ReconstructionReconstruction

Triumph of Race, Politics, and Triumph of Race, Politics, and Redeemers, 1863-1877Redeemers, 1863-1877

• The South’s economy after the war was in a The South’s economy after the war was in a pitiful state.pitiful state.

• In the North the government in Washington had In the North the government in Washington had to revolve what terms the southern states should to revolve what terms the southern states should be remitted to the Union, and how the rights of be remitted to the Union, and how the rights of former slaves were to be protected.former slaves were to be protected.

• The form of treatment that Lincoln favored The form of treatment that Lincoln favored towards the South was lenient treatment.towards the South was lenient treatment.

• Lincoln wanted the seceded states to join the Union Lincoln wanted the seceded states to join the Union as not as conquered territories, but as states equal as not as conquered territories, but as states equal in status to the North.in status to the North.

• Lincoln’s two conditions for readmission into the Lincoln’s two conditions for readmission into the Union were ten percent of the state’s voters would Union were ten percent of the state’s voters would be required to take an oath of allegiance to the be required to take an oath of allegiance to the United States, and the new state government would United States, and the new state government would be required to guarantee the abolition of slavery.be required to guarantee the abolition of slavery.

• Following Reconstruction, the Following Reconstruction, the term New South was most often term New South was most often used to describe changes in the used to describe changes in the Southern economy.Southern economy.

• A major result of the Civil War A major result of the Civil War was that the power of the central was that the power of the central government was strengthened.government was strengthened.

• What changes do you think were What changes do you think were happening in the South following happening in the South following the Civil War?the Civil War?

Frederick Douglass, 1866Frederick Douglass, 1866

• The arm of the Federal The arm of the Federal government is long, but government is long, but it is far too short to it is far too short to protect the rights of protect the rights of individuals in the individuals in the interior of distant interior of distant States. They must have States. They must have the power to protect the power to protect themselves, or they will themselves, or they will go unprotected, in spite go unprotected, in spite of all the laws the of all the laws the Federal government Federal government can put upon the can put upon the national statute-book.national statute-book.

                           

Who Should Control Who Should Control Reconstruction—Congress or Reconstruction—Congress or

President?President?• Wade-Davis BillWade-Davis Bill

• Lincoln Pocket VetoLincoln Pocket Veto

• Assassination of Lincoln left question Assassination of Lincoln left question unresolved when Andrew Johnson unresolved when Andrew Johnson became president.became president.

Lincoln’s Second InauguralLincoln’s Second Inaugural

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.

Freedman’s BureauFreedman’s BureauThe Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned

Land, often referred to as the Freedmen's Bureau, was Land, often referred to as the Freedmen's Bureau, was established in the War Department on March 3, 1865. established in the War Department on March 3, 1865. The Bureau supervised all relief and educational The Bureau supervised all relief and educational activities relating to refugees and freedmen, including activities relating to refugees and freedmen, including issuing rations, clothing and medicine. The Bureau issuing rations, clothing and medicine. The Bureau also assumed custody of confiscated lands or also assumed custody of confiscated lands or property in the former Confederate States, border property in the former Confederate States, border states, District of Columbia, and Indian Territory. states, District of Columbia, and Indian Territory.

Built Schools—many of whom were forerunners of the Built Schools—many of whom were forerunners of the “Historically Black Colleges” in the South.“Historically Black Colleges” in the South.

Freedman’s Bureau Schools

Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson

• Rags to Riches StoryRags to Riches Story

• ““Treason must be made odious”Treason must be made odious”

• Initially a darling of and later a Initially a darling of and later a disappointment to Radical Republicansdisappointment to Radical Republicans

• Reconstruction Plan (Proclamation of Reconstruction Plan (Proclamation of Amnesty—May 1865) similar to Amnesty—May 1865) similar to Lincoln’sLincoln’s

• In their plans for Reconstruction, both In their plans for Reconstruction, both President Abraham Lincoln and President Abraham Lincoln and President Andrew Johnson sought to President Andrew Johnson sought to allow the Southern States to reenter allow the Southern States to reenter the nation as quickly as possible.the nation as quickly as possible.

