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Reconstruction: 1865-1900

Reconstruction: 1865-1900. Richard Jensen & D’Ann Campbell July 2011. Painful subject for 140 years. Who won, who lost? White vs Black Republican vs Democrat North vs South 2 nd Reconstruction = Civil Rights Movement of 1960s Confederate flag issue today. What was “reconstruction” .

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Reconstruction: 1865-1900

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  1. Reconstruction:1865-1900 Richard Jensen & D’Ann Campbell July 2011

  2. Painful subject for 140 years • Who won, who lost? • White vs Black • Republican vs Democrat • North vs South • 2nd Reconstruction = Civil Rights Movement of 1960s • Confederate flag issue today

  3. What was “reconstruction” • Rebuilding “a new nation” • Strict adherence to republican values • Rebel states readmitted only if proven to be true to republicanism • Until then, ruled by US Army • = the opposite of democracy

  4. Three war goals • 1. Restore Union; destroy Confederacy • Surrender of all Confederate forces • 2. Complete abolition of slavery • Emancipation Proclamation (Jan 1, 1863) • 1/3 slaves freed by advancing armies • 13th Amendment (Feb - Dec 1865) • 3. Never again = new birth of strong nation; modernization of America

  5. Emancipation • Lincoln plan: buy the slaves; refused • Emancipation Proclamation (Jan 1863) • Enforced by US Army as it moved South • 1/3 freed by Army; 2/3 by surrender in 1865

  6. Cost of Freedom • Freedom = poverty & unemployment • and massive death toll from disease, hunger • Freedman Bureau = solve these • also special courts for Freedmen

  7. Racial Equality a Goal? • Racial equality goal? • Promoted by abolitionists • Democrats denounce this goal • oppose Lincoln’s war effort • demand Peace & old Constitution As It Was • Lincoln denies equality as war goal

  8. Republicanism • Constitution “guarantees a republican form of government” to states • Main justification for Reconstruction • i.e. truly republican citizens • loyal to USA , and not to Confederacy • ALERT: do not confuse with Republican Party. (The Democrats were just as “republican”)

  9. 13-14-15th Amendments • Lincoln & 13th: abolish slavery • 15th: all men right to vote • 14th: • Dual citizenship • Due process • Equal protection

  10. Lincoln Assassinated • His plan to win back white southerners • His plan for blacks: • recommend vote for veterans & educated • Strongly opposed by Radicals • Assassination stuns the nations • calls for vengeance; hang the conspirators • “Hang all traitors!” say Radicals • Lincoln’s coalition leaderless

  11. Who Was President Johnson? • Personality: secretive, incompetent • Hates rich slaveowners • His were seized by Confederacy • Very poor coalition builder • Early 1865: seen as ultra radical • Southerns beg for pardons & get them

  12. Johnson’s policy • Criteria:for Victory • Surrender & no guerrilla war • accept 13th Amendment & abolish slavery • repeal secession laws • take oath for future allegiance • Completed: summer 1865 • accepted by southerners & northern Democrats • War’s over! They say. But GOP disagrees

  13. Johnson proclaims victory re 3 war goals • 1. Restore Union; destroy Confederacy • No attacks on US troops or courts • 2. Complete abolition of slavery • 13th Amendment ratified • Black codes passed to regulate new status • 3. Never again • Confederate leaders seek and get presidential pardons

  14. Who Decides? • When: when to declare war over? • Who: who would decide, President or Congress? • Answer: the voters of the North decided through elections, 1866 through 1876 • 1866, 1868 and 1872: not over yet • 1874, 1876: yes it’s all over

  15. Presidential Reconstruction 1865-66: Moderate Rule in South, • Terrible devastation • High level local violence • Ruined Economy; loss of banks, railroads, businesses, plantations • Cotton prices down, but only option • sharecropping system • Leaders = prewar modernizing Whigs

  16. 1865: Northern Vengeance • Treason trial for Jeff Davis? No • Wartime hatreds, caused by casualties • But Union soldiers admire Rebs’ courage • Assassination of Lincoln • hang Booth’s conspirators • Atrocities, Prisoners • Hang commandant of Andersonville Prison • Bloody Shirt campaign issue for 20 yrs

  17. Radical Leaders: Sumner, Stevens radical rhetoric

  18. Radicals: NO! war goals unmet • 1. Restore Union; destroy Confederacy • Still rebels at heart; hate the Yankees • 2. Complete abolition of slavery • Black codes = a sort of slavery • Freedman’s Bureau needed for transition • Civil Rights bill needed • 3. Never again • US Soldiers must occupy south • Long term: Blacks must share power

  19. Radicals • Dominant in GOP • Strong religious element • Dominate Congress (but not Army ) • Abolish all forms of slavery • Riots & Black codes = violate this provision • loyal to USA • repeal secession laws not enough • Rebels will never be true Americans • take “iron-clad” oath of past allegiance • Control by true “republicans”

  20. Congress versus President • Johnson breaks with Radicals (led by Charles Sumner & Thaddeus Stevens) • AJ Vetoes Freedman Bureau Bill • AJ Vetoes Civil Rights Bill • Prevents passage of 14th Amendment • Critical Election of 1866: Congress wins, Johnson powerless; almost impeached

  21. Radical Plan • Radical Reconstruction begins in 1867 • Close down civilian government • US Army rules throughout South • New Elections, new electorate: Black vote; disfranchise Confederate leaders • Radical GOP wins power, 14th Amdt ratified; states readmitted • Leaders: Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (Pennsy) & Senator Charles Sumner (of Mass.)

