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Reconstruction (1865-1876). Special thanks to: Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY. Key Questions. 1. How do we bring the South back into the Union?. 4. What branch of government should control the process of Reconstruction?.
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Reconstruction (1865-1876) Special thanks to: Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Key Questions 1. How do webring the Southback into the Union? 4. What branchof governmentshould controlthe process ofReconstruction? 2. How do we rebuild the South after itsdestruction during the war? 3. How do weintegrate andprotect newly-emancipatedblack freedmen?
Periods of Reconstruction War Time Reconstruction Presidential Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction Lincoln’s anticipation of the end of the War Johnson’s plans to rebuild the nation Led by the “Radical Republicans”
The Reconstruction Amendments • 13th: Ended slavery • 14th: Made freed slaves citizens; required states to provide equal protection under law to all citizens • 15th: Provided freed slaves the right to vote
13th Amendment • Ratified in December, 1865. • Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. • Congressshall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Freedmen’s Bureau (1865) • Known as the “Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands”. • Many former northern abolitionists moved to the South and risked their lives to help southern freedmen. • They were called “carpetbaggers” by white southern Democrats.
The Freedmen’s Bureaus provided multiple services for families and newly freed slaves.
Freedmen’s Bureau Seen Through Southern Eyes “Plenty to eat and nothing to do.”
Published in a Northern magazine • Who were the likely readers? • What was the likely purpose of the author? • A poster created in the South • Who were the likely viewers? • What was the likely purpose of the artist/author?
Changes in Community Plantation before C.W. Plantation after C.W. What changes do you notice? How did these changes affect black communities?
14th Amendment Section. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. • Ratified in July, 1868. • Provided a constitutional guarantee of the rights and security of freed people. • Southern states would be punished for denying the right to vote to black citizens! What are the 4 main protections granted by the 14th Amendment?
Black Codes • Prez Johnson required states re-entering the Union to accept minimumconditions repudiating slavery, secession and state debts. • S. states responded by passing laws known as Black Codes • Purpose: • Guarantee stable labor supply now that blacks were emancipated. • Restore pre-emancipationsystem of race relations. • Allow South to re-assert itself • Forced many blacks to become sharecroppers [tenant farmers].
Periods of Reconstruction War Time Reconstruction Presidential Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction Lincoln’s anticipation of the end of the War Johnson’s plans to rebuild the nation Led by the “Radical Republicans” Think about the Radical Republican Congress trying to bring more blacks into political equality (as a reaction to Johnson) Think about the primary goal of ending slavery. (13th Amend) Johnson’s ties to the South had him putting many Confederates/elite planters back into power
15th Amendment • Ratified in 1870. • The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. • The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. • [FORESHADOW: Women’s rights groups were furious that they were not granted the vote!]
Blacks in Southern Politics • Core voters were black veterans. • Blacks were politically unprepared. • Blacks could register and vote in states since 1867 BUT, since voting laws are STATE laws... • Many S. states created laws to prevent blacks from voting • The 15th Amendment guaranteedfederal voting.
New black voters elected black representatives to the U.S. and state Congresses Hiram Revels: First African American elected to U.S. Senate (Mississippi) Joseph Rainey: First African American elected to the House of Reps (SC) Other states that elected blacks to the House of Reps: AL, FL, GA, LA, NC, VA All were Republicans!
African Americans in Congress Last AA elected to Congress during Reconstruction: George Henry White of NC; elected 1896 and re-elected in 1898 – his term ended in 1901 No other AA was elected to Congress again until 1928 (House of Reps) And to the Senate: 1967 TOTAL # of African Americans to EVER serve in the Senate: 6 (2 during Reconstruction and 4 in the modern era) Total elected to the House of Reps: 117
The Failure of Federal Enforcement • Enforcement Acts of 1870 & 1871: to allow Federal Gov’t to interfere if blacks were denied voting rights • Targeted the KKK • BUT: Rise of the • “Bourbons” (white conservs who seized control • Redeemers (prewarDemocrats and Union Whigs).
1. Growing Southern opposition to Reconstruction WHY? • Desire to limit black political involvement & economic independence • Restoration of pre-War gov’ts to end rule of Northern-imposed military & Repub. control • “Redemption” of former (antebellum) gov’ts HOW? • Rise of vigilante groups like the KKK, White League, Red Shirts, etc. • Violence and intimidation reduced black voting to almost nothing
2. Revival of Ex-Confederates HOW? • Amnesty Act – law that let all but 500 Confederate leaders back into public life • Resurgence of the Democratic Party – controlled exclusively by white Southerners • Allowed “Home Rule”: no more political influence from the North
3. Freedmen’s Bureau Ends Basic needs of freedpersons no longer provided for End of involvement from sympathetic Northern whites
4. Supreme Court Decisions WHAT? • Did not support civil and political rights granted to blacks U.S. v Cruikshank (1875): 14th Amend did NOT give federal gov’t power to punish individuals who oppressed blacks US v Reese (1876): 15th Amend did NOT guarantee right to vote, just listed grounds upon which voting could not be denied
5. Decline of Northern Interest WHY? • Political Scandals • U.S. Grant’s presidency marked by serious scandals & corruption that reduced his credibility and took focus away from Reconstruction • Economic Crisis in the North • Panic of 1873: N. worried about own problems millions jobless, mass bankruptcies • Desire for Reconciliation • People wanted peace and reunited nation
6. Election of 1876 • New president (Rutherford B. Hayes) no longer concerned by Reconstruction • Those who lost: Samuel Tilden (won popular vote but not electoral vote) • African Americans: Redeemed Southern governments would enforce white supremacy and all newly granted rights/protections would be ignored
Wartime Reconstruction
President Lincoln’s Plan • 10% Plan • Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (December 8, 1863) • Replace majority rule with “loyal rule” in the South. • He didn’t consult Congress regarding Reconstruction. • Pardon to all but the highest ranking military and civilian Confederate officers. • When 10% of the voting population in the 1860 election had taken an oath of loyalty and established a government, it would be recognized.
President Lincoln’s Plan • 1864 “Lincoln Governments” formed in LA, TN, AR • “loyal assemblies” • They were weak and dependent on the Northern army for their survival.
Wade-Davis Bill (1864) • Required 50% of the number of 1860 voters to take an “iron clad” oath of allegiance (swearing they had never voluntarily aided the rebellion ). • Required a state constitutional convention before the election of state officials. • Enacted specific safeguards of freedmen’s liberties. SenatorBenjaminWade(R-OH) CongressmanHenryW. Davis(R-MD)
