Grant Administration Grant appointed friends and acquaintances with a lack of experience – Spoils system (Jackson would approve!!!) Many turned out to be dishonest – Construction company kick-back (V.P.) – Whiskey Ring Bribes to IRS to avoid taxes – costs gov’t billions – Shady land deals

Liberal Republican Party Wanted “honesty” – Horace Greeley was candidate in 1872 – Lost to Grant died immediately after election What you should get out of this: – Republican Party was split in two Weakened

Review We have discussed various reasons to support the notion that Reconstruction was a struggle. – When and why did Reconstruction itself collapse? Think: Democrats, Republicans, Government Rise of oppositional groups, Amnesty Act, Republican corruption and disunity

Objectives Continue to trace the demise of the Republican Party and the downfall of Reconstruction. Determine if Reconstruction was a success or a failure.

In addition… Panic of 1873 – Railroad company is broke, 3 million jobs lost, currency dispute – Greenback dispute- weren’t backed by gold – Specie Resumption Act Gold Standard

Long story short… By 1874, Radical Republicanism is dissolving – Government is struggling, Party is split, ex- Confederates are regaining rights Supreme Court itself is undermining Republican actions!

Supreme Court Decisions Slaughterhouse (1873) – Civil Rights were up to states, not federal gov’t (14 th amendment undermined) U.S. v. Cruikshank (1876) – Federal government could not punish people who oppressed blacks (undermined 14 th amendment) U.S. v Reese (1876) – 15 th Amendment didn’t grant voting rights, just stated grounds on which they couldn’t be taken away All were eventually overturned, but at the time did a lot of damage

Equal Rights Fades Away What causes the collapse? No support of the Supreme Court to enforce laws Republican Party losing credibility Reconciliation becomes a priority ***Government can’t impose moral change All of this amounts to Civil Rights taking a back seat!!!!!!

Democrats “Redeem” South , Democrats regain control of state governments “Redemption” = Return to power Congressional Reconstruction ENDS Recap: – Lincoln – “Presidential Reconstruction” – “Congressional Reconstruction” –

Election of 1876 Corruption = Grant is out! Republican  Rutherford B. Hayes Democratic  Tilden – Cleaned up corrupt Tweed Ring (Boss Tweed… a story for another day)

Election of 1876 Tilden wins popular vote but not electoral majority – Votes are disputed – Republican commission decides in favor of Hayes throws out votes from counties that kept voters from the polls – South willing to accept under one condition…

Compromise of 1877 Withdraw troops from south (Congressional Reconstruction Plan) Give South money to build a R x R Appoint Conservative Southerners to cabinet

Bye-Bye Republicans No longer controlled governments in any Southern states – Democrats achieved “home rule” – Undid pro-black Reconstruction Restricted rights, wiped out social programs, dismantled public schools RECONSTRUCTION ENDS (1877)

Review- Downfall Republicans gave blacks rights, but they were not well protected – Supreme court undermined amendments Radicals did not provide land reforms for freed slaves – Freed slaves lacked independence – Review: Rebirth of “slavery” Underestimated racism

What do you think… Was Reconstruction a success or failure?? – Debate Activity! Quiz Tuesday!!! (This is your review) Homestretch: Trace the evolution of the Civil Rights movement through the 1960s.