Warm-up: List what you think some successes and failures of Reconstruction were during this time.

The End of Reconstruction

Read pages 58-59 & 80-81 List 12 bullet points of information about how Reconstruction ended in the South Then write a 10 sentence paragraph on whether you think Reconstruction was a success or a failure…be sure to give specific examples to support your answer

Despite progress, problems still persisted Rebuilding railroads was one of greatest successes of Reconstruction Turned southern villages into towns and towns into cities Cities offered different job opportunities to the freed slaves Still at bottom: maids, butlers, servants and unskilled day labor The new southern economy grew more slowly A shortage of capital (money) led to dependence on northern bankers High illiteracy rates and discrimination weighed down the region For many farmers it was a struggle to survive Price of cotton plummeted after the war & boll weevils wiped out entire crops

Southern Economy Sharecropping and Tenant Farming for the freed slaves and poor whites Left many in a cycle of debt-using this year’s profits to pay last year’s bills South had to import much of its food Southern factories brought industry to the South Most of South’s postwar industrial growth came from cotton Southern legislatures poured money into rebuilding infrastructure Levied heavy taxes to pay for it Fraudulent loans and grants By 1877 people were growing tired of Reconstruction mostly because of the heavy taxes that were levied.

The Election of 1876 Democrats returned to power—the solid South Blocked many federal policies and reversed reforms Rutherford B. Hayes-Republican Samuel Tilden-Democrat Hayes lost popular vote but electoral vote was disputed Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina still under Republican and federal control---so both parties claimed victory Congress commission (more R than D) declared Hayes victor but Demo. in Congress had enough power to reject decision

Compromise 1877 Deal struck between Democrats and Republicans over election of 1876 Democrats would give Hayes victory but... 1. New president had to remove remaining federal troops from the Southern states 2. Support appropriations to build new levies along the Mississippi River 3. Give huge subsidies (aid or grant from government) to southern railroads

Was Reconstruction a… success? failure? The rebuilding of the South began- helped to repair the war torn South. The U.S. was permanently united-restored the Union Constitutional amendments aided a later civil rights movement. failure? African Americans lost many rights, including voting rights. De jure segregation became the law in all southern states. Racist attitudes continued in North & South 8

Activity: Write a 7 sentence paragraph discussing whether you think Reconstruction was a success or a failure and why. You must use examples to support your view.