Chapter 20

1. Chapter 20 Reconstruction (1865-1877)

2. Chapter 20Reconstruction (1865-1877) Section 1 Rebuilding the South

3. Planning Reconstruction • Tired soldiers returned home, world they left = gone • Many southerners face starvation – high food prices and crop failures • Confederate money = worthless • Banks failed, merchants went bankrupt; people could not repay debts • U.S. government faced question of how to deal with defeated southern states • Reconstruction– 1865-1877 – process of reuniting the nation and rebuilding southern states without slavery

4. Planning Reconstruction (continued) • Lincoln wantedreunion of statesas quickly and painlessly as possible • Ten Percent Plan– plan proposed by Lincoln before war even ended • Offer southernersamnesty, or official pardon, for all illegal acts support the rebellion • Southerners had to swear oath of loyalty toU.S.and accept ban on slavery • Once10%of voters in state made pledges, they could form new government – state could be readmitted • Louisiana quickly elected a new state legislature under the 10% plan • Some politicians argued thatCongresshad the power to admit new states • Congress, notpresidentshould control southern states’ return to union

5. Planning Reconstruction (continued) • Many Republican members of Congress disagreed with Lincoln’s 10% Plan • Wade-Davis Bill(Benjamin Wade and Henry Davis) – alternative to Lincoln’s plan • 2 conditions to rejoin • Had to banslavery • Majority ofadult malesin the state had to take loyalty oath • Only southerners who swore that they had never supported theConfederacycould vote or hold office • Made it much harder to rejoin the Union than Lincoln’s plan

6. The Thirteenth Amendment • One issue Republicans agreed on wasabolishing slavery • Emancipation Proclamation had freed slaves only in Confederate states; slavery continued in border states • Many feared federal courts might someday declare it unconstitutional • Congress proposed the13th Amendmenton January 31, 1865 • Madeslaveryillegal throughout the U.S. • Ratified and took effect on December 18, 1865

7. The Thirteenth Amendment (continued) • Freedom brought many changes to lives of former slaves • Many held ceremonies to legalize marriages that had not been recognized under slavery • Many searched for relatives who had been sold away from their families • Some began testing their freedom of movement • Across the south, freed people also demanded sameeconomic and political rightsas white citizens • Many unsure about future – where would they live, work, what were their rights

8. The Freedmen’s Bureau • Freedmen’s Bureauestablished by Congress in 1865 • Purpose was to providerelieffor all poor people – black and white – in the south • Distributed foodto the poor and supervisedlabor contractsbetweenfreed peopleand their employers • Assisted African American war veterans • Helped promoteeducationin the south • Laws against educating slaves had kept most of them from learning to read or write • Bureau established schools and provided books and teachers

9. The Freedmen’s Bureau (continued) • African Americans opened schools inabandoned buildings • Some attacked by white southerners • Helped establish several colleges for African Americans • Howard Universityin Washington, DC • FiskUniversity in Nashville, TN

10. A New President • April 14, 1865 – President Lincoln and his wife attended a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre in Washington • John Wilkes Boothshot Lincoln during play • Southerner who opposed Lincoln’s policies • Vice PresidentAndrew Johnsonsworn in • Reconstruction now his responsibility • Republicansliked President Johnson because he seemed to favor tougher approach toReconstructionthan Lincoln • Similar to Lincoln’s except wealthy southerners and former Confederate officials would need apresidential pardonto qualify for amnesty • Ultimately, restriction not as harsh as it seemed – pardoned 7,000 people

11. President Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan • Plan established system for setting up new southernstate governments • Appointed temporarygovernorfor each state • Southerners who had taken loyalty oath elected delegates to convention that would revisestate’s constitution • Voters elected new state officials andrepresentativesto Congress • Each new state government required to declaresecessionillegal • Had to refuse to payConfederatedebts • Governments set up under Lincoln’s 10% plan allowed to remain in place – AR, VA, LA, TN • By end of 1865, all but TX had created new governments • All approved by Johnson, declared U.S. = restored

12. President Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan (continued) • Congressrefused to allow newly elected representatives to take seats • Representatives complained that many new southern representatives had beenmilitary officersandpolitical leadersof the Confederacy • Did not believe they were truly loyal toU.S. • Congress refused to readmitreconstructed southern statesinto Union

