1. Reconstruction
Unit Eight

2. State of the South Economic collapse Declining land value
Worthless currency
2/3rd of the transportation system destroyed
Agricultural system w/out a labor force

3. Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction
1863 Offered amnesty to all who swore an oath of loyalty & accepted the Emancipation proclamation.
After 10% of the 1860 voters had taken the oath, state govt. could be organized
Certain officials and officers were excluded.
“With malice toward none, with charity for all”

4. Radical Republican Goals
Prevent the leaders of the Confederacy from returning to power.
Increase the power of the Republican party in the South
Assist African Americans in securing political equality & the franchise

5. Wade-Davis Bill 1864 Compromise between Lincoln & the Radicals
Loyalty oath required by a majority of white males
State constitutional convention held
Abolish slavery
Conf. officials & officers denied right to hold office and vote
Passed congress/pocket veto by Lincoln

6. Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction
Similar to Lincoln’s plan
Pardon for all taking an oath excluding high ranking confederates & the planter class
Those excluded could apply for an individual pardon from Johnson
Ratify 13th Amendment & Revoke secession
No exclusion for voting & office holding
Enacted while Congress was not in session

7. Freedman’s Bureau Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandon Lands
Provided food & clothing for refugees
Located work & helped with contracts
Established courts for grievances
Helped with education

8. Black Codes Passed by southern legislatures
Limited African American rights
Kept them in state similar to enslavement
“The entire South seems to be stupid and vindictive, know not their friends, and are pursuing just the course which their opponents, the Radicals, desire.” Gideon Wells, Secretary of the Navy

9. Election of 1866
Congressional gains made the Republican majority veto proof
Congress could do whatever they wanted
Civil Rights Act of 1866
14th Amendment
Military Reconstruction Act
Impeachment
15th Amendment

10. CRA of 1866/14th Amendment Civil Rights Act of 1866
Granted citizenship
Allowed property ownership
Equal treatment in court
Fed power to sue violators
14th Amendment protected citizenship, guaranteed due process & equal protection

11. Military Reconstruction Act
Replaced Johnson’s plan
Created 5 military districts w/ Union General in charge
New state conventions
All males had right to vote
Ratify the 14th Amendment

12. Impeachment of Johnson
Congress passed the Command of the Army Act & the Tenure of Office Act
Army orders go through Grant’s office
Senate approved appointments required Senate approval for dismissals (Sec of War Stanton)
Passed to limit Johnson’s influence over the army

13. Johnson fires Stanton
House impeaches Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act
Senate acquitted Johnson by one vote

14. Election of 1868 Johnson did not run
Grant runs for the Republicans and wins easily while Republicans retain large majorities in Congress
With this victory, the 15th Amendment is passed protecting the right to vote

15. Republican Rule
1870 All had rejoined the Union under Congressional Reconstruction
Carpetbaggers – Northerners who came south as part of reconstruction
Scalawags – Southerners who worked with the Republicans and supported reconstruction
Usually former Whigs or small farmers

16. Political Opportunities
African Americans engaged in politics holding many different offices at all levels of government & serving as delegates to state conventions
14 U.S. Congressmen
Hiram Revels & Blanche Bruce – U.S. Senators

17. Republican Reforms Repealed the Black Codes
Increased the number of state offices that were elected
State hospitals and institutions
Rebuilt infrastructure
Rebuilt industry
Comprehensive public education system
Made states pay for these reforms

18. Black Communities Focused around churches Education was provided
Religious, social, & political activities
Education was provided
Social organizations developed

19. Southern Retaliation
Secret societies formed to combat Republican reconstruction– Ku Klux Klan
Federal government passed 3 Enforcement Acts
1- Fed crime to interfere in voting
2- Fed elections under jurisdiction of federal marshals
3- KKK Act – outlawed Klan activities
(arrests made/few convictions/even less jail time)

20. The Grant Administration
Great General, but no political experience
Allowed Congress to lead
Liberal Republicans & Democrats back Newspaper editor Horace Greeley for President
Liberal Republican turned on Grant because corrupt men were gaining control of the party
Grant won reelection in 1872

21. 2nd term plagued by political scandals involving appointees and advisors – Whiskey Ring
Graft- gain money illegally through politics
Panic of 1873 – bank closings and stock market collapse

22. “Redeeming” the South
Opposing “Black Republicanism”, Southerners regain control of state government in order to “redeem” or “save” the South
Republicans lost some support over “Sin Taxes” & corruption
Violence, intimidation, and fraud influenced election outcomes
White v. black issue

23. End of Reconstruction Election of 1876 Hayes v. Tilden
Both short on electoral votes ( )
20 disputed votes from the South
Commission awards them to Hayes
S. Democrats approve findings
Referred to as “Compromise of 1877”
S. Dem help Hayes become President
Hayes withdraws Federal troops

24. A “New South” Focus on industry & Revitalization of agriculture
Hired labor – paid to work
Tenant farmers – rented land
Sharecroppers – used the land for a share of their crops & received seed/supplies on credit from merchants
Crop liens – take crops to cover debt
Debt peonage – trapped/never enough to pay debt