RECONSTRUCTION Chapter 3

April 1865 Lincoln is assassinated

John Wilkes Booth Famous Actor Most Handsome Man in the America Hated Lincoln & worked as a spy for the south

April 14, 1865 Booth enters box & shoots Lincoln in the head

Reconstruction was…. The federal government’s controversial effort to 1. repair the damage to the South and 2. to restore southern states to the Union The federal government’s controversial effort to 1. repair the damage to the South and 2. to restore southern states to the Union

Timing of Reconstruction Lasted from Lasted from That would be 12 years and involved four presidents! That would be 12 years and involved four presidents!

Physical Damage, cont. Roadways, bridges, tunnels (infrastructure) Miscellaneous buildings and factories

Civil War Aftermath 1. Devastating physical toll to the South 2. Total human casualties- over 1 million th Amendment –abolishes slavery

Plantation Life Changes Freedman now have choice – to stay or to leave Freedman now have choice – to stay or to leave Plantation owners now have to pay salaries for labor Plantation owners now have to pay salaries for labor

Andrew Johnson, (southern democrat, former slave owner) administered his own new policy

Johnson’s Plan - PROBLEMS Too generous to the south! Johnson goes easy on the former Confederacy. How could Southern governments take advantage of his generosity? Looking at President Johnson’s background, what BIAS might he be bringing to his presidency? How might it impact his plan? They took advantage of his leniency by taking advantage of southern blacks.

Rise of KKK – violent response to Radical Reconstruction

The goal of denying African- Americans their rights and keep them in the role of submissive laborers

Ku Klux Klan Started in 1866 by 6 former Confederate soldiers Started in 1866 by 6 former Confederate soldiers Members wore robes and masks to look like the ghosts of dead Confederate soldiers who returned for revenge against enemies of the South. Members wore robes and masks to look like the ghosts of dead Confederate soldiers who returned for revenge against enemies of the South.

Ku Klux Klan Gradually absorbed other smaller organizations over time Gradually absorbed other smaller organizations over time Name from the Greek word kuklos, meaning “circle” Name from the Greek word kuklos, meaning “circle”

A cartoon threatening that the KKK would lynch carpetbaggers, Tuscaloosa, AL, Independent Monitor (1868)

Anger at being forced to submit to the acts of Reconstruction leads to defiance Fear of loss of power leads to…

Here is an edited example of one of the Black Codes: The Black Codes Now that the slaves have become emancipated, it is necessary to pass regulations that preserve public order. These regulations must also preserve the comfort and correct behavior of the former slaves. Therefore, the following rules have been adopted with the approval of the United States military authorities who have commanded this area. 1) Every Negro is required to be in the regular service of some white person or former owner, who shall be held responsible for the conduct of that Negro. 2) No public meetings or congregations of Negroes shall be allowed after sunset. Such public meetings may be held during the day with the permission of the local captain in charge of the area. 3) No Negro shall be permitted to preach or otherwise speak out to congregations of colored people without special permission in writing from the government. 4) Negroes may legally marry, own property and sue and be sued in a court of law. 5) Negroes may not serve on juries. 6) A Negro may not testify against a white person in a Court of Law. 7) It shall be illegal for a Negro or a person of Negro descent to marry a white person. 8) No Negro shall be permitted outside in public after sundown without permission in writing from the government. A Negro conducting business for a white person may do so but only under the direct supervision of his employer. 9) No Negro shall sell, trade, or exchange merchandise within this area without the special written permission of his employer. 10) No Negro who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry firearms or any kind or weapons of any type without the special written permission of his employers. Black Code Sample

BLACK CODES set limits on the rights and opportunities of African Americans helped planters find workers to replace freed slaves barred freedmen from any job but farm work and unskilled labor Set curfews Punishments for vagrancy (not working) Radical Republicans in congress see the codes as a way for white southerners to get around the efforts of congress so…

Radical Reconstruction Reconstruction Act of passed by radical republicans -state governments declared illegal -south divided into 5 military districts except Tenn.

Radical Reconstruction To rejoin the Union: 1. Ratify the 14 th Amendment Granted citizenship to people born in the US. (African Americans) 2. Ratify the 15 th Amendment Grants African Am. Men Right to vote

15 th Amendment Election of 1870 – many angry white southerners refused to vote More than 600 African Americans were elected to southern legislatures and 16 black men were elected to congress

Impeachment! - Congressional power growing - Johnson fires Sec. of War, which breaks the new Tenure of Office Act (removes presidential power to fire without Senate approval) -The House votes to “impeach” Johnson (to accuse of wrongdoing and bring to trial) -President escapes removal by only 1 vote

Impeachment Process 1. House of Rep votes for Impeachment 2. Trial held in the Senate w/ Senators as Jury 3. Trial run by Chief Justice of Supreme Court

Election of 1876

Rep – Rutherford B. Hayes Dem – Samuel Tilden Tilden wins popular vote BUT a dispute over electoral votes

Election of 1876 The votes for FL, LA, & SC were in question Congress chose Hayes! Democrats Outraged!

The Compromise of 1877 The Democrats agree to give Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in return for the removal of all federal troops from the Southern States Hayes’ removal of troops from the south is regarded as the end of reconstruction!

Reconstruction Successes 1. Rebuilt Union & Repaired South 2. Economic Growth in South th, 14 th, & 15 th, Amendments 4. Freedmen’s Bureau 5. Public Schools - South

Reconstruction Failures 1. African Am Lacked pol. power 2. Racism in North & South 3. Left Southern Bitterness 4. South still focus on Agriculture 5. Didn’t address women’s rights & safe working conditions (north)