13. Chapter 20Reconstruction (1865-1877) Section 2 The Fight over Reconstruction

14. The Black Codes • New state legislatures approved by Johnson had already begun passing new laws denying African American’s civil rights • Black Codes= laws that greatly limited the freedom of African Americans • Required them to signwork contracts – created conditions similar to those underslavery • In most southern states, any A.A. who could not prove he/she had ajobcould be arrested • Punishment might be one year of forced labor without pay • Could not ownguns; rent property in cities

15. The Radical Republicans • Black Codes angered manyRepublicanswho felt southerners had returned to their old ways • Most Republicans weremoderateswho wanted southerners to have loyal state governments • Believed African Americans should have rights as citizens • Hoped the national government would not have to force southerners to follow federal laws • Radical Republicanswanted southern states to change much more than they already had before they could return to the Union • Thought black codes were cruel and unjust • Wanted federal government to be much more involved in Reconstruction – feared too many southern leaders were still loyal to former Confederacy

16. The Radical Republicans (continued) • Thaddeus StevensandCharles Sumnerwere the leaders of the Radical Republicans • Stevens wantedeconomicandpolitical justicefor both A.A. and poor white southerners • Sumner argued forA.A. civil rights – including right tovoteandright tofair treatmentunder the law • Stevens and Sumner believed Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan wasa failure • Radicals did not control Congress, but gained support from moderates when President Johnson ignored criticism of the Black Codes

17. Johnson vs. Congress • Congress passed a bill giving Freedmen’s Bureau more power (1866) • Would be allowed to usemilitary courtsto try people accusedofviolating A.A. rights – hoped would be more fair than local courts • Johnsonvetoed the bill • Insisted new laws could not be passed until southern states representatives • Johnson argued the Freedmen’s Bureau wasunconstitutional • A.A. did not need special assistance • Republicans responded withCivil Rights Act of 1866 • Provided A.A. with same rights as whites • Johnson used veto power • Law would give too much power tothe federal government • Rejected principal ofequal rightsfor A.A. • Congress overrode veto

18. The Fourteenth Amendment • To protectcivil rights lawsfrom hostile presidents, courts or future legislators Republicans proposed the14th Amendment • Provisions: • All peoplebornornaturalizedwithin the U.S. arecitizens(exceptAmerican Indians) • Guaranteed to citizensequal protectionof the laws • States could not “deprive any person oflife, liberty or propertywithoutdue process of law” • Banned manyConfederate officialsfrom holding state or federal offices • Madestate lawssubject to review by federal courts • GaveCongressthe power to pass any laws needed to enforce any part of the amendment • President JohnsonandmostDemocratsopposed

19. The Fourteenth Amendment (continued) • Civil rights for A.A. became a key issue in 1866 congressional elections • Republican candidates asked Americans to support civil rights by voting for Republican Party • Johnson traveled, campaigning for Democrats – defending reconstruction plan (did not help) • 2 major riots in South hurtJohnson’scampaign • Memphis (May 1, 1866) – local police vs. black Union soldiers; 3 day wave of violence against A.A. (46 died) • New Orleans – AA attempted to hold peaceful demonstrations 34 AA, 3 white Republicans killed

20. Congress Takes Charge • 1866 elections gave theRepublicanparty 2/3 majority in both House and Senate • GaveRepublicanspower to override any presidential veto • Republicans became united asmoderatesjoined with Radicals • Republicans called for new form of Reconstruction • Reconstruction Acts(passed starting Mar. 1867) • Divided south into5 districtswith U.S. military commanderin control of each district • Military would remain until southern states rejoined Union • To be readmitted, state had to write new state constitution supportingthe 14th amendment • State had to giveAA menright to vote

21. Congress Takes Charge (continued) • President Johnsonstrongly disagreed with the Reconstruction Acts • Argued AA did not deserve same treatment as white people • Said Reconstruction Acts used powers not granted to federal government or any one of its branches • Republicans knew Johnson did not support policies so they passed lawlimiting his power • Prevented President fromremoving cabinet officialswithoutSenate’sapproval • Johnson broke the law by firingSecretary of War Edwin Stanton • House of Representatives responded by voting toimpeachJohnson • First time in U.S. historya president had been impeached • Next step = trial by Senate; if 2/3 majority finds him guilty – removed from office • Johnson was unpopular withRepublicansbut some believed he was beingjudged unfairly • Others did not trust president pro tempore of Senate,Benjamin Wade(would becomepresidentif Johnson removed) • Republicans failed to convict bysingle vote

