Civil War and Reconstruction

1. Civil War and Reconstruction 1845-1877

2. Political & Judicial Activity Before the War • Election 1844: James Polk (D) v. Henry Clay(W) • Whigs: internal improvements, civilizing land • Democrats: continue to expand, believed that government should have very little interaction with internal improvements (should be left in private hands). • Remember: since colonial times- North was prone to more population/ cities/ community/ industry. • South: less populates, farms, plantations, no need for industry. • *Different voting patterns/ visions for America. • Close election, Polk won.

3. Polk Presidency 1845-49 • Pledged would only be in office for one term. • Four goals: • 1. Go back to placing government funds in the Treasury • 2. cut tariffs • 3. Oregon • 4. California • Proposes Annexation of Texas • Demanded the entirety of Oregon County (balance) • 54-40 or fight • Oregon Treaty (1846) a more reasonable American-Canadian border

4. Continued…. • Focused on efforts to claim S.W territories from Mexico • Tries to buy territories- fails • Mexico attacks (already annoyed) • Polk uses attack as excuse • Mexican-American War (1846) • Does not have everyone’s support (North v. South) • Slave Power • Rejection of Wilmot Proviso  Whig’s Split  Free-Soil Party (single issue)

5. Continued… • Mexican War Continues: • Texas easy deep into So. Mexico & West. • Mexico City ends war  Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)  Mexican Cession • Increases the nation’s wealth (gold) also increases sectional issues (slavery) • Nation already divided on the slavery issue AND there were states S of Missouri Compromise, West of the Mississippi were plantation crops were not allowed. • Threatens Southerners popular sovereignty

6. Compromise of 1850 • Sectional strife started immediately • Gold rush brought in many settlers (very populated) & wanted statehood (Free State) • Opposed by South • Threaten with secession • Immediate response: Stephen Douglas (D) & Henry Clay (W) work on Compromise of 1850 • California free, stronger fugitive slave laws, Utah & New Mexico – popular sovereignty, abolishes slave trade in D.C • Popular Sovereignty creates problems: very vague- open interpretation • Fugitive slave acts also creates issues: North feels forced to comply with slavery

7. Continued…Anti-Slavery in the North grows • Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)- Harriet Beecher Stowe • LITERATURE THAT CHANGES THE COURSE OF U.S HISTORY!!.... Again! • Propaganda that worked anti-slavery sentiments in the North grew.

8. Kansas-Nebraska ActBleeding Kansas • After California- no admittance until 1858 • Status of new territories continue to grow more problematic • Kansas-Nebraska Territory • No government at the moment • Order must be imposed • Wanted land security (from Natives) • Construction supervision • Stephen Douglas attempts to fix issue with the Kansas-Nebraska act (1854) • Popular sovereignty • Repels Missouri Compromise • Who would this upset? Why?

9. Continued… • North’s Direct Response: Personal Liberty Laws • Fugitive slaves would have the right to a trial by jury • Right to a lawyer • Ends the Free-SoilParty, Enter Republicans • Goes from “political” parties to “sectional” parties • Many joined Northern Democrats or joined Free-Soilers (also defeated by Kansas-Nebraska Act) Republicans • Not originally abolitionists but dedicated to keep slavery out of the territories • Also campaigned a larger group of issues

10. Continued… • Other party formed: Know-Nothings • Met privately • Secretive • Single issue party • Seemed biggest competitor for Democrats • Quick growth • Racist/ nativists • anti-German & Irish • Party dies on the issues on slavery: N & S wings disagreements

11. Continued… • Violence erupts at the Kansas-Nebraska territories • Due to popular sovereignty both sides rush to the territory with one specific goal. • Border Ruffians  two different constitutions Topeka (anti-slavery) & Lecompton (pro) • Doughface President Franklin Pierce accepts the Lecompton Constitution  Kansas slave territory  demolished free-soil cities • Bleeding Kansas: John Brown’s raid • More Violence- in Congress • Preston Brooks/ Sen. Andrew Butler beats Senator Charles Sumner • Pierce’s career destroyed James Buchanan (1856)

