Reconstruction of the South
After the Civil war, the primary issue was the rebuilding of the decimated South. This led to a period called Reconstruction, which was a period of admitting the South to the Union. The social changes were drastic, as blacks attempted to assert freedom and civil rights, while whites refused to accept the changes. This led to conflict and even violence from the two groups. Economically, the South was even further in ruin. The loss of slave labor changed the dynamic of farming. Former plantation owners had no slaves, and small farmers in poverty had little money, and had to move to cotton farming as opposed to subsistence. blacks weren't given land, and had to work for wage on other lands. Eventually, all farmers turned to merchants for loans, and as debt rose, economic independence became impossible. In the government, the debate over how to help the South intensified, and the 14th and 15th amendments protected blacks from slavery, but the economic issues were not solved until later.
Events of Reconstruction
Sharecropping- The expansion of sharecropping was very important to the agricultural change of the South. Sharecropping is the idea of a landowner renting his land to a farmer in exchange for a portion of the crops produced. This one one way people tried to cope with the loss of slave labor.
Ten Percent Plan- The Ten Percent Plan was designed by Abraham Lincoln to bring the seceded states back into the Union. The plan was to start a petition where anyone who signed it was exonerated from their war crimes, and agreed that slavery was illegal. When 10% of the state population signed it, the state could begin to create a new government. This was significant because it was the first major attempt to reform the government of the South.
Ten Percent Plan- The Ten Percent Plan was designed by Abraham Lincoln to bring the seceded states back into the Union. The plan was to start a petition where anyone who signed it was exonerated from their war crimes, and agreed that slavery was illegal. When 10% of the state population signed it, the state could begin to create a new government. This was significant because it was the first major attempt to reform the government of the South.
People of the Reconstruction
Andrew Johnson- Andrew Johnson attempted to pass a Reconstruction bill which allowed white southerners to create the new government. People feared this would would lead to a regression back top slavery, and his bill was overturned.
Benjamin Wade and Henry Davis- These two were very instrumental in the political battle of how the South would be reconstructed. The two politicians created the Wade-Davis Bill. This proposed bill came up with the plan to have a majority of Southerners take an oath that they did not support the Confederacy. This was much stricter than Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan, and passed through Congress, until being vetoed by Lincoln. This sparked controversy and was very notable in the reconstruction period.
Benjamin Wade and Henry Davis- These two were very instrumental in the political battle of how the South would be reconstructed. The two politicians created the Wade-Davis Bill. This proposed bill came up with the plan to have a majority of Southerners take an oath that they did not support the Confederacy. This was much stricter than Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan, and passed through Congress, until being vetoed by Lincoln. This sparked controversy and was very notable in the reconstruction period.