Reconstruction

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 • 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 (165-184) • 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