The ruins of a Train Depot after the Civil War. Reconstruction Chapter 15 The ruins of a Train Depot after the Civil War.

Four score and seven years ago… -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address

I here declare my unmitigated hatred to Yankee rule -- to all political, social and business connection with the Yankees and to the Yankee race…May such sentiments be held universally in the outraged and down-trodden South… until the now far-distant day shall arrive for just retribution for Yankee usurpation, oppression and atrocious outrages, and for deliverance and vengeance for the now ruined, subjugated and enslaved Southern States! Edmund Ruffin who fired the first shots at Ft. Sumter

Reconstruction The period after the Civil War is known as Reconstruction. It lasted from 1865-1877 Two huge questions faced the nation during this time period: 1) How should southern states be admitted back into the Union? 2) What should be done with the now freed slaves?

Lincoln Assassinated Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. .He died the next day.

The north mourned the loss of Lincoln and a massive manhunt began to hunt down his killer

John Wilkes Booth was a famous theatre actor and a southern patriot John Wilkes Booth was a famous theatre actor and a southern patriot. After the assassination he was hunted down and shot dead on a farm in Virginia by the U.S. Army. Booth’s co-conspirators where tried for treason and hung.

The war ends in Texas On June 19th 1865 Union General Gordon Granger arrives in Galveston and announces the war is over to Texas and that all the slaves are to be set free! Juneteenth has been celebrated in Texas ever since as the anniversary of freedom to African Americans in Texas. Gordon Granger

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

Freedman Near the end of the Civil War, Congress passed the 13th Amendment. This change of the constitution outlawed slavery in the United States. A freedman or freeman is a person who has been freed from slavery. All former slaves were now freedman.

Freedman Problems Many didn’t have jobs, homes or money. Some looked for long-lost relatives. Most remained on the plantation they worked on as a slave for wages or a portion of the crop.

Presidential Reconstruction Andrew Johnson, as the President after Lincoln, set up four requirements for southern states to return to the union. States had to accept the 13th amendment that ended slavery States had to declare that their secession had been illegal States had to cancel all war debts To receive the right to vote, all adult white males had to take a loyalty oath to the United States. The 17th President of the United States, Andrew Johnson

Presidential Reconstruction Andrew Johnson wanted to be lenient (take it easy) on the south. He didn’t want to punish them for secession or the Civil War. He wanted to support poor southern whites and by doing so help heal the nation. The 17th President of the United States, Andrew Johnson

Presidential Reconstruction Most southern states including Texas, did not accept the 13th Amendment but instead outlawed slavery in their state constitutions. This example of “States Rights” made many in the North angry but President Johnson accepted the former Confederate states back into the Union anyway.

Presidential Reconstruction Once Southern states were let back into the Union they reformed their state governments and the former Confederates retook power. They immediately passed laws to limit the rights of the Freedman.

The Texas Constitution of 1866 In Texas the Constitution of 1866 was passed to set up the state Government. It was the same as the Constitution of 1845, except that Slavery was ended. Texas refused to adopt the 13th amendment but instead outlawed slavery on the state level. Texas was still showing it had “State Rights” by not accepting the 13th Amendment. President Johnson agreed to accept Texas back into the U.S. anyway. The Texas government also passed “Black Codes”.

“Black Codes” Southern states passed laws called “Black Codes” that made African Americans second class citizens. Freedman were forced to work or they could be sent to jail and needed permission to leave the plantation where they worked The object of the Black codes was to get Freedman back working on the cotton plantations and other work they did when they were slaves

Freedman’s Teacher School Freedmen’s Bureau The Freedmen’s Bureau was created by Congress to help freeman by supplying food, shelter, medicine, and in many cases, jobs. Freedmen’s Bureau workers had the power to settle disputes and issues between Freedman and Whites. Because of this the freedmen’s bureau faced many challenges from southerners who would attempt to intimidate and in some cases kill freedmen’s bureau workers. Freedman’s Teacher School

Racist Southern Anti-Freedman’s Bureau Political Cartoon

Was Presidential Reconstruction successful? NO!!!!!! By passing the “Black Codes” southern states had basically forced Freedman back into slavery. By not punishing Confederate leaders they could run for office in their state governments and in the U.S. Congress. These people would never agree to give Freedman rights.

