Reconstruction in the South: 1865-1877

GPS SS8H6c Analyze the impact of Reconstruction on Georgia and other southern states emphasizing Freedmen’s Bureau, sharecropping and tenant farming, Reconstruction plans, 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the Constitution, Henry McNeal Turner and black legislators, and the Ku Klux Klan.

The Reconstruction time period involved: Conflict between US government and the South on: How ex-Confederate states will be re-admitted into the Union How the Southern economy will recover from the war How the rights of Free Blacks will be protected How Whites and Blacks will relate to each other Whether the South will be transformed or back to the way it was before the Civil War Who will influence the future of the South

Timeline of Reconstruction In Georgia 1865 13th Amendment (abolishes slavery) 1865 Passage of Black Codes 1866 Civil Rights Acts of 1866 1866 14th Amendment (grants citizenship) 1867 Establishment of Military Rule in the South after all southern states reject 14th Amendment 1867 Blacks allowed to vote for first time in GA 1868 Capital moved from Milledgeville to Atlanta 1868 Republican, Rufus Bullock, elected governor 1868 31 African-American elected to General Assembly

1868 African-Americans expelled from GA Assembly 1869 Ku Klux Klan at height of its intimidation 1869 15th Amendment (grants all males right to vote) 1869 Congress passes Georgia Act (GA under military control again) 1870 GA Supreme Court rules in favor of Black legislators 1870 Georgia readmitted into Union after approving of 14th and 15th Amendments 1871 Democrat James M. Smith elected new governor (all governor will be Democrats until 2003) ***Reconstruction Era in GA officially ends***

What Helped the Freedmen? What Hurt the Freedmen?

President Andrew Johnson’s Plan (1865-66) To reenter the Union, states had to • swear allegiance to the Union • ratify the 13th amendment Was willing to pardon high-ranking Confederate officers Favored states’ rights on issues such as giving African Americans the right to vote Did not support the Freedman’s Bureau Took a conciliatory approach

Radical Republicans Reconstruction Plan (1867-70) Supported the Freedman’s Bureau • Created schools (public and black colleges—Atlanta U., Morehouse and Clark) • Created hospitals • Created Industrial Institutes • Created teacher-training centers • Distributed food and clothing Supported Civil Rights Act of 1866, which outlawed Black Codes Passage of 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments required to reenter Union Divided the South into five military districts Supported equal rights for African Americans

Characters in Reconstruction Georgia Carpetbaggers—Northerners who moved South Scalawags—Southerners who supported the Republicans Rev. Henry McNeal Turner—one of the first African Americans elected to Georgia General Assembly Ku Klux Klan—tried to frightened freedmen from voting and pursuing their civil rights Military Governor—Officer who rules each military district in the South.

Differences of Sharecropping and Tenant Farming Landowners provided land, a house, farming tools and animals, seed, and fertilizer Workers agree to give share of crops to owner During growing season, landowners let farmers food, medicine, clothing, and other supplies on “credit” Left sharecroppers deeper in debt year after year. Tenant farmers owned some agricultural equipment and farm animals Tenant farmers paid in set cash price or share of crop Tenant farmers made “small” profit to live on

Similarities between Sharecropping and Tenant Farming Workers were Black freedmen and poor Whites Lives filled with hard work and hardships Kept landowners farm in operations without paying for labor Landowners also risk increased debt Contributed to ruining soil by growing cotton or tobacco continuously

Compare and Contrast the Two Farming Systems of Reconstruction South