The End of Reconstruction

Carpetbaggers Northerners who came South Some came to help, find opportunity Others came to exploit South

Scalawag Southerners who worked with Rep Diverse group Disliked by most Southerners

Reconstruction Reforms Positive AA participate in government Repeal black codes Create hospitals, institutions Improve transportation Negatives Reforms paid for with loans & higher taxes Corruption (Graft/bribes) Southern Resistance Resentment among whites that to much being done for AA “Black Republican” governments

Southern Resistance Ku Klux Klan Goals: -Drive out troops and carpetbaggers - Regain Dem control of South Use terror and violence against AA & Rep

Enforcement Acts Passed in 1870-71 to combat violence #1 – Fed crime to prevent someone from voting #2 – Fed elections put under control of Federal Marshals #3 – The Ku Klux Klan Act Outlaw activities of KKK 3,000+ KKK arrested Only 600 convicted, even less did jail time

Grant’s Administration Effectiveness War hero Reputation = 1868 Victory Little political experience Let Radical Rep develop policy His office = weak and ineffective

GOOD: Enforcement Acts makes activities of KKK illegal sends Marshalls to protect AA right to vote Increased Civil Rights passed 15th amendment troops stationed in South to ensure AA rights are not being violated

Bad Sin Tax tax on alcohol and tobacco seen as benefiting wealthy over poor, splits the Rep party in two Corruption Sec of War Belknap, accept bribes Credit Mobilier -Dummy construction company created by RR to fleece government Whiskey Ring - Distillers & treasury file False tax reports Grant accepted gifts, Grant’s sect resigns Panic 1837 - Bad RR investments leads to Jay Cooke & Co. – major financial firm failed Small banks fail, stock market drops, business close, unemployment rises. Democrats gain power with 1874 elections

Election of 1876 South use violence and racisim to regain control of the South Dem – Samuel Tilden goal = end corruption V. Rep – Rutherford B. Hayes goal = end radical reconstruction Outcome: Tilden won popular vote Electoral vote in dispute

The Compromise of 1877 Commission (15 people) decide who’s President. Hayes promises to remove troops South and rebuild levees if picked April 1877 Hayes remove troops from South, Dem regain control of South and reconstruction ends

The New South “Old South” dead Agricultural economy gone Planter elite gone New Industries - Supported by Northern capital Rebuilding RR (iron & steel) Tobacco Cotton Mills Allowed more diverse economy, but still remained mostly agrarian

Sharecropping Tenant Farming Farmed a portion of planters land Paid for rent in crops Owner supplied seed, tools, etc Many families were trapped in debt Rented land for cash Chose what & when to plant Bought own supplies Often went into debt & became sharecropper

Many AA trapped in virtual slavery Owed money to furnishing merchants Paid debt in crops but could not get ahead Debt peonage – could not leave land until debt was paid Could not grow enough to pay all debts.

Reconstruction Successes Restored the Union S economy grew, new wealth created 14th & 15th Amendment Freedmen's bureau S. states adopt mandatory education Failures White south bitter S. is slow to gain industry After troops leave terrorist groups deny AA rights Many AA & whites trapped in poverty Racist attitudes continue