Chapter 19 - Reconstruction (1865 – 1877)

The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were the laws passed by Congress and ratified by the states extending civil liberties to former slaves. * 13th Amendment – Abolished Slavery. * 14th Amendment – Granted Citizenship to former enslaved people. * 15th Amendment – Granted African American men the right to vote.

Section 1 – Presidential Reconstruction Emancipation U.S. troops took command of Texas after the Civil War. June 19, 1865 Union General Gordon Grainger issued a proclamation freeing slaves in Texas. * This day is celebrated as Juneteenth in Texas. Many freedpeople left the plantations for the first time. Many freedpeople went to legalize their marriages. Many freedpeople began looking for family members. Many freedpeople went to military posts looking for jobs and for protection.

The Freedman’s Bureau Government organization created to help freedpeople adjust to freedom. * Legal aid. * Find jobs. * Regulate contracts with landowners. * Open schools. Few agents and troops assigned to Texas = Limits to what they could accomplish. * Many Texans resented the Freedman’s Bureau. * Former Confederates took out their rage and hatred on freedpeople.

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln President and Mrs. Lincoln visited Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. to see a play. The President was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth. Vice-President Andrew Johnson became the 17th President of the United States.

The Great Emancipator

President Johnson’s Plan Like Lincoln Johnson wanted Reconstruction to go quickly. * Former Confederate voters had to take an oath of loyalty to the U.S. * High ranking Confederate officials and wealthy land owners had to apply for a presidential pardon. * Each Confederate state had to write a new constitution abolishing slavery and making secession illegal, then elect a new legislature. * The new state legislate had to ratify the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. * Once a states representatives were seated in Congress, the state would be restored to the Union. Many Texans accepted Johnson’s plan.

President Johnson appointed Andrew J President Johnson appointed Andrew J. Hamilton Provisional governor of Texas. * Represented Texas in the U.S. Congress from 1858-1861. * Became a general in the Union Army. * Many Texans welcomed him back after the war. February 7, 1866 = Convention assembled in Austin to write a new constitution. * Similar to the Constitution of 1845. * Outlawed slavery and made secession illegal. * Cancelled Confederate war debt. New Constitution failed to give freedpeople equal rights. * Could not testify in court cases involving whites. * Could not hold office or vote. James Throckmorton voted governor, former secessionists took control of the legislature. Legislature refused to ratify the 13th Amendment.

African Americans also had to deal with threats and violence. The Black Codes The Texas legislature, like other southern states, passed Black Codes = Laws that denied civil rights to African Americans. Many Black Codes restricted African American’s freedom of movement and work. * African Americans had to sign labor contracts that favored their employers. * African Americans could be jailed for not having jobs. Some Texans argued the laws were needed to be sure workers were available to harvest the crops. African Americans also had to deal with threats and violence.

Section 2 – Congressional Reconstruction Radical Republican React Black Codes raised concerns about President Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan. Many Southern states elected many of the people who led the rebellion. Laws were being passed throughout the south discriminating against African Americans. African Americans were facing violence throughout the South. Radical Republicans believed the U.S. Congress should take over Reconstruction. * Wanted Unionists and African Americans more involved.

Reconstruction Acts Republicans had strong majorities in both houses. * They had enough votes to override a Presidential veto. Republicans began passing a series of Reconstruction Acts. * Southern governments were provisional. * Southern states were divided into five military districts under the command of an army officer. * Southern states had to write new constitutions guaranteeing rights for African Americans, including suffrage for African American men. * Southern states had to ratify the 14th amendment. Texas and Louisiana made up on district commanded by General Phillip Sheridan. * General Sheridan removed governor Throckmorton and replaced him with Elisha Pease. * Hundreds of other state and local officials were also removed.

President Johnson tried to block Congressional Reconstruction. * Johnson was then impeached by the House of Representatives. * Johnson avoided being removed from office by one vote in the Senate = His power was greatly diminished. Ulysses S. Grant was elected president in 1868.

Texas Republican Party Created in 1867 as a result of Congressional Reconstruction. Made up of Unionists, African Americans, and Mexican Americans. 78 of 90 delegates to the Constitutional Convention were Republicans, nine were African Americans. There were two factions of Republicans: * One group, Led by Edmund J Davis and George T. Ruby, favored the Radical Republicans. * The other group wanted few changed from the past.

The Constitution of 1869 Convention controlled by Radical Republicans. Constitution completed in February 1869. Gave equal rights to African Americans, including the right to vote. Governor given power to appoint many state officials and judges. Governor’s term lengthened from 2 to 4 years. Taxes enacted to fund schools. ¼ of state revenue was set aside to fund schools. Attendance at school was required by law. Texans approved constitution by wide margin. Republican Edmund J. Davis elected governor. Republicans controlled the legislature. March 1870 control of Texas returned to state government.