The Ordeal of Reconstruction 1865 - 1877. The Problems of Peace 1 in 20 Southerners were either...
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Transcript of The Ordeal of Reconstruction 1865 - 1877. The Problems of Peace 1 in 20 Southerners were either...
The Ordeal of Reconstruction
1865 - 1877
The Problems of Peace 1 in 20 Southerners were either wounded or killedYankees had either taken, destroyed, or burned anything they could find that might have been useful to the Confederates2/3 of the Southern railroad system was unable to operate because of damageInflation was as much as 300% & Confederate issued war bonds were worthless
Agriculture in the SouthHopelessly crippled Slave-labor had collapsed Seed was scarce Livestock had been driven out by Yankees
Gov’t confiscated any cotton left in warehousesPlanter aristocrats were reduced to proud poverty
Freedmen Define Freedom13th Amendment (1865) freed ALL slaves Resisted by slaveowners
Master-Slave Relationship Loyalty caused some to stay while others left
immediately Some violence
Many blacks began traveling to test their freedom Searched for family members Looked for economic opportunities
Many changed their names
Life for the FreedmenExodusters (1878 – 1880) 25,000 blacks from Louisiana, Texas, & Mississippi went to Kansas Slowed only when steamboat captains refused to
transport black migrants across the Mississippi River
Church became the focus of black community Set up their own churches
Education became very importantEstablished societies for self-improvement Raise funds to purchase land, build
schools, & hire teachers
The Freedmen’s Bureau Created by Congress on March 3, 1865Controlled by the War Dept.Developed to help ex-slaves who were uneducated, unskilled, without money or property, & with little knowledge of how to survive as free peoplePrimitive welfare agency Provide food, clothing, medical care, & education
both to freedmen and white refugees
Lead by General Oliver O. Howard Founded Howard University, Washington,D.C.
The Freedmen’s Bureau Purpose Helped find homes & jobs Negotiated labor contracts Built hospitals Set up schools & provided teachers Provided legal help
Provision stated that land confiscated from former Confederates would be given to former slaves -- “forty acres and a mule”
Pres. Johnson vetoed bureau & returned all land to former owners
President Andrew Johnson (D)
Never attended school Champion of the poor whites Elected to Congress (Tenn) Refused to secede with his own state
Nominated for the Vice Pres to ensure support from War Democrats & other pro-Southern elementsDogmatic champion of state’s rights & the Constitution Description p. 493
Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan
10% Plan (1863) 10% of each states’ voters had to
take an oath of allegiance to the US New state gov’t with emancipation
Goal: rapid readmission of the southern states Based on forgiveness
Most ex-Confederates would be granted amnesty after oath was taken
High-ranking ex-Confederates would have to ask the president personally for pardon
Lincoln believed that the South had never actually seceded
Republican Reconstruction Plan
Wade-Davis Bill (1864) Required 50% of state’s voters take an oath
of allegiance Demanded stronger safeguards for
emancipation
Pocket-vetoed by LincolnRepublicans believed that the states should be admitted as “Conquered Provinces” Based on punishment
Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan
May 1865 Supported Lincoln’s policy but required more Disfranchised certain leading Confederates
with property over $20,000 However, they could petition to the
President personally for pardon Pardons were granted in abundance
Special state conventions – required to repeal the ordinances of secession
Repudiate all Confederate debts Ratify the 13th Amendment Pardoned all rebel leaders 12- 1868
The Baleful Black Codes
Laws to regulate the affairs of ex-slavesNov. 1865 – Mississippi passes the first codes Varied in severity from state to state
Purpose: Ensure stable & subservient labor force Penalties for those who “jumped” their labor
contracts Codes aimed at restoring the race relations to
pre-Civil War Forbade blacks from serving on juries, from renting or
leasing land, & voting
Results of the Black CodesThousands of former slaves became sharecroppers (landless whites also) Became slaves to the soil and to their
creditors
Not favored in the North Was the war pointless?
