1. Warm-up:
List what you think some successes and failures of Reconstruction were during this time.

2. The End of Reconstruction

3. Southern Economy
Sharecropping and Tenant Farming for the freed slaves and poor whites
Left many in a cycle of debt-using this year’s profits to pay last year’s bills
South had to import much of its food
Rebuilding railroads was one of greatest successes of Reconstruction
Turned southern villages into towns and towns into cities
Cities offered different job opportunities to the freed slaves
Still at bottom: maids, butlers, servants and unskilled day labor
Southern factories brought industry to the South
Most of South’s postwar industrial growth came from cotton
Southern legislatures poured money into rebuilding infrastructure
Levied heavy taxes to pay for it
Fraudulent loans and grants
By 1877 people were growing tired of Reconstruction mostly because of the heavy taxes that were levied.

4. The South & The Supreme Court
Three major cases
Slaughterhouse Cases 1873
United States vs. Reese
United States vs. Cruikshank
Narrowly interpreted the 14th & 15th Amendments
Restricted the scope of 14th Amendment
Limited the federal government’s ability to protect the civil and voting rights of African Americans

5. The Election of 1876 Democrats returned to power—the solid South
Blocked many federal policies and reversed reforms
Rutherford B. Hayes-Republican
Samuel Tilden-Democrat
Hayes lost popular vote but electoral vote was disputed
Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina still under Republican and federal control---so both parties claimed victory
Congress commission (more R than D) declared Hayes victor but Demo. in Congress had enough power to reject decision

6. Compromise 1877
Deal struck between Democrats and Republicans over election of 1876
Democrats would give Hayes victory but
New president had to remove remaining federal troops from the Southern states
Support appropriations to build new levies along the Mississippi River
Give huge subsidies (aid or grant from government) to southern railroads

7. Was Reconstruction a… success? failure?
The rebuilding of the South began.
The U.S. was permanently united.
Constitutional amendments aided a later civil rights movement.
failure?
African Americans lost many rights, including voting rights.
De jure segregation became the law in all southern states.
Racist attitudes continued in North & South 7

9. Activity:
Write a 10 sentence paragraph discussing whether you think Reconstruction was a success or a failure and why. You must use examples to support your view.