Ku Klux Klan Act

The Ku Klux can was another threat that the freedmen faced. The Klan (common name for the Ku Klux Klan) was a secret organization. Their goal was to keep freedmen from practicing their civil rights. They would wear all white robes and pointy white hood so you wouldn't recognize them. They would often stay near the polling offices so they could intimidate the freedmen. The Klan would beat, whip, and murder the freedmen. There were man racial conflicts with the Klan and blacks.

13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were attempts to held the freedmen. The 13th Amendment marked a new beginning. In 1865, this amendment stated that all slaves were now free. Many states ratified this amendment. The 14th Amendment, passed in  1866, declared citizenship to all people including African Americans. This Amendment was ratified on 1868. The 15th Amendment, passed in 1869, gave the right to vote to all men. This was then ratified in 1870.

Black Codes

With the 13th Amendment in action, the era of discrimination began. This then caused many southern states (including Georgia) to pas laws called, Black Codes. These laws would make the life of newly freedmen harder. The law would consist of imprisonment of jobless freedmen, no marriage between races, low wages, and working six days a week sun up to sun down.

Presidential Reconstruction Plan vs Congressional Reconstruction Plan

Before Lincoln's sudden death he established a plan for the south to re-join the Union as quickly as possible. This plan was known as the 10 Percent Plan. this plan was a simple two step problem. The first step was for all southerners (except those in a certain social class), would be forgiven if they took the Oath of Allegiances of the United States. The second step was for 10 percent of the voters in the state to take the Oath of Loyalty. When this 10 percent took the oath this then allowed the state to form its own government and re-join the Union. However, many Congress men and northerner felt that the southerners should be punished for their actions. A bill was given to Lincoln which would have gave the people of the north their revenge, but Lincoln never put his signature on that bill.

President Lincoln's Assassination

Lincoln Assassinated

On Good Friday, a once happy time came to an end. At Ford's Theater on April 14th, 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated. Lincoln was with his wife and friends of the Lincoln's. The planed assassination was carried out by a well know actor named, John Wilkes Booth. The sudden death of Lincoln concerned many people in the nation when it came to the plan of Reconstruction.