Many whites frustrated by their loss of political power and by the South’s

economic stagnation; took out their anger on African American. Certain groups embarked on a campaign to

terrorize African American into giving up their political rights and their efforts

at economic improvement.

The opposition to Reconstruction begins…

Many whites frustrated by their loss of political power and by the South’s

economic stagnation; took out their anger on African American. Certain groups embarked on a campaign to

terrorize African American into giving up their political rights and their efforts

at economic improvement.

The opposition to Reconstruction begins…The Collapse of

Reconstruction

Reconstruction or NadirReconstruction or Nadir

• The system that replaced Reconstruction The system that replaced Reconstruction in the South was one of racial segregation in the South was one of racial segregation and white supremacy.and white supremacy.

• African Americans were destroyed of their African Americans were destroyed of their basic political and civil rights until the Civil basic political and civil rights until the Civil Rights Movement.Rights Movement.

• Some Historians refer this period as the Some Historians refer this period as the “Nadir” or low point in American race “Nadir” or low point in American race relations.relations.

The Collapse of ReconstructionThe Collapse of Reconstruction

• Many whites, frustrated by their loss of political power Many whites, frustrated by their loss of political power and by the South’s economic stagnation, took out their and by the South’s economic stagnation, took out their anger on African Americans.anger on African Americans.

• Reconstruction brought violent opposition throughout Reconstruction brought violent opposition throughout the Souththe South

• White citizens formed private groups, supposedly to White citizens formed private groups, supposedly to keep order in the South. keep order in the South. The rise of the The rise of the Ku Klux Klan Ku Klux Klan a.k.a KKKa.k.a KKK formed at Tennessee in 1866 and soon formed at Tennessee in 1866 and soon began terrorizing African Americans and whites who began terrorizing African Americans and whites who were loyal to the Union.were loyal to the Union. Violence against blacks was Violence against blacks was rarely prosecuted. rarely prosecuted.

Ku Klux Klan - secret group set up in the South founded by veterans of the Confederate Army to fight against Reconstruction. Members terrorized primarily African-Americans. Their methods included threats, house burnings, and killings(lynching) against not only blacks but whites as well who were loyal to the Union. The idea behind the terror was to keep African Americans from voting and to better themselves.

The (First) Ku Klux KlanThe (First) Ku Klux Klan

Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA

Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA Vigilantism Vigilantism

1865-1874

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

The “Invisible Empire of the South”

The “Invisible Empire of the South”

The Failure of Federal Enforcement

The Failure of Federal EnforcementEnforcement Acts of 1870 & 1871 [also known as the KKK

Act].

Three Three Enforcement ActsEnforcement Acts were passed, setting were passed, setting heavy penalties for heavy penalties for anyone attempting to anyone attempting to prevent a qualified prevent a qualified person from voting. person from voting.

They banned the use of They banned the use of disguises and gave the disguises and gave the army and federal courts army and federal courts power to capture and power to capture and punish KKK members.punish KKK members.

While the KKK was soon While the KKK was soon brought under control, brought under control, other groups continued other groups continued to operateto operate

Decrease in the Klan’s activities

Decrease in the Klan’s activities

In late 1870s, the reason In late 1870s, the reason for the reduction in for the reduction in Klan violence was the Klan violence was the Klan’s own success.Klan’s own success.

By 1880, terrorist groups By 1880, terrorist groups had managed to had managed to restore white restore white supremacy throughout supremacy throughout the South.the South.

The Klan was no longer The Klan was no longer needed to limit the needed to limit the political and civil rights political and civil rights of most African of most African Americans.Americans.

CONGRESS SUPPORT FADESCONGRESS SUPPORT FADES• When Congress When Congress

passed thepassed the Amnesty Amnesty Act (1872) Act (1872) returningreturning voting rights to voting rights to 150,000 150,000 Confederates and Confederates and allowed the allowed the Freedmen’s Bureau Freedmen’s Bureau to expire—it became to expire—it became clear that Southern clear that Southern Democrats were back Democrats were back in political controlin political control

Republicans withdrawn troops from the South to gain Hayes the presidency in

1876.

Compromise of 1877• Republicans decided not Republicans decided not

to run Grant for a third to run Grant for a third term. Instead, they term. Instead, they choose Rutherford B. choose Rutherford B. Hayes. The Democrats Hayes. The Democrats ran Samuel H. Tilden. ran Samuel H. Tilden. Although Tilden won Although Tilden won popular vote, he was popular vote, he was short of one vote of the short of one vote of the electoral vote needed to electoral vote needed to win.win.

• The presidential election The presidential election was disputed with was disputed with charges of massive charges of massive voting fraud. With the voting fraud. With the Compromise of 1877Compromise of 1877 Republicans agreed to Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops in withdraw federal troops in the South, and in return, the South, and in return, Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes became president.became president.

DEMOCRATS “REDEEM SOUTH”DEMOCRATS “REDEEM SOUTH”• With the termination of military rule, With the termination of military rule,

the remaining Republican-controlled the remaining Republican-controlled governments were swept out of office. governments were swept out of office.

