Reconstruction & Its Aftermath

1865 - 1896

Reconstruction PlansChapter 17 – Section 1

Reconstruction Debate

Although the Union was saved, the nation shook in its roots

There were many difficult questions to answer: Should the slaveholding Southerners be punished or

forgiven? What rights should be granted to the free African

Americans? How could the nation be brought back together?

Reconstruction Debate

Most of the fighting took place in the south therefore towns, cities, plantations, roads, bridges, and railroads had been destroyed

More than 258,000 Confederate soldiers had died while families had to rebuild their lives with very few resources

Everyone agreed that these problems needed to be fixed but they could not agree on how to fix it

This was known as the period of Reconstruction

Lincoln’s Plan

December 1863 he announced the 10 Percent Plan

10% of voters of a state took an oath of loyalty to the Union, the state could form a new government and adopt a new constitution (banning slavery)

Punishing the south would serve no useful purpose and only delay the healing process

He also offered amnesty – a pardon – to all white southerners, except Confederate leaders, who swore loyalty to the Union

He also supported granting the right to vote to A.A. that were educated or had served in the Union army

However did did not force southerners to give these “white” rights to A.A.

Rival Plan

One group of Republicans in Congress considered the Lincoln Plan to be too mild; not harsh enough

They said: Congress should control the Reconstruction policy, not the president

They held a radical (extreme) viewpoint and were known as Radical Republicans

A leading figure of that party was Thaddeus Stevens

Wade-Davis Bill

This was much harsher than Lincoln’s Plan A majority of white males in a state had to swear

loyalty to the Union A state constitutional convention could be held but

only white males who had never taken up arms against the Union could vote for delegates to this convention

The convention had to adopt a new state constitution that abolished slavery

Freedmen’s Bureau

This was the other issue of Reconstruction – helping African Americans freed from slavery

The Freedmen’s Bureau was created and helped distribute food and clothing, and provide medical services

It also established schools and gave aid to new A.A institutions of higher learning

They also helped people acquire land, offered free transportation, and helped obtain fair wages

The Assassination…• Night of April 14, 1864 President and Mrs. Lincoln attended the play

“Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C.• This was only 5 days after the surrender of Lee’s army• John Wilkes Booth (an actor and Confederate sympathizer) enters

the box without anyone seeing him

The Assassination…• Wilkes Booth shoots the president in the back of the head• He the leaped to the stage and escaped during the chaos that

unfolded• Lincoln was carried to a nearby house but died a few hours later

The Assassination

…• Booth fled on horseback to

Virginia as he was being tracked by Union troops

• April 26: the troops cornered Booth in a barn near Port Royal, Virginia

• He refused to surrender and was shot to death

New President• Vice President Andrew

Johnson took the post after Lincoln’s death

• He also revealed his own plan for Reconstruction

• He resented the slaveholders and wished to punish them

• Radical Republicans thought he’d create a very harsh plan which they could accept

• Johnson believes giving the states control over many decisions and he had no desire to help the African Americans

“Restoration”

He preferred to call the Reconstruction, a period of Restoration

Under this plan: most southerners would be granted amnesty once they swore an oath of loyalty to the Union

High-ranking Confederate officials and wealthy landowners could be pardoned

He appointed governors to southern states and required them to hold elections for state constitutional conventions

Only whites who had sworn loyalty and pardoned could be allowed to vote

He opposed granting all freed A.A equal rights or letting them vote

“white men alone should manage the south”

The 13th Amendment

Before states could reenter the Union they had to denounce slavery at their constitutional conventions

They had to ratify the 13th Amendment End of 1865: all former Confederate states

except Texas had formed new governments and were ready to rejoin the Union

“Restoration” was almost complete

Radicals in ControlChapter 17 – Section 2

Southerners in Congress

Southerners made their way to Congress as they sent their representatives there

When they got to Washington DC many Republicans refused to seat them or acknowledge them

They believed that these southerners had been let off loosely by President Johnson

Black Codes

Between 1865 & 1866: new Southern states passed a series of laws called the black codes

They were aimed to control freed men and women and to enable plantation owners to exploit African American workers

These laws were terrible; they arrested and fined any A.A who was unemployed

Then forced him/her to work to pay off their fines

Black Codes

In other cases A.A were banned from owning or renting farms

Whites were allowed to take orphaned A.A children as unpaid apprentices

These Black Codes were reestablished slavery in disguise

Challenging Black Codes

1866: the Freedmen’s Bureau was granted more power to set up special courts to prosecute individuals charged with violating A.A rights