• A major reason the Radical A major reason the Radical Republicans opposed President Republicans opposed President Abraham Lincoln’s Reconstruction Abraham Lincoln’s Reconstruction plan was that his plan offered amnesty plan was that his plan offered amnesty to nearly all Confederates who would to nearly all Confederates who would swear allegiance to the United States.swear allegiance to the United States.

Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction PlanPlan

• Ten percent of the state’s voters would Ten percent of the state’s voters would be required to take an oath of loyalty to be required to take an oath of loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, the state must the U.S. Constitution, the state must ratify the Thirteenth Amendment ratify the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery, and it must deny the abolishing slavery, and it must deny the right to vote to a few Confederate right to vote to a few Confederate leaders, while granting that right to all leaders, while granting that right to all other southern white men.other southern white men.

Radical Republicans Radical Republicans Reconstruction PlanReconstruction Plan

• That the south should be That the south should be punished for its role in the war punished for its role in the war and that the seceded states and that the seceded states should be treated as conquered should be treated as conquered territories. They also believed territories. They also believed that the newly free slaves should that the newly free slaves should be given political rights.be given political rights.

• No state would be allowed to deprive anyone born on American soil of the rights of citizenship/vote. No military leader or political officeholder of the defeated Confederacy would be permitted to hold state or federal office in the postwar period. The South would be occupied by federal troops and governed by army generals. The troops would be withdrawn from a state after it had adopted a new state constitution acceptable to Congress.

Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson

Radical Republicans: Thaddeus Radical Republicans: Thaddeus Stevens, Charles Sumner, Ben Stevens, Charles Sumner, Ben

WadeWade

Thirteenth Amendment Thirteenth Amendment

• Declared slavery illegal in every Declared slavery illegal in every state of the union. state of the union.

Fourteenth AmendmentFourteenth Amendment

• ““All persons born or naturalized All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and citizens of the United States and if the state wherein they reside.” if the state wherein they reside.”

Fifteenth AmendmentFifteenth Amendment

• This amendment said that This amendment said that voting rights could not be voting rights could not be denied to a person because of denied to a person because of that person’s “race, color, or that person’s “race, color, or previous condition of previous condition of servitude.”servitude.”

Southerners Don’t Get ItSoutherners Don’t Get It• Elect ex-CSA leaders to Congress, Elect ex-CSA leaders to Congress,

including Alexander Stephensincluding Alexander Stephens• Black Codes-Black Codes-Prohibited blacks from carrying Prohibited blacks from carrying

firearms; starting businesses, appearing on the streets firearms; starting businesses, appearing on the streets after sunset; renting or leasing farmland; and after sunset; renting or leasing farmland; and traveling without a permit.traveling without a permit.

• Race RiotsRace Riots• Jim Crow Laws-Jim Crow Laws- segregated, or separated the segregated, or separated the

races like forbidding blacks to mix with whites in races like forbidding blacks to mix with whites in public places (railroad cars, streetcars, restaurants, public places (railroad cars, streetcars, restaurants, and hotels).and hotels).

• The Jim Crow laws of the post-The Jim Crow laws of the post-Civil War Era were attempts by Civil War Era were attempts by state and local governments to state and local governments to restrict the freedoms of African restrict the freedoms of African AmericansAmericans

• Poll taxes and grandfather Poll taxes and grandfather clauses were devices used to deny clauses were devices used to deny African Americans the right to African Americans the right to votevote

• For Southern whites, already For Southern whites, already embittered by Confederate embittered by Confederate defeat, northern control of their defeat, northern control of their state governments was an insult.state governments was an insult.

• The chief interests of southern The chief interests of southern whites during Reconstruction whites during Reconstruction were to revive their war torn were to revive their war torn economy, regain control of their economy, regain control of their state governments, and reduce state governments, and reduce the political power of southern the political power of southern blacks.blacks.

