Chapter 18 The Reconstruction Years

Drill What was “the Reconstruction”? “The Reconstruction” is the name for the period after the end of the Civil War. It lasted from 1867 to 1877.

At the end of the Civil War the South was destroyed. People wanted to build a “new South.”

At the end of the Civil War the U.S. government was controlled by the Republicans, but the Republicans were divided. Some Republicans followed President Lincoln. They wanted to forgive the South. Another group was called the Radical Republicans. They wanted to punish the South. They also wanted to change the South.

If you were alive then, which side would you support? Lincoln? Or the Radical Republicans? If you were alive then, which side would you support? Lincoln? Or the Radical Republicans?

President Lincoln was Assassinated. President Lincoln was assassinated four days after the Civil War ended. President Lincoln was assassinated four days after the Civil War ended. Vice President, Andrew Johnson, became the President. Vice President, Andrew Johnson, became the President.

Andrew Johnson was very unpopular. Johnson wanted to follow Lincoln’s plans. Johnson wanted to follow Lincoln’s plans. Johnson could not stop the Radical Republicans. Johnson could not stop the Radical Republicans.

The Radical Republicans had some good reasons for disagreeing with President Johnson. Southerners had elected Confederate leaders to lead their state governments and be their federal congressmen. Southerners had elected Confederate leaders to lead their state governments and be their federal congressmen. The Southern States had passed laws called the Black Codes that treated African Americans like slaves. The Southern States had passed laws called the Black Codes that treated African Americans like slaves.

The Black Codes said that Blacks could not vote or travel freely. Blacks were only allowed to work as servants or farmers.

The Radical Republicans took control and started their own “reconstruction” plans. The Radical Republicans ended the Black Codes. They passed the Civil Rights Act of This law said that African Americans were citizens and had full rights under the law. The Radical Republicans ended the Black Codes. They passed the Civil Rights Act of This law said that African Americans were citizens and had full rights under the law. The Radical Republicans passed the Fourteenth Amendment. This Amendment said that all people born in the United States were citizens and that states could not take away their rights. The Radical Republicans passed the Fourteenth Amendment. This Amendment said that all people born in the United States were citizens and that states could not take away their rights. Finally, in 1867, Republicans passed the Reconstruction Act. Finally, in 1867, Republicans passed the Reconstruction Act.

The Reconstruction Act changed the government in the South. Federal troops were sent to rule the South. Federal troops were sent to rule the South. Confederate leaders and soldiers were not allowed to vote or hold public office. Confederate leaders and soldiers were not allowed to vote or hold public office. African Americans would be allowed to vote. African Americans would be allowed to vote. Federal troops watched elections. Federal troops watched elections.

What was the Reconstruction? What was the Reconstruction? When did the Reconstruction take place? When did the Reconstruction take place? Why was it called the Reconstruction? Why was it called the Reconstruction? How did Andrew Johnson become President? How did Andrew Johnson become President? What sort of reconstruction plans did Johnson have? What sort of reconstruction plans did Johnson have? Why did the Radical Republicans disagree with his plans? Why did the Radical Republicans disagree with his plans? Which side got their way? Which side got their way?

During the Reconstruction, African Americans could vote, but Confederates could not. So everything changed.

In 1868, General Grant became President. Grant was popular among Northerners and African Americans because he had been the main General for the North in the Civil War. Grant was popular among Northerners and African Americans because he had been the main General for the North in the Civil War. Southerners were very unhappy about this election. Southerners were very unhappy about this election.

Under Grant, the Fifteenth Amendment was passed. This Amendment guaranteed all male citizens the right to vote, regardless of race. Under Grant, the Fifteenth Amendment was passed. This Amendment guaranteed all male citizens the right to vote, regardless of race.

