Era after the Civil War 1865 - 1877 Reconstruction Era after the Civil War 1865 - 1877

Reconstruction America needs to be built again…how do we do it? Problem 1: What do we do with former slaves? Problem 2: How do we deal with the South? Should we punish Southerners or make it easy for them? (greater good of the country)

What to do with Former Slaves? Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – is it legal? Government needs to make official changes – 3 amendments are made to amend = to change Amending the Constitution takes 2/3 approval of Senate and Congress ¾ states must approve

Reconstruction Amendments Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Officially outlaws slavery in all U.S. Ratified in 1865 Fun Fact: Mississippi did not ratify until 1995!

Reconstruction Amendments Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States…are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall … deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Not only is there no slavery – everyone is EQUAL and deserves equal treatment Ratified in1868

Reconstruction Amendments 15th Amendment The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Citizens, regardless of color or race can vote, even if they used to be a slave. Nothing mentioned about women  Ratified in 1870

Freedman’s Bureau Established on March 3, 1865 The Bureau was responsible for issuing food, clothing and medicine to former slaves. Set up schools to help educate “freedmen”

Plans to rebuild the South Lincoln – “ with malice toward none, with charity for all” Wanted to make Reconstruction as painless as possible for Southerners After Lincoln is killed, Andrew Johnson becomes president – attempts to carry on Lincoln’s plan

Presidential Reconstruction What to do with the traitors? Johnson offered amnesty to most Southerners Top leaders in Confederacy and the rich could appeal directly to Johnson Gave 13,500 “special pardons” Jefferson Davis – arrested and imprisoned for 2 years before getting out on bail and living his life in Mississippi. Robert E. Lee – went home and farmed, eventually became the President of Washington College in Lexington, KY 10% Plan (based on Lincoln’s) To reenter Union, 10% of a state’s population had to take an oath of loyalty Once a state had rejoined the Union they would get to send representatives to Congress and vote in elections

Andrew Johnson Congress does not like him! Not a Republican like majority of Congress Owned slaves (until made illegal) Did not believe African Americans should vote His plan did not do anything to help former slaves First president ever impeached Impeached means accused of a crime in office Put on trial by Senate  acquitted (found not guilty) of crime by 1 vote

Congressional Reconstruction Congress is not pleased with Johnson Believe he has been too lenient Do not want former Confederate leaders in Congress Create a stricter Reconstruction Plan

Congressional Reconstruction Set up military districts in former Confederate land In order to rejoin the Union, each Confederate state must Create new state constitutions that gives all adult men the right to vote (cannot exclude African Americans) Ratify the 14th Amendment = equal rights

Problems You can pass laws, but can you force people to think differently? Many southern states passed state laws the limited rights for African Americans Known as Black Codes or Jim Crow Laws

Jim Crow Laws Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws Examples of Black Codes: curfews, property restrictions, assembly restrictions, etc. Segregation – separate facilities for black and whites: bathrooms, water fountains, schools, etc. Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court Case Challenged segregation – Supreme Court ruled that “separate but equal” facilities is okay Really the facilities were rarely ever “equal”

Jim Crow Voting Restrictions Poll Tax – you must pay to vote – if you can’t pay, you can’t vote! Literacy Tests – if you can’t pass a test, you must not be smart enough to vote. Both aimed at keeping African Americans from voting

Literacy Test Real examples from an Alabama test What body can try impeachments of the president of the United States? Name the attorney general of the United States. At what time of day on January 20 each four years does the term of the president end? Actual Test (with answers)

Literacy Tests Grandfather Clause If your grandfather was able to vote, you can too Do not need to take test THINK: Whose grandfather’s were and weren’t allowed to vote???

Why is voting so important? Southerners feared that they would lose power in Congress State White Citizens Freedmen SC 291,000 411,000 MS 353,000 436,000 LA 357,000 350,000 GA 591,000 465,000 AL 596,000 437,000 VA 719,000 533,000 NC 631,000 331,000

Rise of KKK Ku Klux Klan (KKK) White supremacists Violently enforced black codes and later Jim Crow laws (lynching) Famous for white cone shaped hoods Also anti Jews, anti Catholics, and anti immigrants

Jim Crow Laws Eventually Jim Crow laws, including segregation, poll taxes, and literacy tests were ended. 100 years after the end of the Civil War!! Poll tax –24th Amendment in 1964 Literacy tests – Voting Rights Act of 1965 Segregation – Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court case 1954, Civil Rights Act 1965

Reconstruction WWYD? What would you do? Your job is to create a plan to reunify the United States. Goals: Minimize anger between North and South Ensure rights for African Americans End memory of war as quickly as possible You will create a plan outlining your Reconstruction plan