12. Buchanan, Dread Scot & Election of 1860 • Election of 1856 • Buchanan wins South • North: Buchanan and Fremont (R) • Tries to maintain status quo : 1. enforce fugitive slave law 2. Opposition to abolition in South & West. • Dred Scott v. Sandford • Not considered citizen, therefore, can’t sue • Considered private poverty, unconstitutional for government to get involved. • Nullifies: N.W Ordinance, Missouri Compromise, Kansas-Nebraska • Major victory for Southerners/ turning point

13. Continued…1858 Elections • Lincoln Douglas debates for Illinois Senate Seat. • Douglas wishy-washy on his stance on popular sovereignty • Lincoln: House Divided Speech • Douglas: Freeport Doctrine (defending popular sovereignty) • “Slavery could not exist where certain laws won’t protect it”. Hmmm… what about the Dred Scott decision? • Lincoln does not win this election but sure wins the presidential election (1860) • John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry (1859) • Hopes to spark a slave revolt, fails • Martyr for the cause

14. 1860 Presidential Election • Democrats: split North (Douglas) and South (John Breckinridge) • North: Lincoln & Douglas • South: Democrat- Breckinridge & Constitutional Union Party (John Bell). Lincoln didn’t even appear on the Southern ballot. • Lincoln wins without a single southern vote. • Southerner’s immediate response: secession. • South proposes Crittendon Compromise: Lincoln refuses to compromise • Dec. 1860 South Carolina secedes • Eventually six states follow  Confederate States of America. • President: Jefferson Davis

15. Continued… • Lincoln decides to wait until South makes first move. • April 12, 1861 Fort Sumter • Lincoln then declares war

16. Civil War and Reconstruction1860-1877 • Although slavery was the issue that caused Civil War, War not purely about slavery initially. (not until emancipation) • Border States (Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland & Delaware) • Took place on economical, social and political “battlefields”

17. Civil War & the Confederacy • Confederacy fighting for state’s rights • Irony behind it all: • central government (Davis) took control of much of the land’s economy. • Martial law • Economic progress and downfall • Poverty • Draft greater poverty • Class conflict • Exemptions for the rich • Hmmm… Another Quartering Act?

18. Civil war and the Union • Economic boost  war goods produced in the North (manufacture) • Corruption (precursor to the Gilded Age) • Inflation occurred (not as bad as the So.) • Unions are formed (another precursor). Some blacklisted  violence • Central Government’s power increases • Implemented programs without approval • Suspends habeas corpus drafts, P.O.Ws • Control of economy (Salmon P. Chase greenbacks)

19. Emancipation of the Slaves • Initially war was not fought on the basis of ended slavery. • Some sought gradual emancipation and colonizing free slaves in Africa • Progressive group in North: Radical Republicans- immediate emancipation • Confiscation Acts: (1861) government has the right to seize any slaves used for revolutionary reasons.(1862) liberate slaves owned by any supporter of the rebellion (Confederacy) • Lincoln refused to enforce  cautious towards emancipation.

20. Continued… • Slaves indirectly supported the South. • Influenced some main strategies used by North • Freed slaves = many positive effects for North. • Keeps outside countries out of the war • New source of troops for the Union • Lincoln would not make first move until Northern victory  Antietam Emancipation

21. Emancipation Proclamation • Changes focus of war  NOW fought for slavery. (Kind of like the Declaration of Independence in the Revolutionary War) • Does not free ALL slaves only those held in the states of “rebellion” • Gives the South a chance to come back into the Union without actually ending slavery. • Even then, Lincoln’s goal was not to actually end slavery but to preserve the Union. • Until campaigning for re-election • Thirteenth Amendment  Hampton Roads Conference  settlements with the South.

