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Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (Lincoln’s 10% Plan), (December 8th 1863)

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Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (Lincoln’s 10% Plan), (December 8th 1863)

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The proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, or Lincoln’s 10% Plan was the first plan proposed for Reconstruction. It was issued on December 8, 1863. The proclamation was to initiate the reunification of divided nations by offering a lenient plan for Southern States to rejoin the Union. It promised full pardon and the restoration of all rights to property, except for slaves. This strategy is why the Proclamation is sometimes called “Lincoln’s 10% PLan”, because it allowed Confederate states to rejoin the union once ten percent of its voters swore an oath of allegiance to the Constitution. However, many of the radical republicans opposed the plan, or criticized it because they felt it did not do enough to address the socio economic problems with slavery. Still, the 10% plan was integrated in some regions under Union control because the plan was made so that the southern states could accept it easily. The terms of the plan catered to the south because they were eager to end hostilities and Lincoln’s plan expedited the reunification process.

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Confederate vs. Union States During Reconstruction

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Confederate vs. Union States During Reconstruction

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Why was it so important that Lincoln had the slave vote on his side?

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In 1863, when Abe Lincoln and Congress was considering how the US would reintroduce the confederacy into the national government, the initial plans were called the “Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction” or the “Ten Percent Plan”. This plan was a blueprint for Confederate states to re-enter the Union. A number of Confederate states were struggling economically and were willing to join with the Union once again. The requirements for each confederate state according to Lincoln's plan was that ten percent of all legal voters swear allegiance to the Union and recognize the emancipation of enslaved people. This Ten Percent Plan would also pardon all citizens excluding high ranking military and government officers. Radical Republicans in Congress were upset with the proposal as they felt the conditions to rejoin the Union weren't strict enough. Two main proponents of this idea were Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio and Representative Henry Winter Davis of Maryland. These two joined forces to create the Wade-Davis Bill which would enforce stricter conditions in order for Confederate states to re-enter the Union. These conditions were that fifty percent of the voting population of a state would have to pledge allegiance to the Union, as opposed to Lincoln's 10%. Along with the pledge, the bill would abolish slavery in the South, with any violators being fined, imprisoned and stripped of their voting rights. Anyone who fought for the Confederacy would be unable to vote as well. The Reconstruction of states would fully be grated to Congressional powers. The bill fully passed in congress but was pocket vetoed by Lincoln, for he wanted to see the country whole again as soon as possible, and these conditions would create divisions in the county.

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W. E. B. Du Bois discusses the importance of the Freedmen’s Bureau in the pivotal era of the post-Civil War, and the agency’s role in helping African Americans. He emphasizes the importance of the bureau in providing education, health care, and legal aid to freed slaves, but criticizes its limitations and challenges due to the bureau’s lack of resources and white supremacists’ opposition. Du Bois stresses the importance of education and emancipation, arguing that the establishment of schools is essential for African Americans’ empowerment. He argues that political participation and the right to vote are essential for true equality, and that representation in government is essential for true equality. Du Bois criticizes land distribution policies, arguing that economic empowerment through land ownership is essential for long-term progress. He analyzes the broader social implications, arguing that social and economic justice is necessary for the dismantling of systemic racism. He commends the African American community’s resilience and determination, while acknowledging the continuing obstacles they face.

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How can you compare the different parts of Lincoln’s 10% plan to Johnson’s Reconstruction plan?

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Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan (May 1865)

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Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan (May 1865)

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Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan provided opportunities for Confederate soldiers to receive pardons or be excused from their crimes against the Union if they pledged loyalty to the Union and accepted the emancipation of slaves. It also called for loyalty from at least 10% of voters, like Lincoln’s plan. Under this plan, Southern states were allowed to rejoin the Union once they abolished slavery, paid off their Confederate debts, and annulled secession ordinances. Like Lincoln’s plan, many southerners found this as a hard thing to do. However, this was a step toward reunification and reconstruction, so they started to agree to the terms of the plan. It also led to quick and speedy readmission of Southern states, but it allowed former Confederate leaders to regain political power. With this gain of power, though, it contributed to the creation of Black codes that restricted the rights of African Americans, which resulted in backlash from Radical republicans.

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Document Analysis: Thirteenth Amendment (December 6th, 1865)

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Document Analysis: Thirteenth Amendment (December 6th, 1865)

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The 13th Amendment was passed at the end of the Civil War before the Southern states had returned to the Union, and had easily passed in Congress. However, though the Senate passed it in April 1864, the House initially disagreed. At that point, Lincoln took an active role to ensure passage through Congress. He urged that the 13th Amendment be added to the Republican Party for the 1864 Presidential election. Lincoln won the vote: 119-56. The 13th Amendment in layman's terms abolished slavery while granting them freedom.

