Reconstruction Unit 1 Section 2 Part 3

A. The South After the War The Post-Civil War Period is known as Reconstruction The Post-Civil War Period is known as Reconstruction The South was in ruins The South was in ruins Farms and plantations were destroyed Farms and plantations were destroyed 1/5 of the South’s white population had died in war 1/5 of the South’s white population had died in war 4 Million African Americans were freed from slavery with no money or education 4 Million African Americans were freed from slavery with no money or education Two main questions had to be answered: Two main questions had to be answered: 1) Should former confederates be punished? 1) Should former confederates be punished? 2) How to integrate 4 million slaves into society? 2) How to integrate 4 million slaves into society?

B. Presidential Reconstruction Lincoln’s Plan Lincoln’s Plan -thought that the South should be brought back in ASAP -thought that the South should be brought back in ASAP -did not want to punish the Confederates -did not want to punish the Confederates -10% Plan -10% Plan - in order for a southern state to come back into the union, 10% of its voters had to pledge allegiance to the union - in order for a southern state to come back into the union, 10% of its voters had to pledge allegiance to the union Congress was dominated by Radical Republicans Congress was dominated by Radical Republicans -they were angry with Lincoln and thought he was being too soft -they were angry with Lincoln and thought he was being too soft

Lincoln did not live to see his reconstruction plan work Lincoln did not live to see his reconstruction plan work April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth -a former confederate -a former confederate Lincoln’s vice president Andrew Johnson took over Lincoln’s vice president Andrew Johnson took over

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan -his plan was similar to Lincolns -his plan was similar to Lincolns -he added that wealthy plantation owners had to apply for a presidential pardon -he added that wealthy plantation owners had to apply for a presidential pardon -other confederates, he simply pardoned -other confederates, he simply pardoned Radical Rep. again thought the president was being too soft Radical Rep. again thought the president was being too soft They were also angry because the plan did not make any provisions for freed slaves They were also angry because the plan did not make any provisions for freed slaves

C. Congressional Reconstruction Southerners liked Johnson’s plan, because they weren’t punished Southerners liked Johnson’s plan, because they weren’t punished They were also allowed to control their own state governments They were also allowed to control their own state governments Though they could not reinstall slavery, they did pass Black Codes Though they could not reinstall slavery, they did pass Black Codes -gave freedmen certain rights, but kept them in a dependent position -gave freedmen certain rights, but kept them in a dependent position Other whites formed groups to make sure white ideas dominated the south Other whites formed groups to make sure white ideas dominated the south One group was the Ku Klux Klan One group was the Ku Klux Klan -they terrorized blacks and white who supported them -they terrorized blacks and white who supported them

D. Congress Takes Control At first, northerners were all for a quick reconciliation At first, northerners were all for a quick reconciliation The black codes and return to the former southern way of life change their minds The black codes and return to the former southern way of life change their minds Radical Republicans wanted to be tougher on southern states Radical Republicans wanted to be tougher on southern states They tried to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1866 They tried to pass the Civil Rights Act of this gave African Americans full citizenship and guaranteed them the same legal rights as whites -this gave African Americans full citizenship and guaranteed them the same legal rights as whites They also tried to extend the life of the Freedmen’s Bureau They also tried to extend the life of the Freedmen’s Bureau -an agency designed to help African Americans and poor whites -an agency designed to help African Americans and poor whites Johnson vetoed the Bill Johnson vetoed the Bill

Republicans in Congress then passed the 14 th Amendment Republicans in Congress then passed the 14 th Amendment -This Amendment gave African Americans full citizenship under the constitution -This Amendment gave African Americans full citizenship under the constitution After the 1866 Congressional elections, Congress had enough power to override any presidential veto After the 1866 Congressional elections, Congress had enough power to override any presidential veto They passed 4 reconstruction acts over Johnson’s veto They passed 4 reconstruction acts over Johnson’s veto Then Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act Then Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act -required the Senate’s permission, b4 the president fires anyone -required the Senate’s permission, b4 the president fires anyone

