In 1865, Congress created the Freedmen's Bureau to educate, feed, and clothe former slaves and white refugees. If you were in charge of the education of the freedmen in 1865, what would you teach them so that they would be well-equipped to succeed in the post-slavery South? Why?

Reconstruction

Reconstruction Politics

Conditions of the South at the end of the war Economic Chaos – Former Confederate farmhouses, barns, mills had been burned. – Bridges, RR track destroyed.

Conditions of the South at the end of the war Economic Chaos cont. – Towns looted, inhabitants driven out. – Plantation owners lost slaves, could not afford capital for equipment and replace slave labor – Businesses at a standstill

Conditions of the South at the end of the war Social Confusion – Aristocratic yielded to bankers, merchants, small farmers – Changing status of blacks created social tensions

Conditions of the South at the end of the war Political Uncertainty – State and local govt’s had to be organized with relation to the Union – Political leaders of the North differed sharply over what should be done

2 main ?’s of Reconstruction 1. How will the Southern states be readmitted to the union? 2. What will be the status of the Freedmen?

Lincoln’s Plan Southern whites could regain citizenship. – Except high ranking officials 10% plan – 10% of the voters took oath new state government could be set up – Must prohibit slavery

Was Lincoln’s Plan to mild? A.Yes B.No

Wade-Davis bill Required at least 50% voters loyalty and excluded from gov’t holding anyone who cooperated with the Confederacy Lincoln pocket-vetoed it

Which plan do you support? A.Lincoln Plan B.Wade-Davis Bill

Lincoln Assassination John Wilkes Booth Conspiracy plot

Lincoln Assassination

Andrew Johnson Senator from Tenn. Carry on with Lincoln’s Plan 13,000 pardons

Help for former slaves Congress proposed the 13ht Amendment – Abolition of slavery Organized the Freedman’s Buereau

Freedman’s Bureau Oversaw relief actions Established schools for former slaves and poor whites Helped re-unite families broken by slavery

Johnson’s Plan Generally unconcerned with former slaves rights – vetoed both Freedmen’s Bureau continuation and the Civil Rights Act of 1866 Punish planter class

Limit of freedoms “Black Codes”: Keep blacks in same position as slaves – Sign work contracts for a full year Sharecropping Tenant farming – Limited travel – 5,000 killed in the 2 years following the War

Nathan Bedford Forrest

KU Klux Klan Maintain supremacy through violence Blacks were beaten, tarred and feathered, burned out of their homes or lynched.