THE RADICAL REPUBLICANS Northerners are Angry!!!!! Why did the Union fight the Civil War if the South refused to actually free their former slaves? The “Radical” Republicans in Congress used their version of Reconstruction as a way to punish the Southerners and gain fair treatment for freedman. Radical Republican leaders Thadeus Stevens and Charles Sumner

Congressional Reconstruction The Reconstruction plan by the Radical Republican Congress is known as Congressional Reconstruction. Congress rejected the new Southern Governments and refused to admit the southern Congressmen into Congress. They passed the 14th Amendment which made all Freedman citizens of the United States. This did away with the Black Codes and gave Freedman the same civil rights as whites under the Constitution.

Congressional Reconstruction 3) Republicans passed the Reconstruction Act of 1867. This act put the southern states under Military Control. 10 southern states were now 5 military districts controlled by the Federal Government and the U.S. Army. 4) Radical Republicans impeached Andrew Johnson. Impeachment is a process where an elected official like the president can be removed from office. Johnson survived his trial in the Senate by only one vote.

5 Military Districts Texas was combined with Louisiana and placed in the 5th district and fell under command of General Philip H. Sheridan.

Congressional Reconstruction 5) The 15th Amendment was passed. This gave the right to all men, regardless of race or color the right to vote. The U.S. Army immediately started registering Freedman to vote. The Freedman voted in large numbers for the Republican party since that was the political party that helped them. 6) The “Iron Clad Oath.” Former Confederates were barred from voting. The political party of the south, the Southern Democrats lost all their power to the Republicans

Reconstruction Amendments sing along Free, Citizen, Vote 13,14,15

Carpetbaggers Republicans supporters in the South The South called Northerners who came to the south after the war “Carpetbaggers” because they believed these people were trying to ruin the south for their personal gain. Carpetbaggers were also Republicans. Scalawags were southerners who supported the North during the Civil War and Republicans after it. Freedmen also voted Republican.

The Constitution of 1869 The New Constitution of 1869: Since southern democrats (former Confederates) could not vote, the Republican party put together the next Constitution for Texas. So the Constitution of 1869 is a Radical Republican Constitution! declared the Constitution of the U.S. as law (No more States Rights) guaranteed the right of all men to vote or suffrage (regardless of race, color, or former condition) Gave immense power to the Governor. Including control of the Texas State Police force which enforced rights for freedmen. In November 1869 elections of officers of the new state government were held. Radical Republican E.J. Davis was elected Governor

Many Texans claimed that the army had unfairly made sure Davis was elected. Many Texans remained determined to regain control of their state. Davis and the legislature ratified the 14th Amendment, which was a requirement from then US Congress for Reconstruction. Texas was readmitted to the Union on March 8th , 1870. E.J. Davis

How will the South React to Congressional Reconstruction?

The Ku Klux Klan Many plantation owners and former Confederate soldiers did not want African Americans to have rights. A secret group called the Ku Klux Klan was formed. The goal of this group was to: restore Democratic control of the South keep former slaves from voting and so they will be powerless Nathan Bedford Forrest was a former Confederate General and the First Leader of the Ku Klux Klan

The Redeemers “I won’t be Reconstructed!” Soon the Supreme Court ruled that the Ironclad Oath was unconstitutional. The government has no authority to disenfranchise (take away the right to vote) people who had never been convicted of a crime in a court of law. All southerners could now vote. Southerners calling themselves “The Redeemers” soon voted out the Republicans from their state Governments. By the mid 1870’s Southern Democrats took power again and the South became known as the “solid south” because of it’s support for the Democrats. “Good Ole Rebel” -Popular song in the south at the time

The redeemers called a Constitution convention to re-write the Texas Constitution once again. This time the southern Democrats would have their say on how Texas was to govern itself. The new Constitution of 1876 would supremely limit the power of the governor and allow the legislature to meet only every other year. LIMITED GOVERNMENT!!!! As a result of the redeemers, African Americans soon lost much of the social ground they had recently gained. The Constitution of 1876 is the same one Texas has today, though many changes have been made.

Jim Crow Laws Under the motto “Separate But Equal” southern states passed racist “Jim Crow” laws that segregated (separated) the races. This segregation would last for over 80 years. Almost every part of life was separate for Whites and “Colored people” from schools to restrooms.

Was Congressional Reconstruction Successful? Sort of… African Americans gained the right to vote and citizenship, but after Reconstruction ended Southern States found new ways to limit their rights like Jim Crow Laws and Poll Taxes (Fees to vote which poor blacks could not pay) Southern reaction to Reconstruction was very strong and bad feelings lasted for decades and still linger till this day…