• Southern issues caused Democrats to Southern issues caused Democrats to regain control of the Southregain control of the South

• Called Called “Redeemers“Redeemers” these politicians ” these politicians were out were out to reclaim Southern Culture to reclaim Southern Culture and traditionand tradition

• The Reconstruction Era was over The Reconstruction Era was over • The South remained resentful of the The South remained resentful of the

Republican Party, and for the next 75 Republican Party, and for the next 75 years the former Confederate states years the former Confederate states (the Solid South) voted almost (the Solid South) voted almost consistently for Democratic Party. consistently for Democratic Party.

The 1876 elections brought an end to Republican influence in Southern The 1876 elections brought an end to Republican influence in Southern states governmentstates government..

They restricted the rights of freed slaves. Southern laws set up a: They restricted the rights of freed slaves. Southern laws set up a:

• Literacy TestsLiteracy Tests• Tests designed to keep blacks Tests designed to keep blacks

from voting by requiring from voting by requiring predominantly uneducated predominantly uneducated African Americans African Americans to prove to prove they could read and write they could read and write before allowing them to vote.before allowing them to vote.

  •   They were designed to They were designed to

disfranchise educated blacks disfranchise educated blacks as well by asking questions as well by asking questions most people, white and black, most people, white and black, could not answer.could not answer.

Poll TaxesPoll Taxes• Special taxes Special taxes passed in the South after passed in the South after

Reconstruction to prevent blacks from Reconstruction to prevent blacks from voting by voting by requiring them to requiring them to pay a few to pay a few to vote.vote.

Grandfather ClauseGrandfather Clause• Said that Said that a citizen could vote only if his grandfather a citizen could vote only if his grandfather

had been able to votehad been able to vote. At the time, the grandfathers . At the time, the grandfathers of black men in the South had been slaves with no of black men in the South had been slaves with no right to vote. Another method for disenfranchising right to vote. Another method for disenfranchising blacks.blacks.

The End of ReconstructionThe End of Reconstruction• The North loses interest after economic The North loses interest after economic

depression in 1873depression in 1873

• Rutherford B. Hayes withdraws troops in a Rutherford B. Hayes withdraws troops in a deal to win the disputed 1877 Presidential deal to win the disputed 1877 Presidential election.election.

• Southern Democrats return to power.Southern Democrats return to power.

• KKK and other groups terrorize African KKK and other groups terrorize African AmericansAmericans

• Reconstruction had failed to gain equal rights Reconstruction had failed to gain equal rights for African Americans.for African Americans.

The The Jim Crow LawsJim Crow Laws: the “Nadir” : the “Nadir” in Race Relationsin Race Relations

Stop African Americans from Stop African Americans from votingvoting

• Literacy tests- a voter had Literacy tests- a voter had to be able to read and to be able to read and writewrite

• Poll taxes-registration Poll taxes-registration fees for voting. It was a fees for voting. It was a burden to the poor.burden to the poor.

• Grandfather Causes- No Grandfather Causes- No man could vote if his man could vote if his grandfather had not been grandfather had not been able to vote before the able to vote before the civil war civil war

Racial Segregation: Jim CrowRacial Segregation: Jim Crow

• Segregation laws which Segregation laws which separated blacks from separated blacks from whites in whites in schools, schools, railroads, restaurants and railroads, restaurants and other other public placespublic places

• Denied black citizens Denied black citizens equal opportunities and equal opportunities and rightsrights

• This is considered the This is considered the period as “Nadir”, or period as “Nadir”, or lowest point in American lowest point in American race relationsrace relations

“Jim Crow” America

In 1896; the US Supreme Court In 1896; the US Supreme Court upheld Jim Crow lawsupheld Jim Crow laws

Plessy vs. Ferguson: •What? Homer Plessey tries to sit in a whites-only train car and refuses to move.

•He was arrested; tried; and convicted for breaking Louisiana’s segregation law

•Plessey claimed he had been denied equal protection under the law

•How did the Supreme Court Rule? Segregation is ok as long as the facilities are equal

•SEPARATE BUT EQUAL

The RealityThe Reality

Sample QuestionSample Question

• Several southern states adopted Jim Several southern states adopted Jim Crow laws in the late 1800s toCrow laws in the late 1800s to

• A A enforce legal segregationenforce legal segregation

• B B deny women the right to votedeny women the right to vote

• C C protect the freedom of speechprotect the freedom of speech

• D D preserve the separation of church and preserve the separation of church and statestate

Legacy of Reconstruction(Reconstruction was not complete failure)

Legacy of Reconstruction(Reconstruction was not complete failure)

The Thirteenth Amendment permanently abolished slavery in all states.

Radical Republicans did succeed in passing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, and although the Supreme Court narrowed the interpretation of the amendments, they remained part of the Constitution. In later years, these amendments would be used to strength African American’s rights.

African Americans had founded many black colleges and volunteer organizations

The percentage of literate African Americans had gradually increased.

The End