- "Reconstruction of the South: Challenges and Progress" -

1. Chapter 22-Reconstruction How would the South be rebuilt? Free Blacks? Southern reunification? Who would be in charge? Problems of Peace What to do w/ Confederate leaders? “Conspirators eventually released and pardoned by Johnson in 1868 For South-picture was bleak-social & economic structure collapsed-gone forever Banks and factories closed-transportion broken down Cotton not being produced-livestock driven off-not until 1870 did South produce big cotton again Aristocrats crushed-slaves lost and homes & plantations ruined Many clung to belief they were correct-did not bode well for reunification

2. Freedom • Freedom for Blacks? Emancipation took different paces • Union marched in & out of areas-slaves moved in and out of slavery-liberty was dangerous-many Southerners defied Fed. Govmnt & declared they would not follow until State Leg. Or Supreme Court ruled • Some slavesresisted liberation & many slaves reacted violently toward masters • Union forces eventually forced all masters to recognize emancipation • Many slaves took new names-looked for lost loved ones • Strengthened black family-1878-1800 mass movement of 25,000 to Kansas • Rise of the Black Church

3. Freedmen’s Bureau • Abolitionists faced w/ dilemma of unskilled, uneducated, & unreliable to survive freedom by former slaves-Bureau created in 1865 • Primitive Welfare Agency-food, clothing, medical care, & education to freedmen & white refugees • Taught 200,000 blacks to read-close the gap-read the Bible-multiple generations in same class • Little land actually made it into black hands-corruption led to blacks signing on to work for former masters • Expired in 1872-most white southerners despised

4. Johnson • Johnson? • Faced with huge problem after war • Northern attitudes • Champion of states’ rights & Constitution • Did not understand the North and not liked by the South • Not at home w/ Republicans-wrong person at wrong time

5. Presidential Reconstruction • Lincoln-”states could not legally secede” • 10% plan-10% of voters of 1860 election took an oath of allegiance-Lincoln would recognize new govmnt • Republicans worried of return to power by planters • Wade-Davis Bill of 1864-50% of states’ voters to take oath • Pocket vetoed by Lincoln • Moderate-Radical Republicans • Ally in Johnson? • Johnson favored Lincoln’s plan-10% & disenfranchised leading confederates-Ratify 13th, repeal recession • Johnson pardoned many

6. Black Codes • Regulate blacks-worked to ensure a labor force-Labor contracts-stiff punishment for “jumping” on contracts • Blacks could not serve on juries, no voting, restrictions on renting and leasing land • Many worked same land and for same families as years before • Had North really won?

7. Congressional Reconstruction • December of 1865-many former Confederate leaders were in Congress to take old seats-Republicans had enjoyed unfettered lawmaking-examples? • South could be stronger than ever-no more 3/5 • Southerners may join Dems in North for more power • Johnson declared Union restored

8. Johnson vs. Congress • Fight was on-Johnson vetoed bill extending Freedmen’s Bureau • March-1866 Congress passed Civil Rights Bill-citizenship to African Americans-vetoed and overridden • Now pushed for the 14th amendment 1.) conferred civil rights-citizenship 2.) reduced representation & Electoral College if denied African Americans the vote 3.) disqualified former confederates who had sworn to Constitution of the United States 4.) Guaranteed Federal Debt-repudiated all Confederate debt • No state allowed back without first accepting the 14th

9. Battle Continued • Congress did not want Johnson’s 10% plan • Off year elections of 1866-Johnson campaigned for support-gave a series of damning speeches-New Low! • Republicans rolled up 2/3 majorities in both Houses-Veto Proof! • Republican control-led by Sumner in the Senate and T. Stevens in the House • Stevens-friend to African Americans-leader of Joint Committee on Reconstruction • Wanted massive federal control to economically & socially transform the South-Moderates did not favor-more restraining states from taking citizen’s rights-2 groups had to come together • Congress passed Reconstruction Act of 1867-cut South into 5 military districts-each led by a Union general-disenfranchised former confederates

10. Readmission-Ratify 14th, guarantee full suffrage to freed black males(black electorate would vote states back into the Union • Once readmitted how would rights be guaranteed • 15th Amendment-ratified in 1870-allowed black males the right to vote • Legal issues-martial law in peacetime? Ex Parte Milligan(1866) could not try civilians even during wartime in areas where civil courts were available-Supreme Court stayed away • Troops remained

11. Women Voters • 13th, 14th, and 15th-nothing for women • Many felt abolition and women’s rights were one in the same • Lost all battles until 1920-19th

12. Realities of Reconstruction • Vote came slowly-Moderates wanted blacks same as women-Blacks denied suffrage in North-hypocritical • Many blacks began to organize politically-Union league originally a pro-Union group-now worked for Repubs-Built black schools, churches, etc. Women took active roles. • Black men elected as delegates and worked with whites at state constitutional conventions. Black political participation increased dramatically-1868-1876-14 black House members and 2 black Senate members. Many served in local and state levels also • “Scalawags” and “Carpetbaggers” • Many reforms-adequate public schools, better tax systems, public schools launched, property rights gauranteed to women • Corruption was rampant

13. KKK • Invisible Empire of the South-1866 • Strike fear into blacks & poor whites-limit voting • Congress passed Force Acts-1870-71 • Worked to disenfranchise blacks-literacy tests and poll taxes

14. Impeachment • Why would Ben Wade become president? • Tenure of Office Act? • Johnson dismissed Stanton in early 1868-126-4 to impeach-Why? Not Guilty • Not removed by 1 vote-Why?-Fear of destabilizing precedent, abusing checks and balances-many did not want Ben Wade as president and Johnson gave a message he would stop obstructing Republican policies • Removal would have been dangerous

15. Alaska • Russians were in mood to sell Alaska • Seward secured area for $72 million • Why buy? Alaska was offered & if we did not accept someone else would • Rumors of potential wealth in Alaska • Seward mocked!

16. Reconstruction • South resented yet Reconstruction could have been harsher • North was unsure • Repubs wanted to protect freed slaves and promote the party • In the end Reconstruction gave only fleeting benefits & killed the Republican party in the South for a time • Resurrected rather than reconstructed • Could not push all programs through-racism, not tampering w/ property rights, local self government, indifference in North to plight of African Americans • UNFINISHED!!!