A.A were provided with a form of justice where they could serve on juries

Civil Rights Act of 1866

It granted full citizenship to A.A and gave the federal government the power to intervene in state affairs to protect their rights

It overturned Black Codes and also contradicted the Dred Scott decision

Johnson’s Reaction

Johnson vetoed both bills because he felt the federal government was overstepping its boundaries

He also said that they were unconstitutional because they were passed by a Congress who did not include representatives from all the states

Republican’s Reaction

They enough votes to override (defeat) both vetoes set by Johnson

The bills became law It also split Congress and the President

possibly threatening the relationship in the future

14th Amendment

In 1866: Congress passed a new amendment to make sure no one took the rights of A.A

The 14th Amendment granted full citizenship to all individuals born in the US

It also stated that no state could take away a citizen’s life, liberty and property “without due process”

Everyone is entitled to “equal protection of the laws” Whoever refused to follow would lose their

representatives in Congress

Interpretation of the Amendment

It did not include Natives Americans and it wouldn’t until 1924

It barred former Confederates from holding national or state office unless they were pardoned

To be readmitted to the Union the states had to ratify the amendment

Tennessee was the first and only to ratify until 1866

Johnson’s Reaction to Am.

Johnson reaction harshly towards the 14th Amendment

He campaigned vigorously against Republican candidates

He even urged all the state legislatures to reject it

Republican Victory

People were worried what effects this would have between the races

There was fear that clashes would erupt such as in Memphis, TE & New Orleans, LA

Eventually the Republicans gained control of the governments in every northern state

This gave Congress the signal to take Reconstruction into its own hands

Radical Reconstruction

Reconstruction Act of 1867 called for the creation of new governments in the 10 southern states that did not ratify the 14th Am.

These 10 states were divided into 5 districts and placed under military authority

It guaranteed A.A males the right to vote in state elections and prevented former Confederate leaders from holding political office

Radical Reconstruction

The Second Reconstruction Act was passed a few weeks later and required the military commanders to being registering voters and to prepare for new state constitutional conventions

This was introduced to get southern states to regain admission into the Union

Readmission of States

1868: seven states were readmitted Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,

North Carolina, and South Carolina 1870: Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas were

readmitted

Challenging Johnson

Congress had passed several laws to limit the powers of the president to prevent him from redirecting the military during their occupation of southern states

Tenure of Office Act prohibited the president from removing government officials, including members of his own cabinet, without the Senate’s approval

Impeachment

Conflict became worse 1867: while Congress wasn’t in session,

Johnson suspended Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without the Senate’s approval

The Senate came back and refused to obey Johnson’s decision, so he removes Stanton from office anyway

This violated the Tenure of Office Act

Impeachment

The House of Representatives were outraged so they voted to impeach – formally charge with wrongdoing – the president

They accused him of misconduct The trial began in March 1868 and lasted

almost 3 months

The Case

Johnson’s defenders claimed that the president was exercising his right to challenge laws

They also argued that the impeachment was politically motivated and contrary to the spirit of the Constitution

His accusers said that Congress should retain the supreme power to make the laws

Verdict

Senators casted 2 votes and in both cases the result was 35 to 19 to convict the president This was 1 vote short of 2/3 of the majority

required to convict the president Other Republicans casted a no vote because

they believed a president should be removed from office

Election of 1868

Republicans abandoned Johnson and chose General Ulysses S. Grant as their presidential candidate

Democrats chose Horatio Seymour of New York

Grant won with 214 of the 294 votes

15th Amendment

This was the last and major piece of Reconstruction

February 1869: Congress passed the 15th Amendment

It prohibited the state and federal governments from denying the right to vote to any male citizen because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”

The South During Reconstruction

Chapter 17 – Section 3

New Groups

Support for the Republican Part came from: African Americans White Southerners White Settlers from the North

African Americans

They played in important role as voters and elected officials

They did not control the government of any state but held important positions

At least 16 A.A served in the H.o.R and 2 in the Senate

Hiram Revels• Senator and ordained minister• He recruited A.A during the

Civil War• Started a school for freed A.A

in St. Louis• Served as chaplain of an A.A

regiment in Mississippi• Served a year in the Senate

and declared that he received “fair treatment”

