Reconstruction
in United States history, a making-over of the political fabric of the States that composed the Southern Confederacy. At the close of the Civil War, these States were practically without governments, those which they had established after their withdrawal from the Union having been overthrown. They had been declared insurgents and therefore their relation to the United States Government was that of a conquered territory.
The treatment of these States became a problem. Plans for the solution were submitted which may be classified as follows: (1) The theory that as soon as the bare number of Union men who had always been in these States, had established a loyal government, the States would then be regularly reconstituted. (2) The theory in President Lincoln's proclamation of Dec. 8, 1863, stipulating that if after having taken a prescribed oath of allegiance, one-tenth of the number of voters of 1860 should establish a loyal government it should be recognized, stipulation applying to all such governments; the theory including a provision of amnesty on certain conditions for all, with the exception of a specified portion of those in rebellion. (3) Sumner's theory that a State renounces its State rights through the act of withdrawal, and in doing so abolishes a right to slavery which is an institution based merely on State authority; that Congress should institute measures to establish this conclusion as a fact, and also to protect all the inhabitants of the State, and therein to set up a republican form of government. (4) Thaddeus Stevens' theory that insuperable resistance to the Constitution suspends its operations and that it then becomes incumbent on the National government to decide when it is to be resumed. (5) The Davis-Wade theory introduced by Henry Winter Davis and Benjamin F. Wade, from the "Committee on Rebellious States." This theory made provisions for the appointment of pro- RECONSTRUCTION the North against the President's policy.
Meantime President Lincoln had been assassinated and Vice-President Johnson had taken the presidential chair. When Congress assembled, in December, 1865, Republican opposition was mani fest in an enactment that no State should be represented in either House till Congress had declared its right to representation. A bill was passed proposing the Fourteenth Amendment to the National Constitution, and declaring the right of representation to any States ratifying.
The Civil-Rights Bill followed, and the bill enlarging the provisions of the freedman's bureau, were passed over the President's veto. According to Congress, the Constitution of the United States retained the authority vested in it over States which through their act of withdrawal, had suspended their State governments, since those States were not viewed as "destroyed," but as being in a position for restoration to "their former political relations" in the Union, by consent of the law-making power of the United States.
The Republicans were divided in their faction sustaining the President in his opinions, the other faction being resolute in the feeling that adherence to his opinions was treason to the party. Some indiscreet speeches made by President Johnson during a trip through some Northern and Western States accentuated Republican opposition to his policy. Congress then passed a series of laws, some of them over the President's veto. Among these were the Tenure of Office Act, establishment of universal suffrage in the territories, admission of Nebraska into the Union, and making General Grant irremovable as head of the army. Meantime, but one State, Tennessee, had been admitted, July 24, 1866, none of the others adopted the Fourteenth Amendment. In view of the situation, Congress divided the South into five military districts. A military governor was appointed for each district, and he was empowered to protect life and property through local courts or military commissions. Each governor was to supervise the election of delegates visional governors, the emolument of citi- to a constitutional convention to which zens ready and willing to take the oath of allegiance, the approval and adoption of a constitution, and recognition of the State by admission. (6) The congressional theory which was really carried into effect.
Measures radically discriminating against the negroes had been adopted by the Legislatures reconstructed under the proclamation of Dec. 8, 1863. This had excited and united Republican feeling in all but certain disqualified classes were to be admitted, such delegates to be elected by those eligible to vote. It was provided that such constitutions should be ratified by a popular vote, and then placed before Congress, the next measure to be a ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment by the new Legislature so including the amendment in the State constitution, which act should entitle the State to representation in Con- RECORD gress. The bill with such provisions was passed over the President's veto, March 2, 1867. The provisions of the bill were carried out, and the constitutions which were adopted abolished slavery, renounced the right of secession, and agreed to pass no laws limiting the liberty of any class of citizens and repudiated the debts incurred during the Civil War. Governors and legislators were elected under these constitutions. Arkansas was admitted June 22, 1868; North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana, June 25, 1868; Virginia, Jan. 26, 1870; Mississippi, Feb. 23, 1870; Texas, March 30, 1870. Congress did not complete the readmission of Georgia till July 15, 1870, that State having failed in its compliance with the general policy. The four States last named were compelled to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment, also before their admission, as a penalty for delay in complying with the plan of Congress. The Union of the United States was thus restored, and the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Texas vs. White declared the action of Congress constitutional.
Reconstruction measures instituted after the World War are treated under the name of the countries involved.