Andrew Johnson and Impeachment Johnsons Plan for Reconstruction

Andrew Johnson and Impeachment Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan closely resembled Lincoln’s n Issued a new Proclamation of Amnesty pardoning all Confederate citizens who took an oath of loyalty n Excluded same people Lincoln did; Confederate officers and officials n Southern states must ratify the 13 th Amendment to abolish slavery n Johnson’s plan was well underway by 1865 Confederate states met Johnson’s conditions and began to organize new governments and elect people to Congress n Republicans were shocked to see former Confederates now being elected as Congressmen in the South n The Moderate Republicans now joined with the Radicals to reject the new Southern members of Congress n

Black Codes n Another development that angered members of the Moderate and Radical Republicans was the passing of black codes For the most part, these laws were intended to keep freed slaves in a social condition similar to slavery n In 1866, Congress attempted to override the black codes by passing the Civil Rights Act and the 14 th Amendment n The CRA was vetoed by President Johnson, but was later passed as the 14 th Amendment n

Military Reconstruction n As Congress becomes more upset with Johnson’s plans, they pass the Military Reconstruction Act Nullified Johnson’s Plans n Divided the former Confederacy into five military districts n Union Generals were placed in charge of each n Each state had to create another Constitution that would be acceptable to Congress n n n Must give the right to vote to all male citizens, regardless of race Also must ratify the 14 th Amendment

Johnson’s Impeachment n In order to control Johnson, Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act n Required Johnson to get approval for any removal of a government official n When Johnson disobeyed this act, he was impeached, or charged with not following the law