During the Reconstruction, the South was controlled by carpetbaggers, scalawags, and African Americans. During the Reconstruction, the South was controlled by carpetbaggers, scalawags, and African Americans.

carpetbaggers The carpetbaggers were people who came from the North. Some wanted to help, but others just wanted to get rich. Many of the Southerners hated the carpetbaggers. They were called carpetbaggers because they arrived in the South with suitcases that were made of carpet material. The carpetbaggers were people who came from the North. Some wanted to help, but others just wanted to get rich. Many of the Southerners hated the carpetbaggers. They were called carpetbaggers because they arrived in the South with suitcases that were made of carpet material.

carpetbaggers

scalawags The scalawags were from the South. They were poor white people. They wanted to take the land, money, and power away from the rich plantation owners. The scalawags were from the South. They were poor white people. They wanted to take the land, money, and power away from the rich plantation owners.

African Americans elected African- American politicians.

While the federal troops were watching the elections, African Americans elected many African Americans to state and federal government positions. Some of these African American politicians did great work They helped the poor, immigrants, and Native Americans. While the federal troops were watching the elections, African Americans elected many African Americans to state and federal government positions. Some of these African American politicians did great work They helped the poor, immigrants, and Native Americans.

The federal government set up the Freedmen’s Bureau. It helped poor Whites and freed black slaves. It started hospitals and schools for the poor and for the African Americans. The federal government set up the Freedmen’s Bureau. It helped poor Whites and freed black slaves. It started hospitals and schools for the poor and for the African Americans.

In many parts of the South, there were riots by angry Whites.

Memory Check How did the Reconstruction change the South? How did the Reconstruction change the South? What were carpetbaggers and scalawags? What were carpetbaggers and scalawags?

What could blacks do once they were free? Most African-Americans did not have any education or skills. So, they had to work as sharecroppers. Sharecroppers are farmers that do not own the land. They work hard and give most of the crops to the boss. They usually didn’t have enough money or food. It was not very different from slavery.

The beginning of the K.K.K. White Southerners started a secret organization called the Ku Klux Klan. The goal of the K.K.K. was to stop the blacks from voting and regain control of the South. They terrorized and murdered blacks.

The K.K.K. fought to reclaim the South for White supremacy.

Memory Check How did life change for Southern blacks during the Reconstruction? How did life change for Southern blacks during the Reconstruction? How did the White supremacists fight to regain control of the South? How did the White supremacists fight to regain control of the South?

The end of Reconstruction In 1872, Confederates were allowed to vote again. They started winning elections in the South. In 1872, Confederates were allowed to vote again. They started winning elections in the South.

In 1876, there was a new election for President for the United States. In 1876, there was a new election for President for the United States. There were so many problems and so much corruption. Nobody knew who won. There were so many problems and so much corruption. Nobody knew who won. People started arguing about the election. People started arguing about the election.

Finally, the Democrats and the Republicans made a compromise. The Democrats would let the Republicans win the election if they would agree to remove the federal troops from the South.

Rutherford B. Hayes became the President, but now the African- Americans had no protection.

Memory Check How did the Reconstruction finally end? How did the Reconstruction finally end? Who won the election of 1876? Who won the election of 1876?

The federal troops left the South. The African Americans had no protection from groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. The African Americans had no protection from groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.

Racists in the South made new ways to stop African-Americans from voting. One way was a “poll tax.” Poll taxes meant that people had to pay money when they voted. African Americans did not have enough money, so they could not vote. One way was a “poll tax.” Poll taxes meant that people had to pay money when they voted. African Americans did not have enough money, so they could not vote. Another way was literacy tests. People who wanted to vote had to pass a reading test. Most African Americans couldn’t read, so they couldn’t pass those tests and vote. Another way was literacy tests. People who wanted to vote had to pass a reading test. Most African Americans couldn’t read, so they couldn’t pass those tests and vote.

Segregation Segregation laws called the Jim Crow laws were passed. These laws separated blacks and whites. Blacks were not allowed to use the same facilities that Whites used. These facilities included schools, libraries, hospitals, and even bathrooms. Segregation laws called the Jim Crow laws were passed. These laws separated blacks and whites. Blacks were not allowed to use the same facilities that Whites used. These facilities included schools, libraries, hospitals, and even bathrooms.

Memory Check What happened when Reconstruction ended? What happened when Reconstruction ended? Was the Reconstruction Act good or bad? Was the Reconstruction Act good or bad?