Reconstruction

What was Reconstruction? Reconstruct – to rebuild South needed rebuilt after the war. How do they return to the Union? What to do with freed slaves? What to do with former Confederates?

Early Plans for Reconstruction Freedmen’s Bureau – created in March 1865 to help former slaves adjust to freedom.

Early Plans for Reconstruction Lincoln’s Reconstruction plan: “Ten-Percent Plan” – Southern states readmitted once 10% of state’s voters pledged allegiance to the Union and reject slavery. Congress rejected

Early Plans for Reconstruction Thirteenth Amendment – prohibited slavery throughout the United States. Ratified by end of 1865

The Politics of Reconstruction Presidential Reconstruction Southern States Radical Republicans Who should control readmission of Southern States? The President Congress When should Southern states be readmitted? Immediately, as long as they end slavery. Immediately, with each state in charge of its own affairs. When most citizens support the Union and blacks get full civil and political rights. Should Southern leaders be punished? Can be pardoned No Yes and they should lose political rights Should free slaves be able to vote? Up to states Yes

The Politics of Reconstruction Andrew Johnson became president after Lincoln. Hoped for quick reconciliation. Recognized new Southern gov’ts made up of former Confederate leaders. Did while Congress was out.

The Politics of Reconstruction Confederate leaders took over Southern gov’ts. Blocked rights of newly freedmen.

Black Codes Prevented freedmen from: voting serving on juries Testifying against whites holding office serving in militias Owning guns Owning property Traveling Quitting their jobs

Assignment Imagine you are a US Senator in 1864. Write a letter to a friend explaining how the Thirteenth Amendment differs from the Emancipation Proclamation.

Congressional Reconstruction North was outraged. Congress refused to seat new Southern members. Radical Republicans – small group of Republicans who believed that the South should be punished and that African Americans should be given full political and civil equality.

Civil Rights Act of 1866 – prohibited discrimination based on race, thus overturning the Black Codes. Made all persons born in the United States citizens. President Johnson vetoed but Congress had enough votes to override the veto.

The Fourteenth Amendment To prevent a challenge in the Supreme Court, Congress rewrote the Civil Rights Act into the Fourteenth Amendment. This amendment prevents states from denying minorities the rights and privileges of citizens, including a fair trial and equal protection of the laws. Guarantees the same rights to all citizens.

The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson Radical Republicans took over Congress. Restructured the South into 5 districts. Each district as occupied by part of the Union Army. Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act – limited the President’s power to dismiss his own cabinet members. Johnson ignored and removed his Secretary of War. The House of Representatives impeached Johnson, but the Senate failed to remove him from office by 1 vote.

The Fifteenth Amendment Ratified in 1870. Prohibited states from denying any citizen the right to vote on the basis of race or previous “servitude.”

The Reconstruction Governments in the South Freedmen can vote and Confederate leaders excluded from gov’t. New Southern gov’ts under control of carpetbaggers and scalawags. Carpetbaggers – people from the North who moved South after the Civil War to profit from Reconstruction. Scalawags – Southern whites who supported Reconstruction.

African Americans took over state and local gov’ts. Hiram Rhodes Revels – became the first African American to serve in Congress as Senator from Mississippi in 1870. Public schools – especially for former slaves – a positive of Reconstruction. Southern resentment and a lack of change in attitudes towards African Americans meant Reconstruction was doomed.

The Economics of Reconstruction: The “New South” How to run plantations without slave labor? Sharecropping – landowner provides land and housing in return for a large share of their crop. Tenant farming – Farmers rent land Debt peonage – if sharecroppers or tenants owed money to their landlord they could not leave the debt was paid

“New South” – modernization of the South “New South” – modernization of the South. Industrialization, new farming methods, new crops.

Reconstruction Comes to an End “Compromise of 1877” 1876 Presidential election- Rutherford B Hayes v Samuel Tilden. Tilden won popular vote but not electoral college 4 states undecided Compromise – all disputed electoral votes to Hayes who agreed to withdraw Northern troops from the South and end Reconstruction.

Was Reconstruction successful? Discuss

Why Reconstruction failed Legacy of racism Economic dependence of African Americans Freedmen lacked education and political experience White terrorism – Ku Klux Klan and other similar groups. Loss of Northern interest in Reconstruction

The Aftermath of Reconstruction Reconstruction replaced by segregation and white supremacy. Period is known as the “Nadir” – low point in American race relations

African Americans terrorized by the Ku Klux Klan and other groups. Teachers and leaders targeted. Lynching – a public hanging by a local mob of an accused person without a trial.

In the 1890s, African Americans stripped of voting rights by: Literacy tests Poll taxes Residency requirements Grandfather Clauses – people qualified to vote prior to 1867, their descendants, and relatives could vote without passing a literacy test or paying poll taxes.

Whites regained control of politics in the South. Resented Republican Reconstruction For next 100 years, Southern states always voted for the Democratic Party – “Solid South.”

Segregation laws passed. Segregation – separation of races in schools, railway cars, restaurants, public toilets, water fountains, etc. Laws became known as “Jim Crow” laws.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) – facilities can be “separate but equal” Segregation constitutional. Segregation in the north as well but more custom than law.