I thought I would do a recap of today’s lecture because that seems to be trending, so here you go:
After the Civil War, a period of reconstruction, or to others, restoration, dawned upon the United States. With the end of slavery, came the Jim Crow Segregation laws, but as we learned earlier, the Emancipation Proclamation was not the real end of slavery. Slavery was not technically abolished until 1865, when the 13th Amendment was passed. However, as this amendment protects people from involuntary servile, it does not give protection for any other rights of the “freedmen” or freed slaves. This gave rise to the Black Codes, that ensured that freed blacks really didn’t have any freedom at all. As we look back on this situation now, it is fairly ironic how, although the blacks were claimed to be freed, the whites were still enslaving them in any way they possibly could. This was especially apparent in “crop sharing”, which was clearly demonstrated by Mr. Stewart, if you can recall. These types of situations lead to the Civil Rights Act and Freedmen’s Bureau in 1866, which were both vetoed by President Johnson. It is important to note that these propositions were vetoed by Johnson, because, as he was Lincoln’s second in command, his purpose in the election was only to attract the popular vote. This means that he appealed to the South and supported their values as his own, which translated negatively to the republican government Lincoln had set up. However(this is where the title of this post comes in), Congress is right there to override these inappropriate vetoes and carry out the Lincoln Plan.
Hope this helped!:)
Thanks for the summary. It is very helpful. I find this idea of reconstruction vs. restoration is interesting. Although he never lived to see it, all of Lincoln's famous speeches (it seems to me) would have promoted restoration. In his House Divided speech, Lincoln explained "a house divided against itself cannot stand." Lincoln felt expressing menace toward the South was never a good idea, because the country cannot survive this way. In his letter in a response to the Prayer of Twenty Millions, Lincoln explained that if he could abolish slavery and slave the union, he would. If he could continue slavery and keep the union, he still would. In other words.. union union union. Lincoln was much more interested in union than eventual revenge on the South. Lastly, in Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address, he explained that as the Union won the war, (this is in 1864) he would welcome the South back in with open arms. Very directly, Lincoln is explaining that he only wishes to restore the South. He has no interest in reconstructing it.
ReplyDeleteThis is all in contrast to the radical republicans, such as Ben Wade, who wanted reconstruction. The Wade-Davis Bill, for example, called for much harsher treatment of the South and a 50% oath of allegiance, in comparison to Lincoln's 10%.
In the end, I think we got reconstruction. Lincoln was shot, and Johnson's veto never did much with the strong republican control of Congress. With the Reconstruction Act of 1866, the South was even split up into military districts with federal troops occupying until 1877. This is showing a strong Northern hand on the North. Anyways, there is a comparison I though might be interesting to take a look at. If anyone wishes to contradict me or elaborate, please feel free.
I agree. I think things would have played out very differently if Lincoln had still been alive. Alas, Johnson takes charge and reconstruction is taken to the next level. Thanks for the response! And yes, I said alas. Deal with it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is a great summary of the key points, and I think it is important to know see how the politics and technicalities of the political situation of the time played into the events of Reconstruction. Like the situation with the last "reconstructed" states, that they were deemed reconstructed and the troops left when they agreed to vote for the new Pres.
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