Radicals RespondRadicals Respond

• Barely failed to override Johnson’s Veto of Barely failed to override Johnson’s Veto of Bill to Extend Life of Freedman’s BureauBill to Extend Life of Freedman’s Bureau

• Overrode Johnson’s Veto of CRA of 1866Overrode Johnson’s Veto of CRA of 1866

• Enacted a new Freedman’s BureauEnacted a new Freedman’s Bureau

• Sent 14Sent 14thth Amendment to States—ratified by Amendment to States—ratified by them in 1868them in 1868

• Radical’s insisted on Civil Rights for former Radical’s insisted on Civil Rights for former slaves and a federal enforcement mechanismslaves and a federal enforcement mechanism

Radicals on a Roll—March 2, Radicals on a Roll—March 2, 18671867

• Military Reconstruction ActMilitary Reconstruction Act

• Command of the Army ActCommand of the Army Act

• Tenure of Office ActTenure of Office Act

Military Reconstruction Act--Military Reconstruction Act--18671867

• Divided South into Military DistrictDivided South into Military District• Southern States—Tn. Excepted—would Southern States—Tn. Excepted—would

write new constitutions w/ Universal write new constitutions w/ Universal Adult Male SuffrageAdult Male Suffrage

• States had to ratify 14States had to ratify 14thth amendment amendment• Subsequent legislation gave Army power Subsequent legislation gave Army power

to register voters and to disqualify to register voters and to disqualify “disloyal persons” from registering.“disloyal persons” from registering.

South ReadmittedSouth Readmitted

• By 1870, Southern states were readmittedBy 1870, Southern states were readmitted• Some had to ratify 15Some had to ratify 15thth amendment too amendment too• Reconstruction Constitutions were most Reconstruction Constitutions were most

LIBERAL—yes, that’s a mighty fine word, LIBERAL—yes, that’s a mighty fine word, look it up—in history of Southern States.look it up—in history of Southern States.

• Legal means to overturn Reconstruction often Legal means to overturn Reconstruction often culminated with rewriting these Reconstruction culminated with rewriting these Reconstruction Constitutions.Constitutions.

Johnson ImpeachedJohnson Impeached

• The Radical Republicans impeached The Radical Republicans impeached President Andrew Johnson because many President Andrew Johnson because many personally disliked him, and he had used personally disliked him, and he had used the power of the presidency to block many the power of the presidency to block many of their Reconstruction plans. The Radical of their Reconstruction plans. The Radical Republicans laid a trap for Johnson by Republicans laid a trap for Johnson by passing the Tenure of Office Act, which passing the Tenure of Office Act, which required that the president obtain required that the president obtain congressional approval before dismissing a congressional approval before dismissing a cabinet officer.cabinet officer.

Johnson ImpeachedJohnson Impeached

• Vote to remove was 35 to 18, one Vote to remove was 35 to 18, one shy of the 2/3rds neededshy of the 2/3rds needed

• Radicals didn’t need to remove Radicals didn’t need to remove Johnson; by the time of his trial Johnson; by the time of his trial it was 1868, an election year; he it was 1868, an election year; he could simply be ignored.could simply be ignored.

Major Achievements of Major Achievements of ReconstructionReconstruction

• 1414thth and 15 and 15thth Amendments Amendments

• African American Participation African American Participation in Public Lifein Public Life

• Readmission of Southern StatesReadmission of Southern States

1414thth Amendment Amendment

• National Definitions of CitizenshipNational Definitions of Citizenship

• Equal Protection ClauseEqual Protection Clause

• Due Process ClauseDue Process Clause

• High Confederate Official banned from High Confederate Official banned from national officenational office

• Confederate debt repudiatedConfederate debt repudiated

1515thth Amendment Amendment

• ““The right of citizens of the United States The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”condition of servitude.”

Failure of ReconstructionFailure of Reconstruction

• Southern whites were violently opposed Southern whites were violently opposed to black rights; many in north were to black rights; many in north were indifferentindifferent

• Rise of KKKRise of KKK

• Where army was present, KKK leaders Where army was present, KKK leaders were apprehended and imprisoned. (The were apprehended and imprisoned. (The Force Acts of 1870-1871) Force Acts of 1870-1871)

• Land Reform—blacks (and poor whites) Land Reform—blacks (and poor whites) left to farm tenancyleft to farm tenancy

• Many Northerners moved to the South Many Northerners moved to the South after the Civil War was seek economic gain after the Civil War was seek economic gain and political power.and political power.

• Carpetbaggers were fortune hunters from Carpetbaggers were fortune hunters from the north that carried all their belongings the north that carried all their belongings in a single travel bag.in a single travel bag.