Congressional Reconstruction
Southern states presented themselves in the Capitol in Dec. 1865 Voters in the South had reelected former
statesmen Many were Confederate leaders
Republicans were infuriated by “whitewashed rebels”
Republicans feared that the South would be stronger than ever Slaves would now count as one whole person 12 more votes in Congress & 12 more
electoral votes
Republican FearsSouth would join with Northern Democrats & win control of Congress & the White House Virtually re-enslave the blacks Dismantle the economic program Reroute the transcontinental railroad Repeal the Homestead Act
Republicans were alarmed that Johnson announced on Dec. 6, 1865 that the Union had been restored
Johnson Clashes with Congress
Feb. 1866 – Johnson vetoed bill extending live of the Freedmen’s Bureau (later repassed)March 1866 – Congress passed the Civil Rights Bill Citizenship for African Americans
Johnson vetoed on constitutional groundsApril 1866 – Congress overrode vetoCongress pushes to add the Civil Rights Bill to the constitution as the 14th Amendment
14th Amendment4 parts: Citizenship & civil rights to freedmen When a state denies citizens the vote, its
representation shall be reduced Disqualified Confederate leaders from holding
office Debts incurred in aid of rebellion were made
void
Ratification was required in order for states to reenter into the Union*** Did not grant the right to vote ****
JohnsonSummer of 1866 -- “Swing ‘round the circle” Series of speeches given by Johnson accusing
the Radical Republicans of planning riots & murder in the South
Goal was to take votes away from radicals in Congress DID NOT WORK!!
Republicans won 2/3 majority in both houses
Republican Principles & Programs
Republicans now had a veto-proof Congress & control over ReconstructionRadicals in Congress Charles Sumner – Senate Thaddeus Stevens – House
Radicals - social & economic transformation of the SouthModerates - policies that prevented violations of citizens’ rights Both wanted black suffrage
Military Reconstruction map page 490
Reconstruction Act – March 2, 1867 Divided the South into five military districts Each district was commanded by a Union
general & policed by soldiers Temporarily disfranchised former Confederates States required to ratify the 14th Amendment &
give full suffrage to black adult males
Radicals were still concerned that the South would be readmitted & then withdraw black suffrage
Results of Military Reconstruction
15th Amendment – Ratified in 1870 Gave suffrage to all black males
By 1870, all Southern states had reorganized their governments & had been accorded full rights1877 – All of the federal troops were removed from the South However, once the troops were
removed, the white “Redeemers” took control again
What About The Women?Women were upset because they were left out of the Reconstruction amendmentsSusan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton Many women were fighting for slaves & their
rights
Woman’s Loyal League – helped petition for the 13th Amendment14th Amendment used the word “male”15th Amendment did not include the word “sex”
Realities of Radical Reconstruction
Black suffrage Both Lincoln & Johnson proposed limited black
vote Education, property ownership, or military service
15th Amendment was hypocritical North denied blacks the vote
Blacks began to organized politically Union League – assisted by Northern blacks
Taught civic duties & campaigned for Republicans Later built churches & schools, helped with
grievances, & recruited militias to defend black communities
Blacks Get Elected Some were elected as delegates to state constitutional conventionsBetween 1868 – 1876: 14 black congressmen 2 black senators:
Hiram Revels Blanche K. Bruce
1890 – complete disfranchisement of blacks in the South/ literacy test used
Scalawags & Carpetbaggers
Scalawags – Southerners were former Unionists & Whigs/ supported RepublicansCarpetbaggers – sleazy Northerners who had moved South to seek personal power & profit
Outcomes of Reconstruction
Radical Legislatures: Took steps toward adequate public schools Tax systems were streamlined Launched public works Property rights guaranteed to women
Corruption Used politically inexperienced
blacks as pawns
Ku Klux KlanMany whites resented the success & ability of black legislators as much as they resented alleged “corruption”“Invisible Empire of the South” Founded in Tenn in 1866 by Nathan Bedford
Forrest Successful in intimidation Purpose was to keep blacks in their place
Force Acts of 1870 & 1871 passed by Congress
Johnson’s Impeachment1867 – Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act Required president to have the consent of the
Senate before removing appointees once they had been approved
Purpose was to keep Edwin M. Stanton in office
Johnson violated Act when he dismisses Stanton in 1868House voted to impeach for “high crimes & misdemeanors”May 1868 – Senate failed to convict by 1 vote
Purchase of Alaska1867 – Russia wanted to sell Alaska to USUS did not want to offend RussiaSec of State William Seward signed treaty Purchase price - $7.2 million “Seward’s Folly” “Seward’s Icebox”
Territory was rumored to have furs, fish, & gold Found to be full of natural resources - oil