Reconstruction 1865-1877

Reconstruction After the war, the South in particular, and the nation as a whole, needed to be rebuilt physically, economically, and politically Presidential Reconstruction: Lincoln and Johnson Congressional Reconstruction: Radical Republicans

Lincoln’s Plan Goal: Heal the South & Reunite the Union as QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE! Appointed temporary governors to run Southern States Southern states had to: 1-declare secession null and void 2-abolish slavery 3- 10% of population had to declare allegiance to the US 4-cancel all war debts

Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Very Lenient on the South! Followed Lincoln’s Plan, but pardoned many Confederate leaders and officials He was sympathetic to the South. Southern slave owner!

Congressional Reconstruction Summary: Southern states had to reapply to the Union after passing amendments ending slavery and granting rights Wanted to be tougher on the South

The Radical Republicans/Congressional Plan Republicans in Congress offered their own plan for Reconstruction: The southern states were put under military rule Southern states had to hold new constitutional conventions. Required to pass the Reconstruction Amendments: 13th, 14th, and 15th Former Confederate leaders were not allowed to vote or hold office The Radical Republican plan was much harsher on the South!

Military Rule in the South In 1867 Congress divided the South into military districts: Southern states had to redesign their state constitutions to the approval of Congress

b. Explain efforts to redistribute land in the South among the former slaves and provide advanced education (Morehouse College) and describe the role of the Freedmen’s Bureau.

Review Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction Andrew Johnson v. Radical Republicans Military rule Redistribution of land Freedman’s Bureau

Redistribution of Land General Sherman set aside all abandoned land along the coast for use by former slaves – “40 Acres and a Mule” President Johnson rescinded the order and returned the land to its former owners

Freedman’s Bureau Started to ease the freed slaves’ transition from enslavement to freedom Oversaw 3,000 schools Settle disputes between white landowners and black workers Secure justice for African Americans in state courts Fought to get land for freed slaves – needed to make freedom meaninful

Progress during Reconstruction Former slave children allowed to attend school African Americans started newspapers, served in public office and attended new colleges Morehouse founded in 1867 by a former slave with the purpose of training freed slaves how to read and write

Life in the South Sharecropping: a family farmed a portion of a white landowner’s land in return for housing and a portion of the crop. Tenant Farming: farming- a step up from sharecropping, the tenant uses the land and pays rent, whether in cash or crop Example: landowner gets $50 or $50 worth of crop Tenant Farmer brings more to the table than just labor (tools, fertilizer, etc.)

Cycle of Sharecropping

Radical Republicans Nicknamed for their stronger desire than others to see the nation truly transformed Moderate and radical Republicans wanted to reorder race relations in the defeated South Saw some short-term success Opened up political opportunities and other leadership roles to former slaves Ultimately, they failed.

Amendments 13th Amendment: Banned slavery and granted full emancipation to all slaves (ratified by a majority in 1865) 14th Amendment: provided citizenship and equal rights to of the law to all persons born in the United States (except Native Americans)(1868) 15th Amendment: Protected the voting rights of African-Americans (and all other males) (1870)

Women and Reconstruction The women’s rights movement was divided in part, and divided in part, over the 14th and 15th Amendments Why do you think this was?

Black Codes Some basic rights given after the Civil War – legalized marriage, ownership of property and some access to courts Black codes DENIED: right to testify against whites, serve on juries or in state militias, right to vote BC’s an attempt by plantation owners to maintain their labor supply after the 13th Amendment Blacks had to provide proof of employment or be forced to work for white land owners (“vagrancy” laws)

Ku Klux Klan Created in Tennessee in 1866 to resist the equal right to African Americans Used violence to intimidate freedmen In 1872, Congress sent federal troops into the South and dispersed the Klan. They largely disappeared until around 1915

Plenty to eat and nothing to do. Freedmen’s Bureau Seen Through Southern Eyes Plenty to eat and nothing to do.

Colored Rule in the South?

Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment Radical Republicans upset with Johnson for slowing down certain Reconstruction measures They passed the Tenure of Office Act which forbade the President from removing important government officials without Congressional approval Johnson removed the Secretary of War in violation of the law; Johnson was impeached in the House and acquitted by one vote in the Senate

Compromise of 1877, end of Reconstuction Southern resistance led to a waning northern resolve Compromise of 1877: the Southern States allowed Rutherford B. Hayes to become President in exchange for the removal of federal troops Once the troops were removed, Reconstruction was effectively over Former Confederate leaders were restored to power The race between Hayes and Tilden had to be decided by Congressional Committee. Though there was never a written agreement, the committee agreed to elect Hayes if Union troops were removed from the South-ending Reconstruction

The Civil Rights Act of 1875 Crime for any individual to deny full & equal use of public conveyances and public places; full social equality Shortcoming  lacked a strong enforcement mechanism. No new civil rights act was attempted for 90 years!

Legal Challenges to the 14th & 15th Amendments Civil Rights Cases (1883) The Court declared the 1875 Civil Rights Act unconstitutional. The Court held that the 14th Amendment gave Congress the power to outlaw discriminations by the states, but NOT by private individuals. Black people must no longer “be the special favorites of the laws.” Therefore, this marked the end of federal attempts to protect African American rights until well into the 20c!

End of Reconstruction Segregation, violence, Supreme Court decisions, and local political tactics halted the progress of blacks 14th and 15th Amendments and dissenting opinions (John Harlan in Plessy) formed basis for 20th century SCOTUS decisions reestablishing civil rights

Questions????? What were some of the main differences between the Presidential and Congressional Reconstruction plans? What was the purpose of the Freedman’s Bureau? Why was Andrew Johnson impeached? What was the purpose of the black codes? How did the Compromise of 1877 end Reconstruction?