XII. Realities of Radical Reconstruction to the South Southern black men began to organize politically Campaigned and ran for office as Republicans Union League included educated men, churches and schools represented black grievances in employment and recruited militias to protect black communities Black and white politicians helped write new state constitutions Black congressmen were elected to federal and state offices although they were never a majority in any government State White Citizens Freedmen SC 291,000 411,000 MS 353,000 436,000 LA 357,000 350,000 GA 591,000 465,000 AL 596,000 437,000 VA 719,000 533,000 NC 631,000 331,000 1

XII. Realities of Radical Reconstruction to the South Southern conservatives reaction Labeled those that helped Reconstruction as “carpetbaggers” and “scalawags” Carpetbaggers from north came south to take advantage of them Scalawags were southerners that were former Unionists and Whigs Radical regime rule did make some reforms in education, tax systems, property rights for women and public works, actually rebuilt the South Graft and corruption was rampant during Reconstruction (all across the country), many freedmen were used a pawns by white politicians

XIII. The Ku Klux Klan Whites resorted to violent means to protest Union rule Resented success of black politicians and corruption of government Formed secret societies, most notorious was KKK formed in 1866 Harassed free blacks and “carpetbaggers” Congress tries to outlaw this with Force Acts of 1870,1871; was successful in stamping out activities Work of intimidation was already done though White resistance continued to undermine attempts to empower free blacks Literacy tests, poll taxes, intimidation continued to openly flourish across the south for decades

XIV. The Failed Impeachment of Andrew Johnson Radicals in Congress try to impeach Johnson for his continued obstruction of Reconstruction Basis was Tenure of Office Act which they claimed Johnson ignored (removed somebody from office without Senate’s consent) Also had a spy in Executive branch (Edwin Stanton) 1868 House votes to impeach Johnson and case goes to Senate In Senate they fail to get 2/3 majority Kept alive constitutional mechanism of checks and balances Impeachment would have destabilized government and weakened one of the three branches of government

XV. The Purchase of Alaska One of the few successes during Johnson administration was purchase of Alaska from Russia, although it would not be realized for years Alaska had become a financial and logistical liability and they did not want it to fall into the hands of the British Sold it to the US for 7.2 million, for its potential profitability and as a favor to an American ally

The Heritage of Reconstruction Many Southerners were more offended at Reconstruction than the outcome of the war itself Resented “Yankee” intervention in their social, racial and political affairs Reconstruction happened without a clear plan from the beginning and was a constant struggle between the executive and legislative branches and of the entrenched white society Early 1870’s many northerners lost interest in remaking the south, focus was on other political, social, economic issues (western expansion, Indian Wars, Panic of 1873) Generation of leaders that wanted abolition and change began to pass away. Many racial prejudices in the north began to reemerge. Political scandals brought down Radical Republicans 1871 troops were withdrawn from the south and Republican state governments were replaced with conservative Democrats . 1872 Congress abolished the Freedman’s Bureau Southern Democrats began to discredit African American politicians, former Confederates were elected to office and many African Americans were denied opportunity to participate fully as citizens. Americans were united as a nation , federal power became dominant over state power De jure segregation, legal separation of the races became law in all southern states The election of 1876 marked the official end of Reconstruction as part of the Hayes- Tilden election compromise (Compromise of 1877), all federal troops were pulled out of the south When troops left Democratic rule returned and many blacks faced harsher discrimination