In the year 1865, the Civil War ended with the North winning against the south, leaving the South in utter devastation.

President Lincoln's main goal was to have the South back in the Union, so he came up with the 10% plan in order to get the South to Surrender.

10% Plan

-U.S. would respect property of south (excluding slaves)

-Full pardon and citizenship to those willing to swear an oath of allegiance

-States could form government and be readmitted when 10% of voters swore the oath (agree to abolish slavery)

Congress did not like that, so they came up with the Wade-Davis Bill, to punish the entire South and loosen the hold of power slaveholders had by giving slaves rights.

On April 14, 1865, Lincoln attended the play "Our American Cousin," when he was shot in the back of the head causing the vice president Andrew Johnson to be put in position as president.

Andrew Johnson was born and raised in the South and had the same beliefs as most in the South. He was racist. He strongly believed in white supremacy, so as President he was determined to keep that.

Blacks should NEVER be equal to whites!!

This leads to Restoration. Johnson had a plan called Restoration where he followed along the lines of Lincoln's 10% Plan, but made it even easier for the South to rejoin. He wanted blacks to stay inferior to whites, so he restored everything to the way it was prior to the Civil War.

After the South began to rejoin, they put black codes in place to replace slave codes to make sure blacks stayed inferior to whites. These codes restricted blacks' right to own property, conduct business, move freely in public spaces, etc.

You will do as I say!

Sharecropping also became a wide used system between blacks and whites in order for whites to maintain some sort of control over blacks.

Congress doesn't just sit back and watch this unfold. Instead, they come up with the Freedmen's Bureau and the Civil Right's act of 1866. 

Take that, Johnson!

Freedmen's Bureau

- Well fare Agency that taught former slaves skills

Civil Rights Act of 1866

- Gave back citizenship

- Prohibited states from passing black codes

As a Southern supporting President, Johnson vetoes both of these acts, deeming them unconstitutional .

NO

Congress overrides his veto because over 2/3 of Congress agreed with both, so they pass the 14th amendment which provides a constitutional basis for the Civil Rights Act. 

Take that again, Johnson!!

Giving full rights to blacks was controversial, so Congress passed the Reconstruction Act of 1867. The south was split into 5 military districts to ensure the south was following the 13th and 14th amendment.