Reconstruction

Reconstruction In what ways did the nation need to be “reconstructed” following the Civil War? In what ways did the nation need to be “reconstructed” following the Civil War?

Presidential Memo With your partners, prepare a memo for President Johnson that addresses: With your partners, prepare a memo for President Johnson that addresses: What issues remain? Attitudes, prejudices? What issues remain? Attitudes, prejudices? What problems does the nation face in rebuilding? What problems does the nation face in rebuilding? How would you ease tensions between the North and the South? How would you ease tensions between the North and the South? How would you help freed African Americans? How would you help freed African Americans?

Do Now Take out Reconstruction hw from last Friday and turn in poem or essay Take out Reconstruction hw from last Friday and turn in poem or essay In watching the Halloween video: In watching the Halloween video: What are the origins of Halloween? What are the origins of Halloween? How did Halloween become the holiday we know today? How did Halloween become the holiday we know today? No homework tonight, Happy Halloween No homework tonight, Happy Halloween Debate on Thursday, Open note in-class essay on Friday on Reconstruction Debate on Thursday, Open note in-class essay on Friday on Reconstruction

Reconstruction Physical: infrastructure (farms, factories, railroads, ports) Physical: infrastructure (farms, factories, railroads, ports) Psychological: wounds of war, regional hatred, individual loss Psychological: wounds of war, regional hatred, individual loss Racial: equal rights for African-Americans (men, suffrage) Racial: equal rights for African-Americans (men, suffrage) Political: the Confederate states had left the United States, would need to be readmitted Political: the Confederate states had left the United States, would need to be readmitted

Reconstruction Process by which the federal government readmitted Confederate states to the Union Process by which the federal government readmitted Confederate states to the Union Lasted from Lasted from Following Lincoln’s assassination, Johnson became president, advocated moderate program for South Following Lincoln’s assassination, Johnson became president, advocated moderate program for South

Freedman’s Bureau Federal agency established by President Johnson to assist African Americans Federal agency established by President Johnson to assist African Americans Set up schools and hospitals Set up schools and hospitals Distributed clothes, food, and fuel throughout the South Distributed clothes, food, and fuel throughout the South

Harper's Weekly demonstrates an idealized view of the role of Freedmen's Bureau in the South during the aftermath of the Civil War.

Black Codes As Southern states set up new governments, some refused to ratify the 13 th Amendment As Southern states set up new governments, some refused to ratify the 13 th Amendment Black codes limited freedom of former slaves Black codes limited freedom of former slaves written proof of employment, or could be put to work on plantation written proof of employment, or could be put to work on plantation Forbidden to meet in unsupervised groups, carry guns Forbidden to meet in unsupervised groups, carry guns Northerners feared return of “Old South” Northerners feared return of “Old South”

Reconstruction Johnson offered to pardon most white Southerners in return for a pledge of loyalty to the U.S. Johnson offered to pardon most white Southerners in return for a pledge of loyalty to the U.S. New state governments required to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment prohibiting slavery New state governments required to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment prohibiting slavery Many Southern states actively fought this, sought ways to limit African American rights Many Southern states actively fought this, sought ways to limit African American rights Some states refused to ratify amendment Some states refused to ratify amendment

Civil Rights Radical Republicans wanted to force civil rights upon the South Radical Republicans wanted to force civil rights upon the South Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 Declared all persons born in the U.S. (except Native Americans) were citizens and entitled to equal rights Declared all persons born in the U.S. (except Native Americans) were citizens and entitled to equal rights Johnson vetoed the bill, feared centralization of national gov’t, hurt “white race”; Congress overrode veto Johnson vetoed the bill, feared centralization of national gov’t, hurt “white race”; Congress overrode veto

This 1867 sketch by Alfred R. Waud depicts blacks voting freely in the first open elections in the South. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 had mandated these rights.

