Disfranchisement: The removal of the rights and privileges inherent in an association with a group; the taking away of the rights of a free citizen, especially the right to vote.
Even though the 15th amendment gave African Americans their voting right, many southern states fought hard against that. Things like the Klu Klux Klan and the Black Codes prevented freedmen from having the same rights as whites. The Klu Klux Klan was a secret organization with members who hid behind robes and mask. This group terrorized blacks to keep them from voting.
The blacks codes (racist laws to undermine African American's rights):
Even though the 15th amendment gave African Americans their voting right, many southern states fought hard against that. Things like the Klu Klux Klan and the Black Codes prevented freedmen from having the same rights as whites. The Klu Klux Klan was a secret organization with members who hid behind robes and mask. This group terrorized blacks to keep them from voting.
The blacks codes (racist laws to undermine African American's rights):
- Didn't allow blacks: the same jobs as whites, the right to vote, the right to marry a white person, jury service, or the right to testify.
- Blacks could be: whipped as punishment, forced to work from sunrise to sunset six days per week, or put in jail if they didn't have a job.
Abraham Lincoln
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/9/5/16950900/5539455.jpg?130)
Lincoln proposed his plan in 1863. It was sometimes called the “10% Plan”.
Lincoln wanted to rebuild and return the south to the Union as soon as possible.
His Plan:
Lincoln wanted to rebuild and return the south to the Union as soon as possible.
His Plan:
- All Southerners, except high-ranking officials, are forgiven after taking a loyalty oath
- When 10% of a state takes the oath, the state rejoins the Union and establishes their own state government
- State must ratify the 13th Amendment
Andrew Johnson
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/9/5/16950900/913051681.jpg?131)
Johnson proposed his plan after Lincoln was assassinated ans he became president. As a native Southerner, President Johnson showed some traditionally southern views and did not promote equal right for the freedmen or involve freedmen in the Reconstruction process.
In addition to Lincoln’s requirements, President Johnson added a few more. Southern states had to:
In addition to Lincoln’s requirements, President Johnson added a few more. Southern states had to:
- Promise not to repay money borrowed during the war.
- All Southerners, except high-ranking officials, are forgiven after taking a loyalty oath
- When 10% of a state takes the oath, the state rejoins the Union and establishes their own state government
- Southern states must repeal all laws they passed during Secession years
- State must ratify the 13th Amendment
Radical Republicans
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/9/5/16950900/7564988.jpg?142)
Radical Republican in Congress proposed their plan. Lincoln’s plan to reconstruct the south was challenged. Some northerners called “Radical Republicans” thought the south should be more severely punished.
The Radical Republicans wanted to make sure the freedmen retained their new rights.
Radical Republican passed legislation with Lincoln's approval;
13th AMENDMENT, 1865, which made slavery illegal.
Radical Republican Plan
The Radical Republicans wanted to make sure the freedmen retained their new rights.
- Gained control of both houses of Congress
- Maintained that the southern states were not “adequately reconstructed”
Radical Republican passed legislation with Lincoln's approval;
13th AMENDMENT, 1865, which made slavery illegal.
Radical Republican Plan
- Place South under military rule
- 50% of state population must take the loyalty oath before being readmitted to the Union
- The right to vote or hold public office is denied to anyone who voluntarily fought for or held a political office in the Confederacy
- Southern states must ratify any amendment dealing with freedmen
Congress's Plan
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/9/5/16950900/2442772.jpg?214)
Congress was angry about Georgia’s Black Codes, so it passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. This law gave: citizenship to all freedmen; the federal government power to intervene any time civil rights were taken from freedmen.
Congress required southern states to ratify the 14th Amendment.
Georgia and most of the other southern states refused.
Congress abolished these states’ governments and put them under military rule.
Congress required southern states to ratify the 14th Amendment.
Georgia and most of the other southern states refused.
Congress abolished these states’ governments and put them under military rule.
- It placed the former Confederate stated under military authority and divided the states into five districts
- The military directed the registration of voting for all adult males including African American males who swore they were qualified.
- Congress asserted its right to reframe the state governments and constitutions, and the Supreme Court upheld this limitation of state power.
- Congress demanded that all the new state governments disfranchise high-ranking Confederates.