1. Reconstruction

2. Reconstruction-rebuilding the South

3. Challenges of Reconstruction
South destroyed, rebuilding the economy
What to do with the Confederate Army, CSA politicians
Freed slaves
How should Southern states be re-admitted and who had the power, president or Congress

4. Early Plans for Reconstruction
Before the end of the war, Congress was made up of only Northern states, meaning Republicans controlled it. They were able to pass laws that would affect the South after the war was over
In March 1865, Congress established the Freedmen’s Bureau-a department to help former slaves adjust to freedom.

7. Lincoln’s Plan
States will be readmitted if 10% of state’s voters pledged allegiance to the US and accept Emancipation Proclamation
Congress refused to accept it

8. Republican’s plan Wade-David Bill- 3 requirements
Over 50% of white males must pledge loyalty
White males who swore they did not fight could vote
Had to ban slavery
No former Confederates can hold public office

9. 13th amendment
April 1864, before the war was over, the 13th amendment was passed which abolished slavery
1865 Lincoln assassinated, replaced by Andrew Johnson from Tennessee

10. Johnson’s Plan States must accept 13th amendment
Pardoned many Confederate leaders
No equal rights for African Americans
Let former Confederates back into power

11. Black Codes
Former CSA leaders regained power, passed Black Codes-prevented slaves from equality, and rights like voting, private property, juries, working conditions, travelling

13. Northern Actions
Radical Republicans-believed the South should be punished and pushed for civil rights for AA
Would not readmit South states to Congress
Passed Civil Rights Act of 1866 outlawing black codes and granting citizenship
14th amendment citizenship rights- born here= citizen= equal protection of the laws

14. Radical Republicans passed the Reconstruction Acts
First Act- divided the south into 5 military district ran by the army to ensure Civil Rights laws were obeyed, guaranteed AA right to vote
Second Act- Army is to help register AA voters
Many white southerners refused to take part in the elections allowing Republicans to take control of state governments
This allowed Southern states to readmitted under Republican control

16. Congress tries to impeach Johnson when he fires Secretary of War- overseer of the military districts.
Johnson wins impeachment trial and is not removed but he stopped interfering with Congress
Election of 1868, Ulysses S Grant was elected president

17. 15th amendment- gave AA the right to vote

18. Reconstruction Governments in the South
Carpetbagger-Northerners that came to the South to help or/exploit
Scalawags-Southerners who supported Reconstruction

20. African American Politicians
Hiram Rhodes Revels- first AA congressman 1870

21. 600+ state politicians, Louisiana governor

22. Economics
Sharecropping-agreements between former slaves and plantation owners to work
Owner provided cabin, mule, tools, and land
sharecropper,- worked the land and gave large share to owner
Tenant farmer-rented land and had tools

24. Debt peonage-sharecroppers or tenant farmers owe money, they could not leave. Owners made the contracts in their favor

25. Crisis of 1873 Bank failures lead to depression
This leads to change in politics
Radicals lose power to in the South to Democrats known as “redeemers”

26. Election of 1876 Crisis of 1873 led to depression
Depression led to people less worried about African American rights
Led to Republican loss of power in election 1874
Led to tight race for president in 1876
Almost tie, Republican (not radical) Rutherford B Hayes won but a commission had to decide
In order for republicans to win they agreed to make union troops leave south

27. End of Reconstruction Legacy of racism
Economic dependence of African Americans-sharecropping, lack of private property
Lack of education and political experience
White terrorism-KKK
Loss of Northern interest in Southern reconstruction

29. The Segregated South
Once the troops left and politicians focused on other issues, the South retreated towards segregation and the nadir period-low point in US race relations

30. Voting rights stalled 15th amendment- right to vote but…
Sharecropping made blacks dependent on whites and were unlikely to go against them politically. There was no secrecy in voting
KKK terrorized blacks included blacks suspected to vote for opposing candidates
Lynching-public hanging by a local mob, no trial

33. Was around voting Literacy test-determines is someone can read
Poll taxes- registration fee, paid long in advance
Grandfather clauses-if you were qualified to vote before the 15th amendment, you and any of your descendants were allowed to vote without a literacy test and a poll tax
The New South consistently voted Democrat and known as the “Solid South”

36. Segregation laws- separated blacks and whites in any public facility
Called “Jim Crow” laws

37. Plessy v Ferguson
1890- Louisiana police arrested Homer Plessy for sitting in a white section of a train. Plessy was 1/8th black sued
1896 Supreme Court upheld the arrest in Plessy v Ferguson and said that separate but equal was justified and did not mean you were inferior

38. AA response
Many began to leave the South, especially for job opportunities
Strong community and church ties