Johnson believed the act was unconst. And fired his sec. of war Johnson believed the act was unconst. And fired his sec. of war Congress impeached him and took him to trial Congress impeached him and took him to trial After the trial, he was found innocent and not removed from office After the trial, he was found innocent and not removed from office

E. Republicans in Charge In 1868, Ulysses S. Grant was elected president In 1868, Ulysses S. Grant was elected president Congress passed the 15 th Amendment Congress passed the 15 th Amendment -said that you couldn’t deny someone the right to vote based on race -said that you couldn’t deny someone the right to vote based on race

F. The New Governments in the South White southerners who supported Reconstruction were labeled Scalawags by southerners White southerners who supported Reconstruction were labeled Scalawags by southerners Thought of as traitors Thought of as traitors Carpetbaggers were northerners who came south after the war looking to make money Carpetbaggers were northerners who came south after the war looking to make money These two groups took control of new southern state gov’ts These two groups took control of new southern state gov’ts With them, many African Americans for the first time served in state legislatures With them, many African Americans for the first time served in state legislatures

G. Responses to Freedom Freedom meant different things to African Americans Freedom meant different things to African Americans Some went looking for long-lost relatives Some went looking for long-lost relatives For some it meant getting a job or owning land For some it meant getting a job or owning land Many met prejudice and low-paying jobs Many met prejudice and low-paying jobs Some went west and became miners or cowboys Some went west and became miners or cowboys Almost all sought an education Almost all sought an education Many established churches which became centers of community life Many established churches which became centers of community life

H. Economic Changes Though freedmen could buy land, many landowners would not sell them land Though freedmen could buy land, many landowners would not sell them land -Whites did not want former slaves to be economically independent -Whites did not want former slaves to be economically independent Many freedmen turned to sharecropping Many freedmen turned to sharecropping -Employer provides land, seed, tools, a mule, and a cabin -Employer provides land, seed, tools, a mule, and a cabin -Sharecropper provided work and got to keep a share of owner’s crop -Sharecropper provided work and got to keep a share of owner’s crop Some sharecroppers saved enough money to rent land form a landowner Some sharecroppers saved enough money to rent land form a landowner This is called Tenant Farming This is called Tenant Farming Because many Tenant Farmers and Sharecroppers grew food crops, they made very little money Because many Tenant Farmers and Sharecroppers grew food crops, they made very little money

I. Reconstruction Ends Violence plagued the south during Recon. Violence plagued the south during Recon. The Klan was terrorizing people The Klan was terrorizing people Southerners were trying to restore the old way of things Southerners were trying to restore the old way of things Congress passed the Enforcement Acts of 1870 and ’71 Congress passed the Enforcement Acts of 1870 and ’71 This law set heavy penalties for those that tried to keep qualified citizens from voting This law set heavy penalties for those that tried to keep qualified citizens from voting Also put federal troops in the South to keep the peace Also put federal troops in the South to keep the peace

J. Discontent with Reconstruction Almost everyone was dissatisfied w/ Recon. Almost everyone was dissatisfied w/ Recon. Southerners were angry because of troops in the south Southerners were angry because of troops in the south New southern gov’ts were ineffective New southern gov’ts were ineffective African American were unhappy about land reform African American were unhappy about land reform Southern gov’ts were corrupt and filled w/ Klan members Southern gov’ts were corrupt and filled w/ Klan members Then, a depression began in 1873, which turned leaders attention away from Recon. Then, a depression began in 1873, which turned leaders attention away from Recon.

When Rutherford B. Hayes became president, he agreed to end reconstruction When Rutherford B. Hayes became president, he agreed to end reconstruction All troops were pulled out of the South, which caused the Klan to become bolder All troops were pulled out of the South, which caused the Klan to become bolder

K. Impact of Recon. Failed to secure equal rights and treatment for African Americans Failed to secure equal rights and treatment for African Americans 14 th and 15 th Amendments were passed 14 th and 15 th Amendments were passed Many women argued that they should be allowed to vote as well Many women argued that they should be allowed to vote as well