Johnson’s Plan to Reconstruct the South (and the Union)
President Andrew Johnson's plan to reconstruct the South aimed to bring the defeated Confederate states back into the Union after the Civil War. Known as the "Presidential Reconstruction," it began in 1865 and lasted until 1867.
Johnson, a Democrat and former senator from Tennessee who ascended to the presidency after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, had a more lenient approach to reconstruction than the Radical Republicans in Congress. He believed that the power to reconstruct the South should rest with the executive branch, rather than with Congress.
Johnson's plan had three main components:
1. Amnesty and Pardons: Johnson offered a full pardon and amnesty to most white Southerners who pledged loyalty to the United States and supported the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery. However, high-ranking Confederate officials and wealthy landowners had to apply individually for pardons.
2. Reestablishment of State Governments: Johnson called for the Southern states to establish new governments and convene constitutional conventions. These governments had to abolish slavery, nullify secession, and ratify the Thirteenth Amendment.
3. Abandonment of Confederate War Debt: Johnson did not support reparations for the Southern states. He called for them to repudiate their war debt and resume fiscal responsibility.
Johnson's plan faced opposition from Republicans in Congress, who believed it did not go far enough to protect the rights of newly freed slaves and guarantee their inclusion in the political process. They argued that Johnson's plan allowed former Confederate officials and sympathizers to regain power and perpetuate the social and economic systems that had maintained slavery.
The President's leniency also clashed with the harsher policies of the Military Reconstruction Acts, which were implemented in 1867 after the Republican Party gained control of Congress. These acts divided the South into five military districts, enforced military rule, and required the states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted equal protection under the law to all citizens, including African Americans, before they could rejoin the Union.
Ultimately, the conflict between Johnson and the Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction would pave the way for a more radical, racially progressive reconstruction policy that aimed to protect the rights of freed slaves and solidify their place in American society.
President Andrew Johnson's plan to reconstruct the South and the Union, also known as Presidential Reconstruction, was implemented after the Civil War ended in 1865. Johnson's approach aimed to quickly restore the southern states back into the Union, with a primary focus on maintaining the power and rights of white southerners. Here are the main steps and policies of Johnson's plan:
1. Amnesty and Pardon: Johnson issued multiple proclamations granting amnesty and pardons to former Confederates, excluding high-ranking military and political leaders. This allowed most Confederate officials and wealthy landowners to regain their property and civil rights.
2. Proclamation of Loyalty: Johnson required southern states to hold conventions and draft new constitutions. He insisted that these conventions adopt the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, and declare their loyalty to the Union. Once these conditions were met, Johnson allowed the states to send representatives to Congress.
3. Black Codes: Despite supporting the abolition of slavery, Johnson took a lenient attitude towards the states' implementation of "Black Codes." These were laws restricting the rights and freedoms of African Americans, subjugating them to a similar status as slaves. This approach drew backlash from Congress and the northern abolitionist movement.
4. Opposition to African American rights: Johnson opposed granting civil rights and suffrage to African Americans, believing these decisions should be left to the individual states. His approach clashed with the more radical Republicans in Congress who sought to ensure equal rights and protection for freed slaves.
5. Vetoing Reconstruction Acts: As Congress attempted to implement more stringent measures to protect the rights of African Americans in the South, Johnson vigorously opposed their efforts. He vetoed key Reconstruction Acts, which were meant to require Southern states to adopt new constitutions, guarantee African American suffrage, and ensure proper representation of freed slaves.
6. Impeachment: Johnson's resistance to Congress's Reconstruction policies and his dismissal of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton led to his impeachment in 1868. Although he narrowly avoided being removed from office, his authority was significantly weakened for the remainder of his term.
Ultimately, Johnson's plan failed to protect the rights of African Americans and secure a lasting and equitable reconstruction of the South. It allowed the southern states to reinstate discriminatory laws and practices that perpetuated racial inequality, laying the groundwork for decades of segregation and systemic racism.