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18.3 End of Reconstruction

18.3 End of Reconstruction. The Election of Grant. In 1868, the Republican Ulysses Grant became the President. He would not have won the election without the votes of the former slaves. In spite of the KKK, former slaves cast about 500,000 votes and Grant only won by 306,000 votes.

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18.3 End of Reconstruction

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  1. 18.3 End of Reconstruction

  2. The Election of Grant • In 1868, the Republican Ulysses Grant became the President. • He would not have won the election without the votes of the former slaves. • In spite of the KKK, former slaves cast about 500,000 votes and Grant only won by 306,000 votes.

  3. The Fifteenth Amendment • This stated that citizens could not be stopped from voting on account of race. • Of course, this didn't apply to Native Americans or women.

  4. Grant fights the KKK • Grant was unhappy with the continued terrorism of former slaves across the south and in response, Congress introduced an anti-Klan bill. • This bill allowed federal marshals to arrest thousands of Klansmen. • In 1872, elections were more peaceful and Grant won a second term easily.

  5. Scandal and Panic Weaken Republicans • While Grant was in office several scandals weakened the Republican party and there was a financial panic which hurt them also (the President has nothing to do with such things, but gets blamed for them). • The panic also caused people to not care so much about Reconstruction.

  6. Grant put many of his buds (qualified or not) into government positions, and also his relatives and his wife's relatives. • Some of Grant's appointees took bribes and this caused a split in the Republican Party since some Republicans were outraged by such things.

  7. In 1873, several Eastern banks ran out of money because they made bad loans (do you see why you need to study history?) and this resulted in the financial Panic of 1873. • In the Panic of 1873 banks across the land closed and the stock market temporarily collapsed. (what a shock).

  8. There was high unemployment, low business activity, railroads couldn't get loans, and railroad failures left Midwestern farmers with no way to move their crops to market. • By 1875 more than 18,000 businesses had failed. • People blamed the Republicans and in the next congressional elections more Democrats gained office.

  9. Supreme Court Reversals • Starting in 1876 the Supreme Court began to issue some decisions that were bad for Reconstruction. • They said that the federal government could not punish people who violated civil rights but only the states have that power. • The court states that the 15th Amendment did not guarantee the right to vote, but merely stated the reasons that states could not deny the right to vote.

  10. Reconstruction Ends • In 1876 there was a contested presidential election in which both the Democrats (Samuel Tilden) and Republicans (Rutherford B. Hayes) claimed victory. • A special commission of 8 Republicans and 7 Democrats made a deal called the Compromise of 1877.

  11. So, what’s in the bargain? • 1. federal troops would be removed from the South • 2. federal govt. would provide land grants and loans for the construction of railroads linking the South to the West Coast • 3. Southern official would get federal funds for construction and improvement projects • 4. Hayes would appoint a Democrat to his cabinet • 5. Democrats promised to respect African American's civil rights

  12. Of course, the South was well-known for not keeping promises. • Across the South Democrats returned to power hoping to restore the Old South. • They were known as Redeemer Democrats.

  13. The Legacy of Reconstruction • Reconstruction was largely unsuccessful as far as making living conditions better for former slaves. • However, the 13th,14th, and 15th amendments did give some gains as far as enshrining civil rights in the Constitution.

  14. Other Important Legislation • DAWES ACT, 1887: allowed the president to break up reservation land and give it to individual Native Americans. • Often the land was not good farmland • Many Native Americans don’t know much about farming because they had lived by being buffalo hunters

  15. MORRILL ACT (s) 1862, 1890 • Gave land grants and money to set up agricultural colleges (we need more farmers) and ranchers…thus Texas A&M • These colleges should also teach military tactics (we need adept military leaders) • This also eventually extended to opening universities for African Americans in states where they didn’t attend college with white kids

  16. HOMESTEAD ACT, 1862 • Obviously, the Civil War is going on at the same time that Congress passed this act • Granted heads of families 160 acres of land for a small fee. • This was designed to encourage settlement of western lands. • Sometimes Civil War soldiers were paid in land instead of money after the war (remind you of anything?)

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