• Scalawags were Southern whites who Scalawags were Southern whites who cooperated with the northerners. Their cooperated with the northerners. Their motives were thought to be corrupt and motives were thought to be corrupt and their goal was to make money by any their goal was to make money by any scheme necessary.scheme necessary.

• Many plantation owners could Many plantation owners could not afford to keep their land so not afford to keep their land so they sold it. Most of the land they sold it. Most of the land went to white buyers, although a went to white buyers, although a small number of blacks also small number of blacks also managed to become landowning managed to become landowning farmers.farmers.

• Instead of selling the land what the Instead of selling the land what the other options plantation owners other options plantation owners had was renting sections of their had was renting sections of their land to tenant farmers. In order land to tenant farmers. In order to live and work on the land, to live and work on the land, tenant farmers provided their own tenant farmers provided their own seed, mules, and provisions.seed, mules, and provisions.

SharecroppersSharecroppers

• Sharecroppers were the poorest southerners Sharecroppers were the poorest southerners (whites as well as blacks) lacked the money (whites as well as blacks) lacked the money either to pay rents or to buy mules for either to pay rents or to buy mules for plowing. In return for farming a piece of plowing. In return for farming a piece of land, they paid a certain share of crop to the land, they paid a certain share of crop to the landlord. They were often unable to pay their landlord. They were often unable to pay their debts for many reasons worn out land, low debts for many reasons worn out land, low prices for their cotton, and relatively high prices for their cotton, and relatively high prices for farm supplies.prices for farm supplies.

““Boy, You ain’t a votin’ here”!Boy, You ain’t a votin’ here”!

WHITE SUPREMACYWHITE SUPREMACY

• In every southern state, groups of In every southern state, groups of whites formed secret societies such whites formed secret societies such as Knights of the White Camellia as Knights of the White Camellia and the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). and the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

• These groups often beat and killed These groups often beat and killed African Americans and scalawag African Americans and scalawag whites were also intimated.whites were also intimated.

Freedmen’s Bureau Freedmen’s Bureau

• Aiding 4 million former slaves (freedmen) Aiding 4 million former slaves (freedmen) in adjusting to freedom. It built and in adjusting to freedom. It built and operated schools in the South for blacks, operated schools in the South for blacks, recognizing that as slaves, they had been recognizing that as slaves, they had been deliberately deprived of the skills of deliberately deprived of the skills of literacy. The bureau also provided literacy. The bureau also provided emergency aid in the form of clothing, emergency aid in the form of clothing, food, and medical supplies.food, and medical supplies.

• The differences between the two great African American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were due, in part, to the fact that Booker T. Washington had been born a slave in the South, while W.E.B. Du Bois was raised as a free man in Massachusetts. Washington did not view equal rights as a goal that blacks should pursue. He stressed vocational education as a means of achieving economic security.

• While Du Bois accepted Washington’s view of vocational education as a useful tool, he advocated a college education for the most academically gifted black students. His major difference with Washington was in the area of social and political equality. Washington avoided social protest and the two leaders differed greatly over the need for African Americans to achieve equality and speak out against discrimination.

Grant PresidencyGrant Presidency

• Did attempt to enforce Did attempt to enforce ReconstructionReconstruction

• Presidency clouded by scandalsPresidency clouded by scandals• Republican party divided between Republican party divided between

Stalwart and Liberal Republicans—Stalwart and Liberal Republicans—little energy left to devote to little energy left to devote to Reconstruction.Reconstruction.

President GrantPresident Grant

1876 Presidential Election1876 Presidential Election

• Disputed results between Hayes and TildenDisputed results between Hayes and Tilden

• The The Compromise of 1877Compromise of 1877 settled the controversy settled the controversy and conflict created by the election of 1876. and conflict created by the election of 1876.

• Southern Democrats agreed to accept the Southern Democrats agreed to accept the Republican candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes as Republican candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes as president. In return, Hayes agreed to withdraw all president. In return, Hayes agreed to withdraw all federal troops from the South. Hayes’ actions had federal troops from the South. Hayes’ actions had the effect of abandoning southern blacks, and the effect of abandoning southern blacks, and ended the brief period of racial equality that had ended the brief period of racial equality that had existed during Reconstruction. existed during Reconstruction.