1. Chapter 5 – Reconstruction (1865-1877)
Section 4 –
The End of Reconstruction

2. Beginning of the End
Northern Republican control of South weakened 1869
by 1877, there were no more Reconstruction governments
Southern Democrats began to regain control of governments in South

3. Southern Democratic Domination of Governments
Change in Public Opinion
many grew tired of Reconstruction issue
wanted to forget war, withdraw troops, and move on
Amnesty Act (1872)
gave voting rights back to about 160,000 former Confederates
passed end of President Ulysses S. Grant’s 1st term

4. Spreading Terror secret societies grew in strength and power
KKK → Ku Klux Klan (Greek – “Kuklos” - circle)
Created by former Confederate soldiers
General Nathan Bedford Forrest
targeted blacks and white Republicans

5. Government tried to stop violence
Enforcement Act of 1870
banned the use of terror, force, or bribery to prevent someone from voting
tried to ban the KKK
increased military protection during elections
most of the KKK dissolved, but reappeared during 1900s

6. Reconstruction Ends Corruption occurred frequently
Programs cost a lot of money & taxes increased – some areas fell into more debt
Violence increased as federal troops left Southern areas
Democrats returned to Southern politics
“Solid South”
Supreme Court limited government’s ability to protect civil rights of African Americans – most left to the States

7. Presidential Election 1876
Republican Rutherford B. Hayes vs. Democrat Samuel Tilden
Tilden won the popular vote, but the electoral vote was disputed
federal troops only occupied 3 states by 1876: South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana → all voted for Hayes (Rep)
states without troops voted for Tilden (Dem)
controversy over votes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Samuel J. Tilden

8. Presidential Election 1876 (continued)
created special commission to investigate:
declared Hayes (Rep) winner by 1 electoral vote
made Compromise of 1877
Compromise of 1877
settled Election 1876 controversy
Republican Hayes won presidency, but had to remove federal troops from South (for Dem)
end of military occupation in the South allowed whites to regain control of Southern governments (1870s-1880s)
post Civil War very different from antebellum (pre-war) South

10. The Solid South Southern whites blamed Republicans
South made sure Democratic Party stayed strong
became one-party region – “Solid South”
created laws to make it difficult or impossible for blacks to vote

11. Disenfranchisement of African Americans
Disenfranchise → take away voting rights from person or group
South wanted to disenfranchise blacks to keep Democratic Party strong
used 3 methods to put blacks at a disadvantage to vote:

12. Literacy Test Poll Tax “Grandfather Clause”
had to pass test on reading and writing to vote
Problem: slaves were not taught to read or write
Poll Tax
had to pay tax before voting
Problem: most blacks could not afford it
“Grandfather Clause”
could only vote if grandfather had voted before 1867
Problem: only whites had grandfathers who voted before 1867; 15th Amendment passed 1870