  22. Radicals pass Civil Rights Bill

  23. Impeachment • Political reasons: Johnson was frustrating will of Radicals in Congress • Legal reasons: he violated “Tenure of Office” Act (re Secty of War Stanton) • Fails: some Republicans vote to acquit • Johnson helpless anyway, as Congress rules over his veto

  24. Republican Rule in South • Based on 4-way coalition • African Americans • Carpetbaggers (Yankees who moved South) • Scalawags (Southern white Republicans) • Support of US Government: especially Army, Courts, Congress, & presidential patronage • Every state had different pattern • Longest in SC, Louisiana, Florida

  25. Grant Elected President 1868 and 1872 Democratic songs, 1868

  26. Radical Rule in South • Republican “radical” Coalition = Black voters led by southern Unionists (“scalawags”) & newly arrived Yankees (“Carpetbaggers”) • Timing varies state by state • Blacks demand more and more power inside bitterly divided GOP • Quality of government: hotly debated; very high levels taxes & corruption; Railroad deals; public school system

  27. GOP in SouthCarpetbaggers proppedup byUS Army

  28. Votes for Black Men:by Law 1867;by 15thAmendment: 1870

  29. Heroic image ofBlack Voters:Farmer,BusinessmanSoldier

  30. Status of Freedmen • Freedman Bureau in control • promise of 40 acres & a mule? • Tense relations with whites; separation • Major political violence in New Orleans, Memphis, etc. • Labor force behavior • withdraw women & children; reject gang labor • Freedman’s Bureau: must have contracts • not given 40 acres & a mule • Freedman’s Bank -- $$ all lost • Set up churches; dominant ministers • Status: income higher than in slavery

  31. Radical Goal: Modernize South • Forget past, look to future • Education for all • Publics schools • Separate for blacks and whites • Create black colleges • Build railroads • Spend $$$; heavy debts & taxes • Politicians keep the $$$ for themselves

  32. Corruption Issue • Republicanism violated by high levels of corruption under Grant • very bad in most southern states (GOP) • 1872: Liberal Republicans reject Grant • half the Radicals decide the war is over

  33. KKK Murder and threats New Orleans Riot 1874

  34. 3 Very Different KKKs • Same names & symbols, but not linked • 1: Reconstruction: violent • attacked Black voters 1866-68 • suppressed by Grant & US Army • 2: 1920’s nationwide, moralistic • pure 100% Americanism • peak in 1923; collapsed by 1925 • 3: Post WW2: fringe groups • David Duke and Louisiana politics

  35. Grant’s 2nd term disaster • Patronage and corruption more important than republicanism • Army props up radical Republicans in deep South • Depression of 1873 hits nation • Democrats come back in 1874 • Isn’t the war over yet???

  36. Redemption, 1870-76: return of conservative white Democrats • Ku Klux Klan tries to stop Black voting • battles US Army, black state militia • Klan defeated by Grant administration • Conservatives rally all white voters • and purchase 20-50% of black vote • violence in some cases (Mississippi) • state after state captured by Redeemers

  37. Compromise of 1877: Hayes president, troops leave

  38. Compromise of 1877 Ends Reconstruction • Tilden (D) wins more popular votes than Hayes (R) • but Electoral College in doubt • Compromise commission selects Hayes • He removes all federal troops (they violate republicanism) • GOP toppled in last three states (LA, SC, FL) • Bitterness lasts 100 years; “damnyankees”

  39. Long Term Results: War goals achieved • Slavery ended but blacks become 2nd class citizens; lose the vote after 1890 • Confederacy dead; Rebs = Americans • Modernization speeds up in North • Business booms; era of Free Enterprise • South becomes poor “Third World” backwater • Texas best off in South, but still poor

  40. Long Term Results: 13-14-15th Amendments • Lincoln & 13th: abolish slavery • 15th: all men right to vote • Not enforced 1890-1964 • 14th: • Dual citizenship • Due process • Equal protection • Most important part of Constitution

  41. What about three war goals? • 1. Restore Union; destroy Confederacy • Accomplished –even die hards agreed • 2. Complete abolition of slavery • Accomplished. No efforts to turn back • But Blacks got 2nd class citizenship • 3. Never again = new birth of strong nation; modernization of America • Accomplished, but came slowly to South

  42. After Reconstruction • 1872: “Liberal Republicans” revolt • Populist revolt of poor white farmers fails (1890-96) • PLESSY V. FERGUSON (1896) Segregation ok’d by Supreme Court Disfranchisement (1890s) • Lynchings & racial violence (1890-1920) • NAACP formed (1906)

  43. Blacks as 2nd Class Citizens • Loss of Political Power • Segregation • Poor services (schools) • Sharecroppers • Some Farm Owners • Leaders: ministers & teachers

  44. Black Belt 1910

  45. Cotton Belt = Black Belt

  46. Lynching

  47. Blue = Black victims; Yellow = white victims

  48. White South: Heroic Civil War, Evil Reconstruction

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