Johnsons Reconstruction Plan
By: Connor Ledet
Overview
President Johnson's plan of Reconstruction program offered general amnesty to all who would take an oath of future loyalty. It made each state to withdraw its secession and swear alliance to the union, ratify 13th amendment and no pardons. Also put the 19th amendment into play (no slavery).
Freedmen's Bureau
It was established in 1865 by Congress to help former black slaves and poor whites in the South in the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War. Four million slaves gained their freedom as a result of the Union victory. Johnson's response was that he thought it was a Federal encroachment into state matters. Did not feel Congress should be making these decisions for unrepresented states.
Civil Rights Act
It was the act that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Johnson did not approve of the act and then vetoed it. It was later elected by House with two thirds vote.
Black Codes
South Carolina's Black code applied only to "persons of color". This included anyone with more than one-eighth Negro blood. The first example was , Vagrancy. This meant that vagrants could be arrested and imprisoned at hard labor or work off their punishment. The second example is Apprenticeship. This gave courts to apprentice such black children, even against their will, to an employer until 21 for males and 18 for females. The final example is Labor Contracts. The slaves were given contracts to work for labor for certain people. If ill they would lose money. Law protected black servants from being forced to do "unreasonable task".
Written Response
Before the Civil War, the life of a slave was very harsh. They were beaten, and treated horribly. They worked for countless hours in the hot sun. They wanted that to change after the war. After the war had ended, nothing much really changed for them. They were still not given their liberty of freedom. They also were still treated less than humans and that is not what they wanted. So after all the fighting it didn't make a big difference for the slaves.