In response to reading the Gettysburg Address: Questions: (1) What does it mean, “Four score and seven years ago … a new nation conceived in liberty?” (2) Why do you suppose he says, “The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here?” (3) What does it mean when Lincoln says, “last full measure of devotion?” (4) What does it mean when Lincoln says, “a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth?” Fri, 9/15/15

Interesting Facts About the War 2/3’s of Southerners did not own slaves. By the war’s end, the Confederacy lost ¼ of all its men. In 1860, if the Confederacy were an independent nation, it would have had the fourth largest economy in the world. However, by 1865, its exports of cotton dropped by 95%.

Destruction of the South

Sherman’s “March to the Sea” “The devils seem to have a determination that cannot but be admired. No amount of poverty or adversity seems to shake their faith – niggers gone – wealth and luxury gone, money worthless, starvation in view within a period of two or three years, are causes enough to make the bravest tremble, yet I see no sign of let up – some few deserters – plenty tired of war, but the masses determined to fight it out.” – General William Tecumseh Sherman

Major Consequences of the U.S. Civil War (1) Destruction of the South – ¼ of white, male Southerners killed – Southern wealth decreases by 60% during 1860’s – 1860, total South’s share of national wealth was 30%; by 1870, it’s 12% – 1860, average Southerner’s income was 2/3’s of Northerners; by 1870, it’s 2/5’s of a Northerner (2) 620,000 casualties because of the war in a nation of 50 million people (3) Slavery no longer existed in the nation

Writing Task: Textbook, Ch. 3, Sec. 3: (1) What was the Freedmen’s Bureau, and what were this agency’s tasks (three major ones, pages 142 & 146)? Textbook, Ch. 3, Sec. 3: (2) Summarize, what were the various plans for Reconstruction? Fri, 9/15/15

Essential Learning Questions Was Reconstruction an “unfinished revolution?” What were the freedoms African-Americans gained during Reconstruction? What were the different plans for Reconstruction? How did life in the South change during Reconstruction?

What was the Freedmen’s Bureau, and what were this agency’s tasks (three major ones, pages 142 & 146)?

Freedmen’s Bureau

A part of the U.S. Dept. of War Assisting freed slaves adjust to a life of freedom: – Food, water, and other essentials – Help find lost family members – Establish schools for education – Health care services – Provide legal services – Encourage former slaves to stay on plantations and establish working agreements with former owners – Establish labor contracts – Encourage African Americans and whites to work together as “employers and employees instead of masters and slaves”

Freedmen’s Bureau and Education

Education: No state-supported, mandatory school system existed in the American South. By 1865, 90,000 former slaves enrolled in schools Attendance rates were between 79% - 82% By 1870, 1,000 schools established in American South By 1876, 40% of all African American children attended school. An inspector for the Bureau reported the freedmen “have a natural thirst for knowledge” and are excited by “the special study of books.” Established 11 colleges in Southern states The Bureau spent $5 million to establish schools.

Summarize, what were the various plans for Reconstruction?

Lincoln’s “Ten Percent Plan” As soon as 10 percent of a state’s voters took the oath, Pardoned all Southerners except high-ranking military officers who took an oath pledging loyalty to the Union and support for emancipation. Each state must affirm abolishing slavery

Wade-Davis Bill (1864) Moderate Republicans’ plan to do the following: – Majority of Southerners in each state needed to take an oath of loyalty to the Union – All delegates to state conventions needed to take an “iron-clad” oath – Each state would have to abolish slavery and reject all Confederate government debts

President Johnson’s Plan Pardoned all Southerners taking an oath of loyalty to the Union, except high-ranking Confederate government leaders, officers in Confederate Army, and Southern property owners over $20,000 in property value. Anyone could apply for a pardon individually. 10% loyalty oath by a Southern state’s population

Radical Republican’s Plans Major objectives: – (1) Prevent former Confederate leaders from gaining leadership of American South again. – (2) Help African Americans gain right to vote (already freed) – (3) Establish equality in American South, including voting rights and possibly property rights This last objective was not completely achieved.

How does the Election of 1866 and the violence in the American South change the Era of Reconstruction?