The End of Reconstruction

Opposition to Reconstruction White Southerners who took violent action against African-Americans were in the minority Most white southerners swallowed whatever resentment they felt over the change in African American roles

Klu Klux Klan Founded as a social club for Confederate veterans in Tennessee By 1868 the Klan existed in every southern state. Its overachieving goal was white supremacy. Its method was to prevent African Americans from exercising their political rights Another goal of the Klan was to drive the Republicans out of office Concealed their identities while committing crimes

Anti-Black Violence Between 1868 and 1871 the Klan and other secret groups killed thousands of men, women, and children. They also burned schools, churches and property. While the vast majority of victims were African- American but many were also whites who associated with them or tried to help them. North Carolina Senator Assassinated for helping African-Americans in his state

Anti-Black Violence White democrats openly used violence in order to intimidate blacks from voting. They rioted and attacked Republicans and several prominent black leaders to help them sweep the 1875 elections in Mississippi. The Democrats used a similar technique in the 1876 elections in Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana.

Economic Pressure The Klan and other secret groups tried to prevent African American from progressing economically, and politically. Those who owned their own land or worked in an occupation other than agriculture were subject to attacks and destruction of property. Economic necessity forced most former slaves to work as wage laborers or sharecroppers to eke out a living. Some white southerners refused to hire African Americans who voted republican in the last election, many did not vote out of fear of reprisal

Legislative Response Enforcement Acts of 1870 Enforcement Act of 1871 Provided federal supervision of elections. Enforcement Act of 1871 Gave the president the power to use federal troops in areas where the Klan was active in intimidation. President Grant was not aggressive in using these acts to suppress violence

Shifts in Power The republican party lost much of its power towards the end of the reconstruction due to some of the laws that it passed. With the Amnesty Act of ’72 Congress returned the right vote and the right to hold federal office for thousands of former Confederates, who would mostly vote democratic. Congress allowed the Freedman’s Bureau to expire believing that it had fulfilled its purpose in the South. These two gave the Southern Democrats a chance to shift the balance of power within the Congress.

Legislative Response The Supreme Court decided in 1882 that the ‘71 Enforcement Act was unconstitutional Klan activities decreased due to their successes. With the return of the right to vote to ex-confederates, most Klan members gained their political offices back, could legally curtail political and civil rights of African Americans

Scandals and Crisis

A Corrupt Administration Grant had no political experience before he became president; most of his experience was on the battlefield. He did not believe that others would take advantage of him and use them for their own political advantage. He often chose friends and acquaintances rather than those who had experience in office.

Scandals and Bribery Beginning in 1872 a series of long-simmering scandals associated with Grant’s administration. Credit Mobilier Scandal Whiskey Ring Belknap Scandal Navy Scandal

Liberal Republican’s Party Republican unity was shattered as many republicans called for an honest and efficient government after the scandal broke. Formed the Liberal Republican’s Party in 1872 hoping to oust Grant in the next election. Despite the rift in the Republican Party and the call for a more honest government, more scandal fell upon the Grant administration. Grant decided not to run for another term

Election of 1876 Republicans decided to run Rutherford B. Hayes instead of the scandal plagued Grant in the next election Hayes did not win the popular vote and fell one short of the electoral votes in the College. A special commission was formed to decide the next president; since the Congress was a Republican majority, Hayes became the next president.

Home Rule In exchange for Hayes; the North and the South came to a compromise Withdrawal of troops from ex-confederate states Gives the south the ability to rule themselves

Home Rule The “Redeemers” set out to fix a decade of mismanagement by the Northerners. They passed laws that restricted the rights of African Americans, wiped out social programs, slashed taxes, and dismantled public schools

Where were the Republicans? Before the war the Republicans had been divided on many issues Divisions started to show as Reconstruction came to an end Many Republicans were tired of fighting the up hill battle of forcing the southern states to allow African Americans civil rights

Legacy of Reconstruction Despite the efforts made by African Americans and the Radical Republicans, Reconstruction ended without much progress being made in the battle against discrimination.

Success or Failure? Using the chart on page 400 of your book, create an editorial that states whether you think that Reconstruction was a success or a failure. Should be in a professional language Shows an understanding of the legislation passed during Reconstruction

Things to Consider… When writing your editorial.. Did you state why you think Reconstruction was a success/failure? How did the Grant Scandal and Anti-Black Violence influence the course of Reconstruction? Was the presidency consistently strong or was it weak?