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Document Analysis: Ku Klux Klan (December 24th 1865)

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Document Analysis: Ku Klux Klan (December 24th 1865)

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Essentially, Black codes limited the rights of black people who were formerly enslaved. Within black codes, this hindered black people from obtaining certain jobs and certain property. However, the Reconstruction Act of 1867 reduced the effect of the black codes by upholding the value of equality in all states under the 14th Amendment. Specifically, one act that was supposed to weaken black codes was giving Black men the right to vote, although this was ultimately made to deprive Black men from voting. Having the 14th and 15th Amendment made it illegal for state legislators to make it illegal to withhold Black men from voting, state legislators created the Grandfather clause instead to suppress their votes. The Grandfather clause stated that a man could vote if his grandfather was able to vote before 1867, in which in most cases for Black people this was not possible. Also, another factor contributing to the suppression of Black men’s votes were the literacy test in which Black men were given strenuous legal documents to read while white men were given fairly easy ones.

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Howard University's history

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This Week in Black History: March 2 | Howard University

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Passed by the Senate on June 8, 1866, but not yet sanctioned until July 9, 1868,

The 14th Amendment gave citizenship to those that were born in the USA or that were raised in the United States, as well as those who had been formerly enslaved. Everyone under this amendment was protected, in simpler terms for every man and woman that were treated less than they were finally seen as equal to. The 14th Amendment led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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Legislators Hiram Revels (January 20th, 1870)

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Legislators Hiram Revels (January 20th, 1870)

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In 1870, something really groundbreaking happened in American history. Hiram Revels became the first-ever African American to hold a seat in the United States Senate. Now, imagine this: the Senate is a super important part of the government, making big decisions that affect the whole country. And at that time, having an African American in such a powerful position was a HUGE deal. Before becoming a senator, Revels had already done some pretty amazing things. He was born in 1827 and was known as a minister, meaning he worked as a religious leader, and also as an educator, teaching and helping others learn. These were challenging times in America—right after the Civil War—and the country was trying to heal and rebuild. Revels got elected to the Senate on February 25, 1870, by the lawmakers in Mississippi. He filled a seat that had been left empty. His time in the Senate might have been short, but it made a huge impact. It was a massive step forward for African Americans, showing that they could hold such high positions in American politics. This was during what’s called the “Reconstruction era,” a time when the U.S. was trying to recover and bring about positive changes after the Civil War. Revels’ role in the Senate was a symbol of hope and progress for equality in the country.

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Fifteenth Amendment (February 3rd, 1870)

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Fifteenth Amendment (February 3rd, 1870)

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The 15th Amendment gave voting rights to the Black men, even though the 13th Amendment was passed, this amendment was to enhance the writings of the 13th Amendment.

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Sound Smart: The 15th Amendment | History

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What amendment was most crucial to the outcome of reconstruction?

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The election of 1876 was a disputed presidential election between Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes and Democratic candidate Samuel J. Tilden. Tilden had won the popular vote, but the electoral college votes were contested. All of the disputed electoral votes were awarded to Hayes, making him the winner of the presidential election. There was a lot of controversy surrounding this bold decision. To resolve this issue and avoid a constitutional crisis, the Compromise of 1877 was negotiated by Democrats and Republicans. One of the provisions of this compromise was the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, ending the era of Reconstruction. This allowed Southern Democrats to regain control of their state governments, leading to the establishment of Jim Crow laws and the disenfranchisement of African American voters.

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Compromise/Election of 1877?

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Sharecropping and tenant farming were ways people worked on farms after the Civil War. In sharecropping, farmers got land and tools from landowners and paid with some of their crops. In tenant farming, they rented land and paid either money or some of what they grew. Both ways had farmers not owning the land and often owing money to the landowners. But in sharecropping, what they got depended on how much they grew, while in tenant farming, they had more say in what they grew. These ways of farming shaped how things were done and how people lived in the South after the Civil War.

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Sharecropping in the Post-Civil War South

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After the Civil War, the South was in a tough spot, and two groups of people stood out in the aftermath: scalawags and carpetbaggers. Scalawags were Southerners, often white, who supported changes brought by Northern Republicans during Reconstruction. They were seen as traitors by some because they sided with the North and supported ideas that weren’t widely accepted in the South at the time. These ideas included things like giving more rights to newly freed slaves and accepting Northern influence in Southern politics. On the other hand, carpetbaggers were Northerners who moved to the South after the war. Some of them went for political reasons, trying to help rebuild the South or take part in the new governments. Others went for business opportunities or social work. However, many Southerners didn’t trust them. They thought carpetbaggers were outsiders trying to profit from the South’s misfortunes or impose their own ideas on the region. Both scalawags and carpetbaggers faced a lot of criticism and were viewed with suspicion by many Southerners. They were often blamed for the changes happening in the South during Reconstruction, which was a challenging and contentious period in American history.