Johnson's Reconstruction Plan
Overview of Johnson's Plan
Johnson's plan offered general amnesty to people who took an oath of loyalty. Johnson wanted to ratify the 13 amendment which was to abolish slavery. He wanted each state to withdraw its secession and swear allegiance. He also didn't want to give pardons to high ranking confederate officials.
Freedmen's Bureau
Freedmen's Bureau was to help former slaves and poor white families in the south after the aftermath of the Civil War. The Freedmen's Bureau provided housing, food and water, medical aid, and schooling.
Civil Rights Act 1866
The Civil Rights Act gave all people born in the U.S. full citizenship in the United States of America. It gave them full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings.
Johnson's response: He disagreed. He thought it was another step towards centralization and the concentration of all power into the hands of the national government.
Black Codes
The black codes were a series of laws that restricted African Americans freedom and held them into a labor with poor wages.
Examples:
Civil Rights: This restricted their rights. It gave them more rights than they had before the civil war. They had the right to own property.
Labor Contracts: A contract form for black servants who agreed to work for white men. This contract had to be approved by a judge.
Other Restrictions: Banned black people from possessing firearms and making or selling liquor. They also couldn't practice occupations besides farmer or servant under contract.
Written Response
I think life was a little better for the freed slaves but not much because they are given citizenship of the U.S. if they were born there. They are also given property that they can call theirs. Even though they still work on farms and under white authority, they are being paid for their work. They don't get much but it's better than receiving no money at all. They are also given food, water, shelter, medical care, and schooling. As a slave, they weren't given schooling or little to no medical care. Even though they were given these things, life was still difficult for them.