The Reconstruction Era Mrs. Excell

Intro to Reconstruction April 14 th, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Ford Theatre April 14 th, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Ford Theatre –Andrew Johnson (VP) succeeded Lincoln Presidential Reconstruction Plan Presidential Reconstruction Plan –A state could rejoin the Union once it had:  written a new state constitution  Elected a new Govenor  Repealed its act of secession  Canceled its war debt  Ratified the 13 th Amendment (abolishing slavery)

End of Slavery “ Freedmen ” - African Americans who had been set free from slavery “ Freedmen ” - African Americans who had been set free from slavery Positives of being set free: Positives of being set free: –New name and a new life –Marriage that was legal and forever –Reuniting scattered family Negatives of being set free: Negatives of being set free: –Began new lives with nothing

End of Slavery continued… Freedman ’ s Bureau established by Congress Freedman ’ s Bureau established by Congress –Assisted former slaves –Provided food, medical care for both blacks and whites in the South –Built schools Forty Acres and a Mule Forty Acres and a Mule –Congressman Stevens attempted to get Congress to break up plantations and give it to freedmen give it to freedmen  Congress voted NO

End of Slavery continued… The Black Codes: The Black Codes: –Laws passed to control former slaves  Spelled out the rights of freedman  Help planters find workers to replace their slaves –Required freedman to work or they were arrested and hired out anyway –Limited freedmen to farm work or jobs with few skills; no trade jobs or businesses  Kept freedmen at the bottom of the Social Pyramid –Segregation in public places –Kids could not attend public schools

Congressional Reconstruction By Johnson felt that all Southern states were ready to return to the Union By Johnson felt that all Southern states were ready to return to the Union –Congress did not agree. They felt that the Union needed to:  Extend the life of the freedmen ’ s Bureau  Establish the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (gave full rights as a citizen to African Americans –Johnson vetoed their suggestions and passed the 14 th Amendment (declaring former slaves to be citizens with full rights)

Congressional Reconstruction continued… Military Reconstruction Act of 1867 Military Reconstruction Act of 1867 –Divided the South into five military districts, each governed by a general who was backed by federal troops –Southerners who had supported the Confederacy were denied the right to Vote  Southerners not so happy about the president ’ s new power over them so… –Command of the Army Act: limited the presidents power over the army –Tenure of Office Act- barred him from firing certain federal officials without Senate ’ s permission  Johnson ruled the two acts UNCONSTITUTIONAL and proved his power

Congressional Reconstruction continued… Because of Johnson ’ s push-back, House of Representatives tried to impeach Johnson for “ contempt, ridicule, and disgrace. ” Because of Johnson ’ s push-back, House of Representatives tried to impeach Johnson for “ contempt, ridicule, and disgrace. ” –Johnson was not impeached BUT lost his power MEANWHILE: Sharecropping became a means of survival Sharecropping became a means of survival –African Americans wanted land but had no money or jobs to get money –White farmers had land but no one to farm it and no money to pay for it to be farmed SO…. White farmers divided land into small plots & rented plots and African American farmers rented land and paid for the land by working it –Sharecropping led to a lifetime of poverty and debt for African Americans for African Americans  Used debt to by tools, seeds, etc and never made enough off the land to pay the debt back

Southern Reconstruction Federal Army returned to the South and started registering people to vote Federal Army returned to the South and started registering people to vote –Freedmen, white Southerners who opposed the war, and Northerners who moved South after the war  African Americans joined the Republican Party –Largest group in the South  White Southerners opposing the War –Second largest group –Mostly poor white farmers, became known as Scalawags  Northerners who moved South after war –3 rd largest group, became known as “ Carpet baggers ”

Southern Reconstruction continued… 1868 Election 1868 Election –Ulysses S. Grant for the Republicans  Supporter of Reconstruction  Promises to protect the rights of African Americans in the south –Horatio Seymour for the Democrats  Wanted to end reconstruction  Wanted to return south to traditional WHITE leaders –GRANT WINS!!!!

Southern Reconstruction continued… 15 th Amendment- urged by Grant 15 th Amendment- urged by Grant –“ Citizens right to vote shall not be denied… on account of race, color, and previous condition of servitude. ” Because of the new right to vote states elected new delegates (1/4 elected were African America) Because of the new right to vote states elected new delegates (1/4 elected were African America) –Created new state constitutions that were very progressive

Southern Reconstruction continued… New State Governments New State Governments –Republican Governments (1/2 were African Americans) –Ratified 14 and 15 Amendment –By 1870 all states rejoined the Union  Started working on damage cause by the war (damage on roads, bridges, railroads, schools and hospitals)  Taxes increased up to 400% due to need to rebuild –African Americans in office  ½ officeholders- 22 in State Congress, 20 in the House of Representatives, and 2 in Senate

End of Reconstruction Southerners resented Reconstruction governments Southerners resented Reconstruction governments Tax payers blamed increased taxes on corruption Tax payers blamed increased taxes on corruption –White Terrorism  Tried winning black voters with charm, then legal tricks to keep them from voting, and then with terrorism and violence –Ku Klux Klan (KKK)- dressed in long hooded robes and armed with guns; worked at night, used methods from threats to beatings to tar and feathering, to murder.

End of Reconstruction continued… Enforcement Acts (1870 and 1871) Enforcement Acts (1870 and 1871) –Illegal to prevent another person from voting by bribery, force, or scare tactics  GRANTS ARMY ENFORCED THIS Amnesty Act of 1872 Amnesty Act of 1872 –Amnesty (forgiveness)  Allowed most former Confederates to vote once again Hayes (R) succeeded Grant Hayes (R) succeeded Grant –Forced to remove all troops from the South due to back door deals –Ended Reconstruction

Reconstruction Reversed “ New South ” with textile mills, factories, and cities “ New South ” with textile mills, factories, and cities –Textile mills increased in South Losing Ground in Education Losing Ground in Education –Old southern Democrats regained control and started cutting spending on education  Funding dried up so schools shut down OR those that stayed open had a fee Losing Voting Ground Losing Voting Ground –Voters pay a poll tax- which most African Americans could not afford –Made voters pay tax or pass literacy test  Whites “ grandfathered in ” - father or grandfather voted on Jan. 1, 1867 THEN they could vote without tax or test

Reconstruction Reversed continued… Drawing a “ color-line ’ : Drawing a “ color-line ’ : –Established Jim Crown Laws enforcing segregation of blacks and whites in the South after the Civil War.  “ Jim Crow ” was a black character from entertainer's at in the mid-1800s Plessy V Ferguson Plessy V Ferguson –African Americans argued that the Jim Crow Laws violated the 14 th Amendment  Homer Plessy, arrested for refusing to obey a Jim Crow Law –Plessy lost –More Jim Crow Laws passed Jim Crow Laws (White Only Labels) Jim Crow Laws (White Only Labels) –Blacks and whites attended different schools –Played at different parks –Separate theatre sections –Back of bus

Responding to Segregation Open Protest Open Protest –Attacked by whites –Lynched –Murdered (often hung) Migration Migration –Left South  Some to Africa founding Liberia (liberty) by freed American slaves –Northern Cities  Competed for jobs with recent immigrants from Europe –West  Worked as cowboys or as India fighters

Responding to Segregation continued… Self Help Self Help –Worked hard in families, churched, and communities to improve their lives  Banded together to build schools and colleges for black children  Literacy rose rapidly – % read – % read and wrote –Started businesses