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Reconstruction Pt. 2. Congressional Reconstruction. Election 1868. Rep. US Grant Reconstruction main issue Racist election Grant wins close race. 15 th Amendment. 1869 Fed. & state gov’t can’t deny vote b/c of race. Women not included. Abolitionists 40 yr. struggle over. Citizenship.
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Reconstruction Pt. 2 Congressional Reconstruction
Election 1868 • Rep. US Grant • Reconstruction main issue • Racist election • Grant wins close race
15th Amendment • 1869 • Fed. & state gov’t can’t deny vote b/c of race. • Women not included. • Abolitionists 40 yr. struggle over.
Citizenship • 1790 only white immigrants can become citizens. • 1857 Dred Scott - blacks could never be citizens. • New laws apply to North too.
Change in Constitution’s Focus • B of R linked civil rights to states. • Reconstruction showed rights needed federal enforcement. • Vulnerable minorities could claim freedom and protection in Constitution.
Radical Reconstruction • Majority black men registered to vote. • 1870 all Southern states readmitted w/ new Rep. constitutions & black politicians.
Black Officeholder • Black vote most of Rep. support. • Whites highest office. • 2000 AA did hold office • Shift in Southern power & US gov’t. • 14 House, 2 Senate (both MS) • 700 in state leg. and many more in local
Black US Senators • Hiram Revels (MS 1870) • Blanche Bruce (MS 1875-1881) • Edward Brooke (MA 1967-1978) • Carol Moseley Braun (IL 1993-1998) • Barrak Obama (IL 2005-2008) • Roland Burris (IL 2008-2011)
Black Officeholders • Black w/ White allies meant blacks treated fairly. • Courts, road repair jobs, taxes, relief • SC & LA educated & wealthy • Some northern blacks • Most former slaves - leadership • soldiers, ministers, teachers, craftsmen
Carpetbaggers • Northerners in Rec. govts. • “Reap spoils of South” • Some corrupt • Many former soldiers • Investors – land & RR • Opportunity to make $ & rebuild South • Freedmen’s Bureau – help former slaves • Teachers & agents
Scalawags • Most southern born white Republicans. • “Traitors” to race & region • Wartime Unionists • Help to prevent Cons. coming to power • Small but important swing vote
Southern Republicans in Power • Huge challenges/ some great accomplishments • 1st state public school • Civil Rights Laws • Assist poor & needy • Economic recovery?
Mixed Results • Economy didn’t grow enough • AA locked in poverty • Biracial democratic gov’t worked • Public facilities & schools • Racism removed from laws • Conservative elite excluded – 1st time
Reconstruction’s Opponents • South’s traditional leaders • Gov’t corrupt, inefficient, “black supremacy” • Fraud small compared to North • Whiskey Ring & Tweed Ring • 10’s of millions of $ • Tax increases • Most whites can’t accept black equality
Opposition • Military rule bitterly opposed • Carpetbaggers • Scalawags • Ku Klux Klan 1866 • Promote white supremacy • Resist through terrorism
Violence • Goal – Restore white supremacy & disciplined reliable labor force. • Reconstruction must be overthrown • Challenge to Reconstruction govt’s & DC
“A Reign of Terror” • Early on local & unorganized • Blacks assaulted & murdered • After 1867 Rep. govt’s violence increases • Politics • Secret societies to destroy Rep. Party • Attack local leaders, blacks, officials
Terror • Ku Klux Klan – Military arm of Dem. Party • 1866 TN social club • Respectable citizens • Criminal conspiracy • Attack Republicans B & W
Victims • Wartime Unionists, politicians, teachers, party organizers. • AA leaders, buy land, defied white supremacy • York County SC, 11 murders & 100’s whippings. (whole male pop. Klan)
KKK • Mass terror & insurrections • 1871 Meridian MS 30 blacks & 1 white judge murdered. • 1873 Colfax LA (Bloodiest) armed white attack town
So. Govt’s Ask for Help • 1870-1871 3 Enforcement Laws • Outlawed terrorist societies • Allowed president to use army • Fed. authority expanded • Denying rights now a federal crime not state
Grant vs. Klan • 1871 sent fed. marshal's & troops • 100’s arrested • Trials • 1872 Klan gone & peace 1st time
Republicans Changing • Commitment to reconstruction weakening • Radicals dead or gone • Commitment to black rights going • North attitude • South solve own problems w/o DC • Slaves free, citizens, vote now leave them alone
Liberal Republicans • Mad at Grant corruption • Immigrants & working men vs. (elite) education & talent • Machines kept them from office • Curtail fed. power
Horace Greeley 1872 • So. Corruption = So. Returned to “natural leaders” • Put CW & Rec. in the past & unite • Dems endorsed him too. • Lost big. • New policy for South (Lib. Rep. & Dems unite)
The North’s Retreat • After 1872 Lib. Rep. attack Reconstruction • Increased racism in North • 1874 The Prostrate State – James Pike • Report on SC • total political corruption, extravagance • “mass of black barbarism” • Problems from “Negro Government” • Solution- restore whites to power
Newspapers Change Position • Against blacks participating in govt • Visual expression in engravings • Image change • CW vets, good citizens, victims • Caricatures as wild animals • Racism convenient explanation for failure of reconstruction.
Depression 1873 • Economy Rep. new priority • Dems benefited in south (really hurt) • 1874 elections Dems control House (1st CW) • Civil Rights Act 1875 • Last law of outgoing congress • Outlawed racial discrimination in public places
The Triumph of the Redeemers • By mid 1870’s Dems control TN, NC, TX • Redeemers • Saved white south • Corruption • Misgovernment • Northern & black control
Grant won’t stop Violence • 1875-1876 violence in daylight • 1875 MS rifle clubs drill in street • Openly assault & murder Rep. • Northern public “tired out” by So. problems • MS Dems destroy ballots & drive blacks • Dems win landslide & end Reconstruction • SC did same
1876 A Disputed Election • Rep. Gov. Hayes OH • Dem. Gov. Tilden NY • Only SC, FL, LA under Rep. control • Close & both parties claim victory
1877 Electoral Commission • 15 men-Sen., Reps., SC justices • Republican 8-7 majority • Hayes chosen to win all 3 states = next pres. • Bargin?
Bargain of 1877 • Behind the scenes • Hayes recognize Dem. control of south • Fed. aid for TX to CA RR • Dems. promise to accept election results • Respect civil & political rights of AA
Results • Hayes President • Orders troops back to bases • So. Dems wont recognize blacks as citizens
Post Script • Black continue voting & hold office in some states into 1890’s. • When Rep. controlled – blacks had a lot of political power & fed. protected rights of all Americans. • It ended.
100 yrs will pass before nation would try again to bring rights to descendents of former slaves. • 1950’s & 1960’s Civil Rights = 2nd Reconstruction