Civil Rights Johnson refused to pass this constitutional amendment, approved by only one former Confederate state Johnson refused to pass this constitutional amendment, approved by only one former Confederate state Angered Republicans pass the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, begins Radical Reconstruction Angered Republicans pass the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, begins Radical Reconstruction South divided into 5 military districts, Confederate leaders could no longer vote South divided into 5 military districts, Confederate leaders could no longer vote

Fourteenth Amendment All people born in U.S. were citizens and had same rights, “equal protection of the laws” All people born in U.S. were citizens and had same rights, “equal protection of the laws” Did not establish black suffrage, states not granting blacks the vote would lose representation in Congress Did not establish black suffrage, states not granting blacks the vote would lose representation in Congress Johnson and every Confederate state except Tennessee refused Johnson and every Confederate state except Tennessee refused Angered Radical Republicans Angered Radical Republicans

Radical Reconstruction To reenter Union, states had to pass new state constitutions giving the vote to all adult men To reenter Union, states had to pass new state constitutions giving the vote to all adult men Also had to ratify the amendment to extend citizenship to African Americans (remember Dred Scott) Also had to ratify the amendment to extend citizenship to African Americans (remember Dred Scott) Becomes Fourteenth Amendment (1868) Becomes Fourteenth Amendment (1868)

New State Conventions Delegates chosen by Southern voters in 1867 Delegates chosen by Southern voters in 1867 ¾ of delegates are Republicans, half of them poor white farmers (scalawags) ¾ of delegates are Republicans, half of them poor white farmers (scalawags) Other ¼ of Republicans carpetbaggers, white Northerners who came South after the war, despised by many in the South as opportunists Other ¼ of Republicans carpetbaggers, white Northerners who came South after the war, despised by many in the South as opportunists African Americans made up rest of Republican delegates African Americans made up rest of Republican delegates

Johnson and Impeachment President Johnson fought most of the Radical Republican reform efforts President Johnson fought most of the Radical Republican reform efforts Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act (1867), prohibited president from firing government officials without Senate approval Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act (1867), prohibited president from firing government officials without Senate approval February 1868, Johnson fired his secretary of war without Senate approval February 1868, Johnson fired his secretary of war without Senate approval House of Representatives voted to impeach him (formally accuse of improper conduct) House of Representatives voted to impeach him (formally accuse of improper conduct) Moved to Senate for trial, acquitted by one vote Moved to Senate for trial, acquitted by one vote

Responding to Freedom Without need for passes, many African Americans travel Without need for passes, many African Americans travel Return to birthplaces, search for family Return to birthplaces, search for family Strengthens families: can marry legally, raise children without fear they would be sold Strengthens families: can marry legally, raise children without fear they would be sold Founded own independent churches, often branches of Baptist and Methodist; church leaders community leaders Founded own independent churches, often branches of Baptist and Methodist; church leaders community leaders

Freedmen’s Schools Established to educate newly freed African Americans Established to educate newly freed African Americans Started by Freedmen’s Bureau, Northern missionary groups, and African American organizations Started by Freedmen’s Bureau, Northern missionary groups, and African American organizations By 1869, more than 150,000 attending 3,000 schools By 1869, more than 150,000 attending 3,000 schools Resisted by whites, some schools burned, teachers murdered Resisted by whites, some schools burned, teachers murdered

Black Colleges Howard University (1867) Howard University (1867) Black colleges offered courses from basic reading and writing to medicine and law Black colleges offered courses from basic reading and writing to medicine and law Trained teachers Trained teachers

40 Acres and a Mule Freed people wanted to own land Freed people wanted to own land At end of war, General Sherman suggested abandoned land in S.C. be given out in 40 acre lots At end of war, General Sherman suggested abandoned land in S.C. be given out in 40 acre lots Few ever received it, some had to return it Few ever received it, some had to return it Radical Republicans pushed to make land reform part of Reconstruction Acts of 1867, did not pass Congress Radical Republicans pushed to make land reform part of Reconstruction Acts of 1867, did not pass Congress

The Contract System Advantages: could choose where to work, more rights than slavery, families not split up Advantages: could choose where to work, more rights than slavery, families not split up Disadvantages: very low wages, could not leave plantation without permission, many cheated out of wages Disadvantages: very low wages, could not leave plantation without permission, many cheated out of wages Laws punished workers for breaking contracts even if they were cheated or abused Laws punished workers for breaking contracts even if they were cheated or abused

Sharecropping & Debt Worker rented plot of land to farm Worker rented plot of land to farm Landowner provided tools, seed, housing Landowner provided tools, seed, housing Sharecropper gave landowner share of crop Sharecropper gave landowner share of crop Sharecroppers wanted to grow food, owners forced cash crops; then had to buy food at store owned by whites Sharecroppers wanted to grow food, owners forced cash crops; then had to buy food at store owned by whites debt debt

Do Now What were the goals of the Ku Klux Klan? What were the goals of the Ku Klux Klan? What gains in education were made by African Americans during Reconstruction? What gains in education were made by African Americans during Reconstruction?

