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Reconstruction of the Union
An issue of reconstruction –
Who had the authority to take charge of reconstructing the Union –
the President or Congress?
How to Rebuild the Union
What role shouldstates play inregard tofree slaves?
Should the Government protectthe rights of formerslaves?
Did the South actually secede?
How shouldgovernments ofSouthern states be formed?
Should former slaves beallowed tovote?
Should Southernersbe pardonedor punished?
Should theGovernment giveassistance toformer slaves?
Difficulties of Reconstruction
Presidential Reconstruction 1865-1867 Lincoln’s Plan Leniency/forgiveness Pardon all supporters of the
Confederacy-except high officials
10% of pre-war voters take a loyalty oath - establish a state government and reapply for admission
New state constitutions must prohibit slavery
Publicly endorsed limited black suffrage
Radical Republicans
Senator Charles Sumner from Mass
Led by congressman Thaddeus Stevens from Pennsylvania
Insisted black suffrage necessary for Reconstruction
South treated as conquered territories
Passed by Congress because they felt Lincoln’s plan was too lenient
50% of voters to take a loyalty oath States must prohibit slavery States must guarantee equality before
the law = equal rights, rights to a fair trial for all citizens
Lincoln’s uses “pocket veto”
Wade-Davis Bill 1864
Henry Davis
Benjamin Wade
Freedmen’s Bureau Help freedmen adjust from slavery Lincoln creates bureau Provides education, medical care, opportunities to
lease land for farming Bureau also available for poor whites
President Andrew Johnson Democrat from Tennessee Anti-Southern aristocracy Indifferent to slave issue Own reconstruction plan
shaped while congress on vacation
Reconstruction Plan: a. general amnesty except for
those in leadership class b. States must ratify 13th
Amendment c. emancipated slaves agree
to work for former owners – not take interest in politics
Congressional Reconstruction(Radical)
Presidential Reconstruction a failure New Southern State Governments passed: black codes = laws designed to regulate lives of former
slaves a. Blacks have limited rights b. Blacks barred from serving on juries, testifying
against whites, cannot bear arms, cannot vote. c. must show written evidence of employment every
January 10th of each year or face arrest
Civil Rights Act (1866)
All persons born in U.S. are citizens guaranteed legal rights, except the right to vote
Civil rights do not include Indians Bill passes Presidential veto because Southern
congressmen not seated – locked out of congress
14th Amendment
All native born or naturalized persons are citizens of U.S. and their state
Prohibits states from denying citizens equal protection under the law
10 out of 11 Southern states reject amendment
Tenure of Office Act
Congress passes to limit Johnson’s ability to interfere with its Reconstruction Plan
Barred President from removing officeholders without consent of Senate
Johnson tries to remove Edwin Stanton because he is ally to Republicans
House votes to impeach Johnson – fails by 1 vote
Ulysses S. Grant Elected President 1868 Republican Had strong support from
black South Lacks political experience
– was a war hero Presidency noted for its
corruption
Radical Reconstruction Lasted 10 years - 1867-1877 During time Democrats regain control of South African Americans finally elected to higher office at state
and national level Hiram Revels and Blanch Bruce – Representatives in
Mississippi Senate
Radical Reconstruction
Carpetbaggers = Northerners came South during and after war to reap spoils of public office – carried belongings in luggage called carpetbags.
Many were former soldiers, investors, or volunteers coming to help freedmen
Scalawags = native born Southerners who joined Republican party, negative term, most were white farmers hoping to recover wartime economic losses – hated by Confederates
South Fails to Develop Prosperous Economy
Most slaves do not own land Few employment opportunities: Sharecropping – lease/land: Family rents land, crops
then divided between landowner and sharecropper – farmers exploited by landowners and tied to land in debt
Crop Lien System : Farmers forced to borrow and pledge against future crops – merchants insist that borrowers grow cotton not food crops
South not develop a prosperous and diverse economy
Ku Klux Klan
Formed in an effort to restore white supremacy Used violence, terror, beatings, lynching, and mass
murder to further cause African Americans, scalawags, and Northerners
victims
Enforcement Acts
Aimed at Ku Klux Klan (KKK) Outlawed terrorist societies Authorized the use of the Army against them
Rutherford B. Hayes Elected in 1876 Republican Ran against Tilden a Democrat Tilden wins popular vote Election contested by
Republicans who claim blacks were denied the vote in Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana
Parties agree to compromise
Compromise of 1877
Hayes is declared winner of election As winner, Hayes will declare the end of
Reconstruction Federal troops withdraw from the South Reconstruction officially ends!
The South After The WarRadical Reconstruction1867-1877 Economics Social Issues
•First public schools•African American suffrage•Civil rights laws•Black codes repealed•Railroads and industry financed
•Sharecropping•Crop-lien system•Cotton dominates
•Racist societies (KKK)•Racial violence•US Army arrests terrorists•North loses interest in the south