Reconstruction Part 1

Emancipation June 19, 1865—Union General Gordon Granger lands in Galveston and proclaims all slaves in Texas FREE in accordance with Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. This day is known as Juneteenth or Texas Emancipation Day. It’s the oldest-known observance commemorating the end of slavery and is an official state holiday.

Emancipation

The Freedmen’s Bureau September1865—July 1870—Freedmen’s Bureau—a federal office created to assist freedpeople (former slaves) obtain jobs, clothing, food, and medicine. It also assisted in opening schools which lowered the African American illiteracy rate. Difficulty in operation caused by large state size, poor transportation and communication systems, resentment among white Texans

Reconstruction Reconstruction is the name given to the process of reuniting the Nation and rebuilding the South which lasted from 1865-1877. December 18, 1865—13th Amendment formally adopted by the U.S. Constitution—banned slavery and involuntary servitude except as a punishment for a crime within the United States

Presidential Reconstruction After Lincoln is assassinated, Andrew Johnson becomes President.

President Johnson’s Plan Step 1: Voters in former Confederate states had to take an oath of loyalty to the U.S.

President Johnson’s Plan Step 2: High-ranking Confederate officials and wealthy landowners had to apply for amnesty.

President Johnson’s Plan Step 3: States had to form provisional governments

President Johnson’s Plan Step 4: States had to form new constitutions declaring secession illegal and abolishing slavery

President Johnson’s Plan Step 5: States had to agree not to pay any outstanding Confederate debts

President Johnson’s Plan Step 6: Ratify new constitutions and elect new government officials

President Johnson’s Plan Step 7: Ratify the 13th Amendment

Texas Provisional Government June 1865—Johnson appointed Andrew J. Hamilton as Provisional Governor of Texas He fought with the Union and appointed Unionists to state and county positions, but he did not want to grant rights to African Americans beyond their freedom. For this reason, many ex-Confederates supported him. November 1865—Elections held to select delegates to rewrite the state constitution. Former Confederates could vote in this election, but freedmen could not.

Texas Constitutional Convention The Texas Constitutional Convention completed a new constitution (1866) in two months Declared secession illegal Recognized the end of slavery Cancelled Confederate war debt African Americans did not receive equal rights Can’t vote or testify against white Texans

Texas Reconstruction Government June 1866—Texas Constitution of 1866 approved and James W. Throckmorton is elected Governor.

Texas Reconstruction Government August 1866—The new Texas Legislature meets for the first time and refuses to ratify the 13th Amendment. Instead they pass Black Codes to deny African Americans their civil rights

Black Codes Black Codes—laws passed after Reconstruction to deny African American’s civil rights Limited their movement Required labor contracts Arrested for not having a job Denied property rights