Presidential Reconstruction

Summary

After President Abraham Lincoln's assassination, Vice President Andrew Johnson took office in 1865, quickly distinguishing himself through his stubborn and racist policies. His Reconstruction plan aimed to restore the Southern states to pre-Civil War conditions, empowering white Southerners and allowing former Confederate leaders to regain power. Despite being a poor Southerner himself, Johnson's refusal to protect the rights of freed African Americans led to backlash, particularly in the North. This sparked the rise of Radical Reconstruction, led by the Republican Party, determined to secure rights for African Americans.

Takeaways

• 😀 Johnson became president after Lincoln's assassination in 1865.
• 😀 He quickly distinguished himself from Lincoln by being stubborn and deeply racist.
• 😀 Johnson had no real interest in the status of freed African Americans.
• 😀 His Reconstruction plan allowed southern states to be controlled by the white population.
• 😀 The plan allowed former Confederate leaders to retain power, angering Lincoln supporters.
• 😀 Johnson's plan included the return of war-seized property to southern landowners.
• 😀 He hoped that poor southern whites would gain more power, as he was from Tennessee and not a northerner.
• 😀 Johnson's hatred of plantation owners was central to his politics, but his plan inadvertently restored their power.
• 😀 Southern states passed Black Codes under Johnson's plan, severely limiting the rights of freed African Americans.
• 😀 The Black Codes led to strong opposition from the North, particularly Republicans, who saw it as a form of re-enslavement.
• 😀 Johnson's failure to protect the rights of freed slaves led to the rise of Radical Reconstruction, supported by Republicans.

Q & A

How did Andrew Johnson become president?

Andrew Johnson became president on April 15, 1865, after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

What were some of the key differences between Andrew Johnson and his predecessor, Abraham Lincoln?

Andrew Johnson was notably stubborn, deeply racist, and inflexible, unlike Abraham Lincoln, who had a more conciliatory approach toward the South and had a strong interest in public opinion and the rights of African Americans.

What was the essence of Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction plan?

Johnson's Reconstruction plan aimed to restore control of southern states to the white population, allowing the same individuals who governed during the Civil War to return to power and granting amnesty to many former Confederates.

What were the 'Black Codes,' and what was their purpose?

The 'Black Codes' were laws passed in southern states under Johnson's Reconstruction plan that aimed to restrict the rights of freed African Americans and force them into conditions similar to slavery, especially by making them work on plantations.

How did Johnson's Reconstruction plan impact the power dynamics in the South?

Johnson's plan restored much of the power to the old planter aristocracy and Confederate leaders, despite his intention to punish them. It allowed former Confederates to regain control over southern governments.

Why did Johnson's plan lead to a strong backlash from the North?

Johnson's refusal to protect the rights of newly freed African Americans, combined with the restoration of power to former Confederates, led to strong opposition from the North, where many believed that after the Civil War, the freed slaves should not be put back into conditions resembling slavery.

How did the Republican Party respond to Johnson's Reconstruction plan?

The Republican Party, particularly after gaining a majority in both houses of Congress in 1866, reacted with renewed vigor to secure the rights of African Americans, leading to the movement known as Radical Reconstruction.

What was Andrew Johnson's background before becoming president?

Johnson was born a poor southerner from Tennessee and had been the military governor of Tennessee. He came from humble origins and initially did not support the plantation elite, but he was deeply racist despite accepting the end of slavery.

Why did Johnson favor poor white southerners over African Americans?

Johnson, who came from a poor southern background, hoped to empower poor white southerners by enabling them to take control of the South, as he believed they would resemble his own experience and leadership style.

What were the long-term consequences of Johnson's Reconstruction policies?

Johnson's policies allowed the Southern elites to regain control and pass discriminatory laws, which led to further oppression of African Americans and prolonged racial inequality in the South. This, in turn, fueled the push for Radical Reconstruction in the North.