ReconstructionReconstruction““If this war had smashed the If this war had smashed the Southern world, it had left the Southern world, it had left the

essential Southern mind and will. . essential Southern mind and will. . .entirely unshaken.”.entirely unshaken.”

Wilbur CashWilbur Cash

The Union ReconstructedThe Union Reconstructed

President Lincoln Assassinated, April 14, 1865President Lincoln Assassinated, April 14, 1865 John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth

President Andrew JohnsonPresident Andrew Johnson Easily allowed South back into Union, with few Easily allowed South back into Union, with few

changes.changes. Congressional Reconstruction by AmendmentCongressional Reconstruction by Amendment

1313thth Amendment – outlawed slavery Amendment – outlawed slavery 1414thth Amendment – made blacks citizens Amendment – made blacks citizens 1515thth Amendment – gave blacks the right to vote Amendment – gave blacks the right to vote These amendments were initially useless, however, These amendments were initially useless, however,

because they were not enforced.because they were not enforced.

The Lives of FreedpeopleThe Lives of Freedpeople The Hopes of FreedpeopleThe Hopes of Freedpeople

Find families, legally marry, land, education.Find families, legally marry, land, education. Black Codes and Vagrancy LawsBlack Codes and Vagrancy Laws Freedmen’s Bureau – provided emergency Freedmen’s Bureau – provided emergency

assistance to freedpeople.assistance to freedpeople. Black Self-Help Institutions – Churches and Black Self-Help Institutions – Churches and

SchoolsSchools Economic Freedom by DegreesEconomic Freedom by Degrees

Contract LaborContract Labor SharecroppingSharecropping Tenant FarmingTenant Farming

Violence and “Redemption”Violence and “Redemption”

The Ku Klux KlanThe Ku Klux Klan Mississippi Plan – use violence, poll taxes, Mississippi Plan – use violence, poll taxes,

literacy tests to intimidate blacks from literacy tests to intimidate blacks from voting.voting.

Force Acts/KKK Act – Grant’s SupportForce Acts/KKK Act – Grant’s Support Success of DemocratsSuccess of Democrats

“ “We must render this either a white man’s We must render this either a white man’s government, or convert the land into a government, or convert the land into a Negro man’s cemetery” Southern EditorNegro man’s cemetery” Southern Editor

Reconstruction, Northern StyleReconstruction, Northern Style

Loss of interest in Loss of interest in status of freedpeople.status of freedpeople.

Focused on Economic Focused on Economic GrowthGrowth

Grant AdministrationGrant Administration

The End of ReconstructionThe End of Reconstruction Election of 1876 – Republican Candidate Election of 1876 – Republican Candidate

Rutherford B. Hayes, Democratic Candidate Rutherford B. Hayes, Democratic Candidate Samuel J. Tilden.Samuel J. Tilden.

Compromise of 1877 – Hayes became president, Compromise of 1877 – Hayes became president, last federal troops ordered out of South, last federal troops ordered out of South, appointed former Confederate general to cabinet, appointed former Confederate general to cabinet, supported federal aid for economic and railroad supported federal aid for economic and railroad development in South, and promised to let development in South, and promised to let southerners handle race relations themselves. southerners handle race relations themselves. The message was clear: Hayes would not enforce The message was clear: Hayes would not enforce the 14the 14thth and 15 and 15thth amendments, initiating a pattern amendments, initiating a pattern of executive inaction that lasted to the 1960s.of executive inaction that lasted to the 1960s.

A Mixed LegacyA Mixed Legacy Accomplishments – Constitutional Amendments, Accomplishments – Constitutional Amendments,

Families United, Education.Families United, Education. Shortcomings – Blacks still not allowed to vote in south, Shortcomings – Blacks still not allowed to vote in south,

no economic independence.no economic independence. In 1880 Frederick Douglass wrote, “Our Reconstruction In 1880 Frederick Douglass wrote, “Our Reconstruction

measures were radically defective. . . To the freedmen measures were radically defective. . . To the freedmen was given the machinery of liberty, but there was was given the machinery of liberty, but there was denied to them the steam to put it in motion. . .The old denied to them the steam to put it in motion. . .The old master class retained the power to starve them to master class retained the power to starve them to death, and wherever this power is held there is the death, and wherever this power is held there is the power of slavery.” The wonder, Douglass said, was power of slavery.” The wonder, Douglass said, was “not that freedmen have made so little progress, but, “not that freedmen have made so little progress, but, rather, that they have made so much; not that they rather, that they have made so much; not that they have been standing still, but that they have been able have been standing still, but that they have been able to stand at all.”to stand at all.”