The Ku Klux Klan Targeted landowners, prosperous Targeted landowners, prosperous Horseback, white robes, hoods Horseback, white robes, hoods Beatings, burned homes Beatings, burned homes Lynch: hung on spot without trial as punishment for supposed crime Lynch: hung on spot without trial as punishment for supposed crime Victims without much protection, often ignored by military authorities (many appointed by President Johnson) Victims without much protection, often ignored by military authorities (many appointed by President Johnson) Gun-toting Klansmen kept Republicans away from polls, increased Democratic power Gun-toting Klansmen kept Republicans away from polls, increased Democratic power

President Grant Elected 1868 Elected 1868 Fifteenth Amendment (1870) – citizens should not be stopped from voting “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude” Fifteenth Amendment (1870) – citizens should not be stopped from voting “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude” Grant won a second term, but support declined due to scandals in his administration Grant won a second term, but support declined due to scandals in his administration Depression of five years begins in 1873, takes focus away from Reconstruction Depression of five years begins in 1873, takes focus away from Reconstruction

Grant Fights the Klan Urged Congress to pass tought anti-Klan bill Urged Congress to pass tought anti-Klan bill Federal marshals arrested thousands of Klansmen, Klan attacks declined Federal marshals arrested thousands of Klansmen, Klan attacks declined 1872 presidential election fair and peaceful in South, Grant wins second term 1872 presidential election fair and peaceful in South, Grant wins second term

Scandal & Panic Weaken Republicans Many unqualified and corrupt officials appointed by Grant Many unqualified and corrupt officials appointed by Grant Some Republicans break away to form Liberal Democratic Party, party not unified Some Republicans break away to form Liberal Democratic Party, party not unified Powerful Eastern banks fail, Panic of 1873 Powerful Eastern banks fail, Panic of 1873 Stock market collapse, depression, unemployment, railroad industry suffered, farmers ruined Stock market collapse, depression, unemployment, railroad industry suffered, farmers ruined Democrats win elections in 1874, Americans tired of Reconstruction Democrats win elections in 1874, Americans tired of Reconstruction

Supreme Court Reversals U.S. v. Cruikshank, Court ruled that federal government could not punish individuals who violated civil rights of African Americans, only states could U.S. v. Cruikshank, Court ruled that federal government could not punish individuals who violated civil rights of African Americans, only states could Southern states would not punish, violence rose Southern states would not punish, violence rose U.S. v. Reese, Court ruled in favor of white Southerners who barred African Americans from voting (15 th Amendment to not ensure right to vote), poll taxes, literacy tests U.S. v. Reese, Court ruled in favor of white Southerners who barred African Americans from voting (15 th Amendment to not ensure right to vote), poll taxes, literacy tests

Reconstruction Ends 1876 presidential election very close, commission decides 1876 presidential election very close, commission decides Compromise of 1877, Hayes becomes president; Republicans compromise with Democrats Compromise of 1877, Hayes becomes president; Republicans compromise with Democrats 1. Removal of federal troops from South 2. Land grants & loans for construction of railroads from South to West 3. Federal funds for construction & improvement 4. Hayes would appoint a Democrat to his cabinet 5. Democrats promised to respect African American rights

Legacy of Reconstruction Nation did rebuild and unite Nation did rebuild and unite Did not achieve equality for African Americans Did not achieve equality for African Americans Many still lived in poverty Many still lived in poverty Legally, could vote and hold public office, but few do, facing prejudice and violence Legally, could vote and hold public office, but few do, facing prejudice and violence Protection of civil rights in Constitution, set stage for 20 th c.; black schools and churches Protection of civil rights in Constitution, set stage for 20 th c.; black schools and churches

Reconstruction: Second Civil War Sharecropping Sharecropping John Lynch John Lynch War of Terror War of Terror