Blanche K. Bruce

• Senator from Mississippi and former runaway slave

• Taught in a school for A.A in Missouri

• Entered politics and became a superintendent of schools

• Elected to the Senate and served for 6 years

Scalawags

These were southern whites who supported Republicans

They were nonslaveholding farmers or business leaders who opposed secession

They were called scalawags by Confederates It means “scoundrel” or “worthless rascal”

Carpetbaggers

These were northern whites who moved to the south after the war

They supporter Republicans and served as leaders during the Reconstruction

They were called carpetbaggers because when they moved they brought everything (all of their belongings) with them in cheap suitcases made of carpet fabris

Carpetbaggers

Most were greedy but some were not Most were former Union army soldiers or

members of the Freedmen’s Bureau Others were reformers from the north such as

lawyers, doctors, teachers

Corruption

Many southerners accused Reconstruction leaders as being corrupt – dishonest or illegal in action

Some official made money illegally but this practice was not widespread

Interestingly, there were less corrupt leaders in the south than in the north

Resistance to Reconstruction

Most southern whites opposed these efforts Plantation owners tried to maintain control over

freed people in away way Most whites refused to rent land to A.A Store owners refused them credit Employers refused to hire them Some whites used fear to keep freedmen in line

Ku Klux Klan• Much violence against A.A were carried out by secret societies organized to

prevent freed men from exercising their rights• The KKK was the most terrifying group who wore white sheets and hoods• Their members launched “midnight rides” burning homes, churches, and

schools• They murdered more than 150 people over a 3 year period

Action Against Violence

Those against violence appealed to the government to do something about it

Congress passed laws to try to stop the growing violence

However most white southerners refused to testify against those who attacked A.A

Improvements

Education improved for both A.A and whites A.A saw education as a step to a better life and in

many regions they created their own schools Northern women and free A.A came to teach in the

south More than half the teachers in these schools in

1870 were A.A There were 4,000 schools with 200,000 students

Public Schools

1870: Reconstruction governments began creating public school systems for both races which did not exist in the south before

More than 50% of white children and about 40% of A.A children in the south were enrolled in public schools

Missionary societies established academies such as Morehouse College & Atlanta University

Schools were starting to be integrated – include both races

Farming the Land

Most free people wanted land along with education Some were able to buy land because of the Freedman’s Bank But the most common form of farmwork was through

sharecropping This was a system where a landowner rented a plot of land to

a sharecropper (farmer) along with some seeds, tools, and maybe a mule

In return the sharecropper shared a percentage of their crop with their landowner

Sharecropping

After paying the landowners, the sharecroppers had very little to sell

Sometimes there was barely enough to feed their families

But for many sharecropping was still better than slavery

Change in the SouthChapter 17 – Section 4

Reconstruction Declines

During the Grand administration, northerners began losing interest in Reconstruction

They felt that it was time for the south to solve its own problems

Southern Democrats were regaining control in the south

Even freed people went back to work for landowners because they had no other way of making a living

Reasons for Decline of Reconstruction

Radical leaders began to disappear Racial prejudice was exploited in the north by

opponents of Reconstruction Fate of the freed should be in the south

Southern protest of the “bayonet rule” – the use of federal troops to support Reconstruction governments

Republican Revolt

1870s: reports of corruption in Grant’s administration

The Republicans split the party over corruption

Another group of them broke over Reconstruction They proposed reconciliation – coming

together again These 2 groups who split called themselves

Liberal Republicans and they nominated Horace Greeley for president in the election o f 1872

Amnesty Act

May 1872: Congress passed the Amnesty Act which pardoned most former Confederates

Now nearly all white southerners could vote and hold office again

This changed the political balance in the south

Democrats Regain Power

In states where whites were the clear majority, the Democrats quickly gained control of the state government

In states where A.A were the majority or the population was equal, the KKK helped the Democrats gain control

They did it by terrorizing any opponents

Democrats Regain Power

Democrats used threats to pressure Republicans to become Democrats

They also used violence to pressure A.A to not vote

By 1876: Republicans were only able to hold a majority in 3 southern states Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana

Republican Issues

Republicans had other problems they could not blame on Democrats

There were reports of corruption, officials making unfair business deals, scheming to withhold public tax money, accepting bribes, etc.

