Southern Reconstruction

Republicans Rise to Power  Carpetbaggers: Northerners who moved south to take advantage of economic opportunities  Some exploited war-torn towns and corruption ruled politics  Others wanted to help southerners

African American Life in the South  Since the 15 th amendment allowed Africans Americans to vote, many freedmen took part in governing the South  Church became the center of the community. They promoted social values, settled disputes, disciplined individuals  With the help of the Freedmen’s Bureau, a public school system was created. By % of African American children had attended school

Southern Resistance  Many southerners despised the “Black Republican” governments they felt were forced upon them  Some southerners organized secret societies to terrorize African Americans  The largest of these groups was the Ku Klux Klan  Burned African American homes, schools & churches  Attempted to prevent African Americans and white Republicans from voting

End of Reconstruction  Following the Panic of 1873, attention to reconstruction faded.  Northerners were more concerned with their own economic problems  In the election of 1876, the electoral college winner was unclear.  Compromise of 1877: a deal between Republicans and Southern Democrats that named Rutherford Hayes winner of the election if the Republicans pulled troops out of the South.

End of Reconstruction Successes 1. Union was rebuilt & began repairs to war-torn South 2. Stimulated the economy th and 15 th amendments passed 4. Freedmen’s Bureau helped black families find housing, jobs and schooling 5. Southern states adopted mandatory education system Failures 1. Most southern blacks remained in poverty 2. Southern governments and terror groups denied African Americans the right to vote 3. Racist attitudes continued 4. Southern bitterness toward north & government 5. Slow southern industrialization