22. The Election of 1868 • Democratic Party did not nominate Johnson for another term in 1868 – chose former governor ofNew York Horatio Seymour • Republicans selectedUlysses S. Grant • Appealed to manynorthernvoters • No political experience but supported thecongressional Reconstruction plan • After Grant’s nomination Congress readmitted 7 states – AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, NC, SC (TN admitted in 1866) • Under terms of readmission, these states approved the 14th amendment; agreed to let AA men have the vote • White southerners used violence to keep AA away from the polls during the presidential election

23. The Fifteenth Amendment • Radical Republicansargued that it was not fair that many southern states had laws that prevented AA fromvoting • 15th Amendment(proposed 1869) – gave AA men throughout U.S. the right tovote • Went into effect in 1870 • One of the last important Reconstruction measures passed at thefederallevel • 15th Amendment did not make every reformer happy • Did not guarantee AA the right tohold public office • Did not extend right to vote toall Americans

24. Chapter 20Reconstruction (1865-1877) Section 3 Reconstruction in the South

25. Reconstruction Governments • Republican party controlled most southern governments, partly because 14th amendment banned many former Confederates (Democrats) from holding office • Most Republicans unpopular with majority of white southerners • Northern-born Republicans movedSouthafter war • Calledcarpetbaggers • Southerners resented them – believed they had movedto profitfrom Reconstruction • Some wanted to help former slaves; others wanted to make money while rebuilding the southern economy

26. Reconstruction Governments (continued) • SouthernDemocratscared for white southernRepublicansless • Scalawags(“mean fellows”) • Betrayed south by voting for Republicans • Many southern Republicans (scalawags) weresmall farmerswho had supported theUnion • African Americanswere the largest group of southern Republican voters • During Reconstruction more than 600 AA elected as representatives to state legislatures • 16elected to US Congress • AA politicians helped enforce laws white officials ignored • Hiram Revels– first AA in US Senate –took over seat previously held by Jefferson Davis (MS) • Blanche K. Bruce– first AA to serve full term in Senate

27. Reconstruction Governments (continued) • Reconstruction governments provided money for many new programs and organizations • Established some of the first state-fundedpublic school systemsin the South • Built new hospitals, prisons, orphanages • Southern states underRepublicancontrol spent lots of money • Intended to help southern economy recover • Aided construction or repair of railroads, bridges and public buildings • To get the money they raised taxes, issued bonds

28. Opposition to Reconstruction • Despite efforts to rebuild, mostwhite southernersopposed Reconstruction • Democrats claimed Reconstruction governments werecorrupt andillegal • Disliked having federal soldiers stationed in their states • Many disapproved of AA officeholders • Ku Klux Klancreated by white southerners in TN in 1866 • Opposedcivil rights, particularly suffrage for AA • Wore robes and disguises to hide their identities • Used terror and violence against AA, white Republican voters, and public officials • Congress passed laws that made it a federal crime to interfere with elections or to deny citizens equal protection under the law

29. The End of Reconstruction • General Amnesty Act of 1872 – allowed former Confederates (except those who had held high ranks) to hold public office • Many soon elected to Southern government – most Democrats who opposed Reconstruction • Republican Party also began losing power in theNorth • Grant re-elected in 1872 but scandals in administration upset voters • Poor economy • Panic of 1873marked beginning of severe economic downturn that put estimated 2 million people out of work • Democrats gained control of the House in 1874 • Civil Rights Act of 1875– guaranteed AA equal rights in public places such as theaters and public transportation • Republicans began to abandon Reconstruction because more Americans were worried witheconomic problemsandgovernment corruption

