AMH 2020 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Reconstruction Acts, Spoils System, Sharecropping
Document Summary
May 29th, 1865 blanket amnesty for all but top confed. Former slaves would sooner cut a white man"s throat than not . Did not care to give former slaves the right to vote. Known to be feared by top officials because johnson would have them killed if they did not cooperate. He acted like a king, having southerners come to him and kiss his hand. Broad set of laws that could effectively convict any freeman for pretty much everything. If the freeman convicted of being vagrant does not pay the fine, then others such as the freeman"s employer would have to pay a fine. Gave freeman some rights, for example contract rights. Andrew johnson runs government with him acting like a king, infringement of former. Charles sumter would be almost beat to death by brookes outside of congress hall. Johnson is giving southerners pardons in government, is known to be southern sympathetic.
