Reconstruction GA Studies

Reconstruction

Freedman’s Bureau: A government agency

established in March 1865 to help both

former slaves and poor whites cope with

their everyday problems by providing food,

clothing and other necessities

Reconstruction

Reconstruction: a plan to rebuild the South and

restore southern states to the Union as quickly and

easily as possible

Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan:

All southerners were to take an oath of allegiance to the

U.S. (exclude high ranking military officials &

Confederate government officials)

After 10% of the voters in a state took the oath, the state

could form a government and ask to be readmitted to

the Union

Reconstruction

Disagreement with Lincoln’s plan:

Congress felt the southern states should be

punished

Reconstruction

Johnson’s original plan:

The same as Lincoln’s except he expanded the

groups who were not granted a general pardon

Reconstruction

Disenfranchised:

To take away the voting rights of others

Reconstruction

Three Additions to Johnson’s Plan:

States had to approve (ratify) the 13th

amendment

States had to nullify the articles of secession

States had to promise not to repay institutions

and individuals who had funded the Confederacy

Reconstruction

Purpose of the 13th Amendment:

Abolish slavery

Reconstruction

Black Codes:

Laws passed in the South to restrict the rights of freedmen

These laws often controlled the types of jobs freedmen could have, permitted whipping as a punishment, and established labor periods (sunrise to sunset)

These laws also permitted prison for jobless blacks so many worked for very low wages

Did not allow freed men to vote, serve on juries or testify against white men in court

Reconstruction

Congress’ response to Black Codes:

They passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866

Extended citizenship to African Americans

Gave federal government the right to intervene in

issues of discrimination

14th amendment was also passed at this time

Reconstruction

14th Amendment:

Gave citizenship to freedmen

Ensured equal protection under the law

Reconstruction

Congressional Reconstruction:

Had to ratify 14th amendment

When southern states refused:

Congress invalidated the new governments

States were placed under military rule

Reconstruction

Carpetbaggers:

Northerners who moved south after the war

Scalawags:

Southerners who supported the Republican

reconstruction plan

Reconstruction

Three improvement made during the

Constitutional Convention of 1867:

1. Civil rights for all GA citizens

2. Free public education for all children

3. Allowed married women to control their own

property (1st state to do this)

New governor:

Rufus Bullock - Republican

Reconstruction

Henry McNeal Turner:

One of 29 black legislators elected to the Georgia

House of Representatives in 1868

What happened to the 32 African Americans

elected to the Georgia General Assembly in

1868?

They were expelled after it was determined they

had been given the right to vote, but not to

hold office

Reconstruction

Ku Klux Klan:

A secret organization that tried to keep freedmen

from exercising their new civil rights

Started in Pulaski, Tennessee in 1865

Methods of Terrorism used:

Intimidation included beatings, whippings, murder

Reconstruction

15th amendment:

Gave all male citizens the right to vote

Reconstruction

Georgia’s readmission was completed after

they:

1. Ruled that blacks were eligible to hold office

2. Reseated the expelled African American

representatives

3. Approved 14th amendment

4. Ratified 15th amendment

Democrats regained control of both houses of

the Georgia General Assembly

Reconstruction

Sharecropping:

Landowners provided land, a house, farming tools and

animals, seed, and fertilizer. Workers agreed to

give the owner a share of the harvest.

Tenant Farming:

Similar to sharecropping. Main difference was tenants

usually owned some equipment and farm animals.

They also bought their own seed & fertilizer. At

end of year they paid landowner a set amount of

cash or share of crop

Reconstruction

Demand on soil:

Because the bankers put such high expectations on

farmers (expected them to grow cotton & tobacco

crops year after year) the soil was ruined

Farmers became poorer and poorer

Cotton was still the most important crop in Georgia

Reconstruction

Other businesses expanded during

Reconstruction:

Industry increased because of increased cotton

demand (textile mills increased)

Banks began to reopen due to increased demand

Dry goods stores, shops, and hotels reopened

Railroad traffic & shipping increased as shipping

demands grew

How would you feel if your house got "ransacked"?

A.) Sad

B.) Angry

C.) Depressed

D.) Unsure

What part of the house would you put back together first?

A.) Kitchen

B.) Bedrooms

C.) Family Room

D.) Garage