30. The End of Reconstruction (continued) • Election of 1876 – Rutherford B. Hayes(R) vs.Samuel J. Tilden(D) • Democrats in South used violence to keep Republican voters away • Election close; appearedTildenwon • Republicanschallenged electoral votes in Oregon and 3 southern states • Special election commission of 10 members of Congress and 5 Supreme Court justices narrowly decided to give all disputed votes toHayeswho won by one electoral vote • Compromise of 1877– Democrats agreed to accept Hayes’s victory • In return wanted allfederal troopsremoved from South • Asked for funding for internal improvements in south and appointment of Democrats to president’s cabinet • Hayesremoved last of troops from South in 1877 – end ofReconstruction

31. Jim Crow and Plessy v. Ferguson • Democratsgradually regained control in South – calledRedeemers • Variety of backgrounds • Wanted to reduce size ofstate governmentand limit the rights ofAA • Lowered state budgets, got rid of social programs, cut property taxes, reduced public funding for schools • Redeemers set uppoll taxin effort to deny vote to AA • Some states targeted AA by requiring aliteracy test • Redeemer governments introduced legal segregation – forced separation of whites & AA in public places • Jim Crow laws– required segregation – common in southern states • Had to stay in separate hotels, separate theater sections, railcars

32. Jim Crow and Plessy v. Ferguson • Supreme Court ruled the Civil Rights Act of 1875 =unconstitutional(1883) • Ruled the14thamendment only applied to actions of state governments • Allowed private industries and businesses to practicesegregation • Plessy v. Ferguson • Homer Plessy – AA purchased ticket on Louisiana train, refused to leave whites only section – arrested • Plessy’s lawyers argued that the law violated his right to equal treatment under the 14th amendment • Court ruled segregation was allowed if“separate-but-equal”facilities were provided for AA • As a result, segregation became widespread across the country • Forced to use separate public schools, libraries, parks • Usually poorer quality facilities • In practice, separate-but-equal =separate and unequal

33. Chapter 20Reconstruction (1865-1877) Section 4 The New South

34. Sharecropping • Few AA could afford to buy or evenrent farms, moving west was costly; many remained onplantations • AA who stayed on plantations became part ofsharecroppingsystem (sharing the crop) • Landowners provided land, tools, and supplies • Harvest time, sharecropper often had to give most of the crop toowner • Many hoped to save enough money from selling their share to one day be able to buy a farm • Most lived in cycle ofdebt • Had to buy goods on credit – food, clothing supplies • Hoped to pay off when crops sold • Bad weather, poor harvests, low crop prices made this impossible

35. Sharecropping (continued) • Merchants sometimes cheated sharecroppers by charging them for items they did not buy • Some landowners also cheated by taking more than fair share of crops • Most grewcotton– important cash crop • Too many farmers planted cotton after the war – supply became too great, prices dropped

36. Southern Industry • Economy suffered through cycles of good and bad years as cotton prices went up and down • Some business leaders hopedindustrywould strengthen the southern economy • “New South” movement– take advantage of south’s resources • With cotton production and cheap, abundant labor, south could build textile mills and other factories • Most successful industrial development in South involvedtextile production • Built mills in small towns to produce cotton fabric

37. Southern Industry (continued) • Work in cotton mills appealed tofamilies who had trouble making ends meet • Recruiters promised goods wages and steady work • Entire family often worked in same mill – employed large numbers ofwomenand children– white women did most of the spinning • Millwork often unpleasant • 12 hours a day, 6 days a week • Cotton dust/lint filled the air, caused asthma, brown lung disease • Fast-moving machinery caused injury, even death • Wages low

38. Southern Literature • Many southerners looked to arts to keep longstanding traditions alive • Southernliteraturegained popularity in late 1800s • Involved people and places that seemed exciting and exotic to northerners • Mark Twain – most famous writer about South at end of Reconstruction • Mary Murfree – mountain people of eastern Tennessee • George Washington Cable – AA community in New Orleans; used writings to protest racial prejudice • Joel Chandler Harris – fictional plantation life; main character = slave named Uncle Remus • Based work on stories he was first told by AA • Charles W. Chesnutt – plantation stories showed greed and cruelty of slaveholders

39. Southern Music • Fiddle, banjo, and guitar – popular instruments in southern music • Spirituals – based on Christian hymns and African music sung in days of slavery – one of the most important types of songs • One of best-known“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”