Picture from: www.oregonlive.com -
Grant re-elected president, defeating Horace Greeley, candidate of Liberal Republicans and Democrats
Grant was reelected with Henry Wilson as his running mate with an electoral college majority of 286 to 66. He won by a popular majority of 763,000 over Horace Greeley. Picture from: www.hudsonlibrary.org -
Financial panic plunges nation into depression
The Panic of 1873 was the start of the Depression that lasted until 1879. It was one of a series of economic crises in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Picture from: www.peakoildesign.com -
Congress passes Specie Resumption Act
This act provided for the replacement of the Civil War currency by silver coins. It also reduced the greenback total to $300 million. Picture from: www.cartoonstock.com -
"Whiskey Ring" scandal exposed
The Whiskey Ring was a scandal involving the diversion of tax revenues. It consisted of a group of mostly Republican politicians were able to siphon off millions of dollars in federal taxes on liquor. The Whiskey Ring began in St. Louis but was also organized in Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Peoria. Picture from: www.harpweek.com -
Disputed presidential election resolved in favor of Republican Hayes over Democrat Tilden
Tilden outpolled Hayes in the popular vote, and had 184 electoral votes to Hayes' 165, with 20 votes uncounted. These 20 electoral votes were in dispute: in three states: Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. These 20 electorial votes were eventually awarded to Hayes after bitter debate. Picture from: www.teachersparadise.com -
Compromise of 1877 ends military intervention in the South and causes fall of the last Radical governments
The Compromise of 1877 was an informal, unwritten deal that settled the disputed 1876 election. Through it, Hayes was awarded the White House over Tilden if Hayes would remove the federal troops that were propping up Republican state governments in South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana. Picture from: www.harpweek.com
