1. 1865-1877

2.  Political reform movement following Civil War  Involved Presidents and members of Congress  Different groups emerge and push for different aims for Reconstruction  At end of Civil War = over 600,000 dead, South’s economy destroyed, what to do with 3.5 million former slaves?

3.  Three rounds of Reconstruction ◦ First: Presidential (Lincoln, Johnson) ◦ Second: Congressional (Radical Republican) ◦ Third: Redemption (Southern Conservatives)

4.  The process of putting the nation back together following the Civil War  Lincoln’s Plan (viewed as lenient) ◦ 1863 – Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction  Ten% of voters in Confed. states had to  Accept emancipation  Swear loyalty to the Union  High ranking Confed. officials could not vote or hold office unless pardoned by President ◦ Once conditions were satisfied, a state could return to the Union ◦ Lenient because Lincoln wanted to make it easy to return

5.  Congress's plan: ◦ 50% must take oath ◦ Only non-Confederates allowed to vote for state-constitution ◦ Pocket vetoed by Lincoln Benjamin Wade Henry Davis

6.  Members of Congress – Radical Republicans  Thaddeus Stevens  Charles Sumner  Andrew Johnson – VP; assumed office after Lincoln dies

7.  Goals: ◦ Punish the South for causing the Civil War ◦ Fought to protect the rights of former slaves  Thaddeus Stevens ◦ Focused on economic opportunities for former slaves ◦ Distribute land to former slaves  Charles Sumner  Focused on citizenship and political rights for former slaves

8.  Former Senator from TN; VP for Lincoln ◦ TN part of Confederacy but Johnson remained loyal to Union  A democrat; Reconstruction plan similar to Lincoln’s  Issued 13,000 pardons  Unconcerned with rights of former slaves as states began to pass black codes

9.  Laws that established conditions similar to slavery for black Americans ◦ African Americans couldn’t leave plantations, restrictions on racial intermarriage, not able to serve on juries or testify against whites in court

10.  Prohibited blacks from renting land or borrowing money to buy land  Forced freedmen to sign work contracts  Prohibited blacks from testifying against whites

11.  Johnson opposed to organization  Oversaw relief efforts designed to aid former slaves  Established schools, provided medical supplies, food, clothing  Helped to reunite families separated under slavery  Congress voted to extend funding but Johnson vetoed renewal

12.  1868  Impeachment: to bring official charges against the President (majority vote in HoR)  Trial/Removal: The President stands trial (Senate acts as jury; 2/3 majority vote needed for removal)  Remained President but largely ineffective following trial

13.  Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

14.  Congress took control of Reconstruction and began implementing actions to punish South  Reconstruction Acts (1867-1868): ◦ Former Confederate States were militarily occupied by U.S. troops  5 military districts; only TN not part of occupation (already ratified 14 th in 1866) ◦ States could re-enter the Union once they ratified the 14 th Amendment

15.  Reconstruction Act of 1867 ◦ South under military occupation

16.  “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”  Prohibited slavery

17.  All persons born in the US are citizens of the US  All citizens are guaranteed equal treatment under the law  Punished states that denied adult males the right to vote

18.  Guaranteed the right to vote for African Americans

19.  Civil War Amendments were a success; however, there was no redistribution of land and most former slaves lived as sharecroppers and had little economic opportunity

20.  Election of 1868 Black votes the difference!

21.  Scalawags – Southern Republicans  Carpetbaggers – northerners who went south  African-American legislators

22.  Grant Administration scandals (e.g. Credit Mobilier Affair, Whiskey Ring) discredits itself  Local politics crazy too… Boss Tweed & Tammany Hall

24.  Over speculation on industry and railroads leads to depression  Debtors demanded inflationary greenbacks  Grant vetoed release of more greenbacks

25.  Helped end Reconstruction  Two candidates: ◦ Samuel Tilden: Dem. From NY; political reformer ◦ Rutherford B. Hayes: Rep.; former OH Gov.  SC, FL, LA  voter irregularity; both claimed to win

26.  Closely contested…

27.  Electoral Commission ◦ 7 Dems. ◦ 8 Repub.  Compromise of 1877 ◦ Hayes is President (pleases North) ◦ Military occupation ended in the South (please white Southerners)  Rights of former slaves not protected ◦ Hayes would support building southern transcontinental railroad

28.  1. Brainstorm a response: To what extent was Reconstruction a political success or failure?  2. Create a thesis that responds to the prompt  3. Write your intro. Paragraph – to be collected at