It damaged the Grant administration and the Republicans

The nation was also going through an economic depression which was blamed on the Republicans

End of Reconstruction

Grant considered running for a 3rd term but most Republicans wanted a new candidate Someone who could win back the Liberal

Republicans and unite the party

Election of 1876

• Republicans nominated Rutherford B. Hayes

• He was governor of Ohio• A champion of political

reform• Had a reputation for

honesty and held moderate views on Reconstruction

Election of 1876

• Democrats nominated Samuel Tilden

• He gained national fame for fighting political corruption in NYC

Election of 1876

It seemed that Tilden would win the election Except for that some states votes were

disputed These 20 electoral votes from Florida,

Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oregon were all that Tilden needed to win the election

Election of 1876

Congress creates a commission (group) of 7 Republicans and 7 Democrats and 1 independent to review the election results

The independent resigned, so a Republican took his place

After review, the commission voted that Hayes was the new president

Reaction to Election

Democrats were angry and threatened to fight the verdict

Republicans and southern Democrats tried to work out an agreement

March 2, 1877: Congress confirmed that the winner would be Hayes

Compromise of 1877

This compromise included favors for the south Give more aid to the south Withdraw all remaining troops from the south Democrats promised to maintain A.A rights

Hayes went on to say that the south needed honest men to self-govern the region

His stance was that the federal government would no longer interfere or reshape southern society or help southern A.A

A New Ruling Party

When Reconstruction ended in the south, the shift in power went from the Republicans to the Democrats

Democrats in the south: large landowners that held power before the War

Redeemers were a group of Democrats who were merchants, bankers, industrialists, and other business leaders who wanted to save the south from Republican rule

Redeemers • They adopted conservative

policies such as:• Lower taxes• Less public spending• Reduced government services

• The cut many social services including public education

Rise of the “New South”

• Southerners were convinced that the reason they lost the war was because their industry and manufacturing did not math the north’s

• Henry Grady headed a group that urged southerners to “out-Yankee the Yankees” & build a “New South”

• They would have industries based on coal, iron, tobacco, cotton, lumber, etc.

Southern Industries

Some of the strongest advances were in the textile industry, in lumbering, and in tobacco processing

James Duke’s American Tobacco Company controlled almost all tobacco manufacturing in the nation

William Kelly & Henry Bessemer helped push the iron and steel industry as well

By 1890: the south produced nearly 20% of the nation’s iron and steel

Factors in Growth

Workers in the south worked long hours for low wages, sometimes with their entire families in the factories

Rail-road building boomed as it was being rebuilt after the war

African Americans got fewer opportunities in industry except in the lowest-paying jobs

Rural Economy

Debt caused a lot of problems where poor families had to buy the things they needed on credit

Cash Crops – crops that could be sold for money

This was the quickest way to make money and selling cotton brought the biggest profit

Dividing Society

African Americans continued to dream for justice but that all faded away

Racism became entrenched in southern life Individuals took steps on their own to keep

African Americans separated from whites and deny them basic rights

Voting Restrictions

15th Amendment prevented anyone from being denied the right to vote because of race

Southerners found loopholes around this however

Poll Tax• This was a fee that people had to pay before voting• Many A.A could not afford this tax so they could not vote• Evidently it also prevented poor white families from voting too

Literacy Test• A person had to read and explain difficult parts of state constitutions or the

federal Constitution • Most A.A had very little education therefore they, too, were prevented from

voting• However this also kept some whites from voting

Grandfather Clause• This allowed individuals who did not pass the literacy test to

vote if their fathers or grandfathers had voted before Reconstruction

• A.A could not vote until 1867, therefore they were excluded

Jim Crow Laws

• Segregation (separation of the races) was also prominent in the southern culture

• The Jim Crow laws required A.A and whites to be separated in almost every public place where they might come in contact with each other

Plessy vs Ferguson

This was a case which involved a Louisiana law that required the separation of whites and A.A on trains

Homer Plessy challenged the law by sitting in the whites only section of the train

He lost the case in the Supreme Court which ruled that it was legal as long as AA had access to facilities or accommodations equal to those of whites

Problem w/ Separate but Equal

Facilities were separate but in no way were they equal

Southern states spent much more money on white only facilities than those for AA

Violence Against AA

• Lynching was prominent in the south

• Angry mobs killed AA by hanging them because they were suspected of committing crimes or because they did not behave as whites thought they should

Impact of Reconstruction

Success Helped the south

recover form the war Began rebuilding the

southern economy AA gained greater

equality and joined with whites in new governments

Failure Still had a poor rural

economy It did not make good

on the promise of true freedom for freed AA

Segregated society