Reconstruction & The Changing South

What problems do you think the nation faced after the Civil War? Quick Start: What problems do you think the nation faced after the Civil War?

Postwar Problems South destroyed. Poverty. Wrecked financial system. *Freed slaves, called “freedmen”. Southern states political power?

Early Steps Towards Reconstruction Before he died, President Lincoln has set out a plan that would make it fairly easy for the South to rejoin the United States. Under Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan, any southern state could rejoin the Union once 10% of its population swore an oath of loyalty. Lincoln also offered amnesty to any Confederate who now swore loyalty to the Union. Lincoln’s Plan…Before he died.

The Freedmen’s Bureau Lincoln also had a plan to help the freed slaves. His plan called for the creation of a Freedmen’s Bureau, or a government agency to help former slaves. The Freedmen’s Bureau gave food, clothing, and medical care, helped find jobs, and created schools.

Lincoln is Assassinated, Johnson Takes Office When Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865, his Vice President, Andrew Johnson*, was sworn in as President. Johnson’s plan for Reconstruction would become law. It called for a majority of the population of each state to pledge loyalty.

Four Plans for Reconstruction 1863; “Ten Percent Plan” Abraham Lincoln proposes reinstatement of Confederate States when 10% of voters swear allegiance to the Union and all Confederate States abolish slavery. 1864; Wade-Davis Bill – Majority of white men must swear loyalty; Former Confederate volunteers cannot vote or hold office. 1865; Johnson Plan – Majority of white men must swear loyalty; All Confederate States must ratify the thirteenth Amendment; Former Confederate officials MAY vote and hold office. 1867; Reconstruction Act – Must disband state governments; Must write new Constitutions; Must ratify the 14th Amendment; African-American men must be allowed to vote.

The Black Codes While Southern states ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, they also passed *black codes, or laws that severely limited the rights of freed slaves. The black codes limited freedmen’s rights to work, own guns, travel, vote, run for public office, etc.

Congress Separates Radical Republicans- congressmen who thought the South should be punished!!! Had 2 Goals: 1. take power away from wealthy Southern plantation owners 2. get freedmen the right to vote

The South was occupied and run by Union troops and divided into military districts until new state constitutions were adopted!

Civil Rights Amendments During Reconstruction, Congress passed three important amendments (additions) to the Constitution. *13th Amendment- abolished slavery *14th Amendment-granted citizenship to anyone born or naturalized within the U.S. *15th Amendment-granted all men the right to vote (including African American men)

A New President When the next election was held, Ulysses S. Grant, the former commander of Union forces, was elected.

Groups in the South Scalawags- Southerners who supported the North (traitors to the South) Carpetbaggers- Northerners who moved to the south to take advantage of the Southerners and “get rich” The Ku Klux Klan was a secret society that worked to keep blacks from exercising their rights. They often used violent tactics.

Carpetbaggers were especially hated, seen as profiteers who came to “kick” the South when it was down!

Rebuilding in the South For most southerners, the biggest problems were rebuilding and poverty. Most southern railroads, cities, and even farms had suffered damage from the war. The cost of rebuilding meant that southerners had to pay high taxes.

The End of Reconstruction As Reconstruction ended, segregation, the legal separation of the races, took hold in the South. A series of laws, Jim Crow Laws, separated blacks and whites in schools, restaurants, theaters, trains, streetcars, and playgrounds. Supreme Court Case, Plessy v. Ferguson, ruled that segregation was legal as long as it was “separate but equal”