Texas During Reconstruction, Part 2 Essential Question: Essential Question:  Identify significant individuals and events concerning Texas and Reconstruction Main Idea: Main Idea:  In the final years of Reconstruction, Southerners were forced to accept new leaders and new political freedoms for African Americans.

Texas Elects Ex-Confederates to Office a. Former Confederate commander James W. Throckmorton was elected governor; other were elected to U.S. Congress b. Meanwhile, the Texas legislature refused to ratify the 13th amendment (which abolished slavery), and the 14th amendment (which granted citizenship to former slaves. c. Southern states also restricted the rights of African Americans with black codes—they were not allowed to vote, testify against or marry whites, or serve on juries African American men who were arrested for vagrancy due to unemployment econstruction1.html

Radical Republicans Take Charge a. The Radical Republicans took control of Reconstruction; and disagreed with Lincoln and Johnson’s plans. b. They pushed a plan to set stricter standards for readmitting Southern states to the Union and that would protect the freedom of African Americans in the South. c. In the 1866 elections, they also had enough power to override presidential vetoes. d. President Johnson, a moderate Republican, fought against them and was charged with misconduct in office. He missed being impeached, or removed from office, by 1 vote.

New Requirements for Statehood a. In March 1867, Congress divided the South into 5 districts. Texas and Louisiana made up 1 district, commanded by Major General Philip Sheridan. b. Until states met certain requirements, military rule continued. The requirements (or conditions)? i. Ratify the 14th amendment (see section 1) ii. Ratify the 15th amendment, which gave African American men the right to vote iii. Repeal the Black Codes iv. Take the Ironclad Oath, which said you never served in the CSA army or aided them; and allowed you to vote again!

Southerners Oppose Reconstruction a. General Sheridan appointed Unionist Elisha M. Pease, a Republican, as governor after removing Throckmorton. b. Southern white supporters of Reconstruction were called scalawags. Northerners who often came to the South for political and economic gain were called carpetbaggers. Both were Unionists. c. In Texas and other Southern states, organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan used threats and violence to prevent African Americans from voting.

The “Invisible Empire of the South”

A New State Constitution and Elections a. In November 1869, Texans who qualified to vote approved a new constitution and elected a new governor and other state officials. b. The new state constitution also stated no one should be excluded from voting because of race or color. c. Edmund J. Davis, a Radical Republican, narrowly defeated former provisional governor and moderate Republican Andrew J. Hamilton.

A Radical Republican Governor a. Davis was unpopular; and critics complained that he and other Republicans used their power to restrict the political activities of their opponents. b. Southern Democrats retaliated with threats and violence to keep African Americans from voting..

A Democratic Challenge c. In 1873, Richard Coke, a Democrat and ex- Confederate officer was elected governor by twice the number of votes than that of Davis. d. Republican control was over. e. Reconstruction had come to an end.