22. Election of 1864 and End of Civil War • Lincoln v. General George McClellan (North) • Public opinion: against war • South: less than 1% actually owned slaves • North: War Democrats v. Copperheads • NYC Draft Riots of 1863: nativism. Irish Immigrants resented being drafted into war  job competition. • Lincoln wins re-election • 1865 Union Victory assured Freedman’s Bureau • April 1865: Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House

23. Aftermath • 3 million men fought in the war  500,000 killed  another 500,000 wounded • Economy for North and South ruined • Sherman’s March • Southern resources gone • Politically: expands the role of government, permanently

24. Reconstruction and Andrew Johnson’s impeachment • 5 days after Lee surrenders, Abe Lincoln killed by Booth • Andrew Johnson (V.P becomes President) • Had to deal with the three major questions: • What conditions would the Southern states be readmitted to the Union? • What would be the status of blacks in postwar nation? • What would be done with rebels? • Reconstruction 1865-77 • Process begun even before War ended. • Lincoln wanted to preserve the union (main goal) • Ten Percent Plan

25. Continued • Congress had another vision: • Radical Republicans saw the South as “conquered territory” • Harsh punishment • Lincoln to lenient: Wade-Davis Bill • Confederates be ruled by military governor • 50 % • State convention would abolish slavery and repeal ordinance if necessary • Lincoln pocket-vetoes • Assassinated following year

26. Andrew Johnson • Strong supporter of Lincoln’s views • War ends, congress in recess for 8 months  Johnson deals with first part of Reconstruction on his own. • Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan: • Provisional government will run states until ready to enter union • Loyalty oath • Prohibited Slave owners/ Southern elite from re-entry • Did not require states to enfranchise blacks. • Pardoned many Southern elite Congress reconvenes, not pleased with Johnson’s plan

27. Continued • Radical Republicans Harsh punishment revenge? • Special Field Order No. 15; land taken from Confederates given to new freedmen • Johnson rescinded order; 40 acres and a mule • Much tensions between Congress and President • Radical Republicans Congressional Reconstruction 14th Amendment (citizenship) also a loop for Jim Crow laws.

28. Continued • 14th Amendment: clarified status of the freed slaved and hoped it will force suffrage. • Johnson’s response: Swing Around the Circle tour  campaigned against amendment • 1866  Congress heavily weighed on the radical end of the spectrum • Military Reconstruction Act (1867)  Martial Law in South, forced to allow blacks to vote (conventional delegates), ratify 14th Amendment • Passed laws limiting President’s power • Johnson impeached (tenure of office act) but acquitted

29. Ulysses S. Grant • 15th Amendment proposed (1869)- suffrage • Only passed because Southern States forced to vote in favor of it. • Unfortunately his administration was heavily packed with scandals. • No political experience but war hero • Spoils system

30. Reconstruction- Failure • SOME success: ALL men could now vote, not just property owners • Many appointed government positions replaced with elected ones. • Stimulated industrial growth • However, ultimately failed • Plans to help rebuild south very costly • More hostility towards reconstruction due to high taxes • Propaganda War: Scalawags (Southerners who cooperated) & Carpetbaggers (Northerners who ran programs) • Corruption (selling votes for $ and favors) • North as well as the South (political machines & “bosses-

31. Reconstruction Fails (Continued)War of Intimidation • Ku Klux Klan • White League • Attorney General Amos Akerman • Southern officials failed to do anything to protect blacks • Reconstruction did nothing to redistribute South’s wealth • 1869 Government sends signals that would ease restrictions • Slaughter House Cases: United States v. Reese: grandfather clauses • Grant’s corruption taints everything

32. Continued… • 1872- Liberal Republicans hoped to end control of the South (angered by corruption) • Candidate: Horace Greeley. Gains congressionally & State elections • Grant moves farther away from radicalism • Amnesty Acts of 1872 • Panic of 1873 • 1876 Southern Democrats regained control: Redeemers (reverse Republican Reconstruction)

33. Election of 1876 • Most contested election. • Fraud • Samuel J. Tilden  went after “Boss” Tweed. Won the popular vote but not electoral vote • Congress creates bipartisan electoral commission Compromise of 1877 • Rutherford B. Hayes wins • Back to normal in the south

34. Southern Blacks During and After Reconstruction • Several “interpretations” of freedom • Many became sharecroppers, searched for family, freedman’s bureau (new jobs & housing, education) although eventually died down. • Found communities and formed bonds within black churches • Many moved away after reconstruction (Great Migration- after WWI)

35. Do the Ch. 9 Drill & Reflection • Pg. 168-169