RECONSTRUCTION- Johnson

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RECONSTRUCTION- Johnson
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Reconstruction Plans

• Andrew Johnsons Plan
• Majority of Southern voters in each state pledge
  loyalty to USA
• Ratification of 13th Amendment ( ¾ of voters in
  each state needed)
• Late 1865 - Johnson signs off on / approves new
  state governments

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Reconstruction Plans

• Impact of Johnsons plan
• Congressional Elections
• Many former Confederate officers
• Example Alexander Stephens, VP of CSA elected
  Senator from Georgia
• African-Americans not allowed to vote
• The south implemented Black Codes
• Republicans are outraged!!

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Reconstruction Plans

• Reaction to Johnsons plan
• The new Congress meets
• Republicans bar Southerners from entering the
  chamber
• Establish Joint Committee on Reconstruction
• Republicans decide a New Reconstruction Plan is
  needed

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Reconstruction Plans

• Congress vs. Johnson
• Congress passes the Civil Rights Act
• Citizenship for African-Americans
• Ends Black Codes
• Vetoed by Johnson
• Congress overrides veto ( 2/3 in each house
  needed)

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Reconstruction Plans

• Congress vs. Johnson
• 14th Amendment
• Citizenship to all persons born in US
• Equal protection under the law
• No discrimination based on skin color
• States that dont ratify amendment will have
  number of Representatives reduced
• Opposed by Johnson
• Former CSA states (except Tennessee!) reject it

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Reconstruction Plans

• Congress vs. Johnson
• Reconstruction Act of 1867
• Abolishes state governments that dont ratify
  14th Amendment
• South is divided into 5 Military Districts
• Commanded by Army Generals
• New state constitutions
• African-Americans allowed to vote

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Reconstruction Plans

• Congress vs. Johnson Reconstruction Act of 1867
• Results
• Southern whites boycott elections
• African-Americans vote in large numbers
• Republicans now control state governments as well
• Reconstruction laws continue to be passed over
  Johnsons veto!

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Reconstruction Plans

• Congress vs. Johnson
• 1868 - House of Representatives vote to impeach
  President Andrew Johnson
• The Charge Johnson
• Violated the Tenure of Office Act
• Tried by the full Senate
• Johnson is NOT convicted
• Vote is 35-19 (one vote shy)