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Reconstruction

Reconstruction. 1865-1877. Background. Political reform movement following Civil War Involved Presidents and members of Congress Different groups emerge and push for different aims for Reconstruction

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Reconstruction

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  1. Reconstruction 1865-1877

  2. Background • Political reform movement following Civil War • Involved Presidents and members of Congress • Different groups emerge and push for different aims for Reconstruction • At end of Civil War = over 600,000 dead, South’s economy destroyed, what to do with 3.5 million former slaves?

  3. Overview… • Three rounds of Reconstruction • First: Presidential (Lincoln, Johnson) • Second: Congressional (Radical Republican) • Third: Redemption (Southern Conservatives)

  4. Reconstruction: Lincoln’s Plan • The process of putting the nation back together following the Civil War • Lincoln’s Plan (viewed as lenient) • 1863 – Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction • Ten% of voters in Confed. states had to • Accept emancipation • Swear loyalty to the Union • High ranking Confed. officials could not vote or hold office unless pardoned by President • Once conditions were satisfied, a state could return to the Union • Lenient because Lincoln wanted to make it easy to return

  5. Wade-Davis Bill (1864) • Congress's plan: • 50% must take oath • Only non-Confederates allowed to vote for state-constitution • Pocket vetoed by Lincoln Benjamin Wade Henry Davis

  6. Influential Individuals of Reconstruction • Members of Congress – Radical Republicans • Thaddeus Stevens • Charles Sumner • Andrew Johnson – VP; assumed office after Lincoln dies

  7. Radical Republicans • Goals: • Punish the South for causing the Civil War • Fought to protect the rights of former slaves • Thaddeus Stevens • Focused on economic opportunities for former slaves • Distribute land to former slaves • Charles Sumner • Focused on citizenship and political rights for former slaves

  8. Andrew Johnson • Former Senator from TN; VP for Lincoln • TN part of Confederacy but Johnson remained loyal to Union • A democrat; Reconstruction plan similar to Lincoln’s • Issued 13,000 pardons • Unconcerned with rights of former slaves as states began to pass black codes

  9. Black Codes • Laws that established conditions similar to slavery for black Americans • African Americans couldn’t leave plantations, restrictions on racial intermarriage, not able to serve on juries or testify against whites in court

  10. Black Codes • Prohibited blacks from renting land or borrowing money to buy land • Forced freedmen to sign work contracts • Prohibited blacks from testifying against whites

  11. Freedman’s Bureau • Johnson opposed to organization • Oversaw relief efforts designed to aid former slaves • Established schools, provided medical supplies, food, clothing • Helped to reunite families separated under slavery • Congress voted to extend funding but Johnson vetoed renewal

  12. Impeachment • 1868 • Impeachment: to bring official charges against the President (majority vote in HoR) • Trial/Removal: The President stands trial (Senate acts as jury; 2/3 majority vote needed for removal) • Remained President but largely ineffective following trial

  13. Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

  14. Congressional Reconstruction • Congress took control of Reconstruction and began implementing actions to punish South • Reconstruction Acts (1867-1868): • Former Confederate States were militarily occupied by U.S. troops • 5 military districts; only TN not part of occupation (already ratified 14th in 1866) • States could re-enter the Union once they ratified the 14th Amendment

  15. Congressional Reconstruction • Reconstruction Act of 1867 • South under military occupation

  16. 13th Amendment • “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” • Prohibited slavery

  17. 14th Amendment • All persons born in the US are citizens of the US • All citizens are guaranteed equal treatment under the law • Punished states that denied adult males the right to vote

  18. 15th Amendment • Guaranteed the right to vote for African Americans

  19. Limits to Reconstruction • Civil War Amendments were a success; however, there was no redistribution of land and most former slaves lived as sharecroppers and had little economic opportunity

  20. Reforms after Grant’s Election • Election of 1868 Black votes the difference!

  21. Reconstruction in the South • Scalawags – Southern Republicans • Carpetbaggers – northerners who went south • African-American legislators

  22. North During Reconstruction • Grant Administration scandals (e.g. Credit Mobilier Affair, Whiskey Ring) discredits itself • Local politics crazy too… Boss Tweed & Tammany Hall

  23. Election of 1872

  24. Panic of 1873 • Over speculation on industry and railroads leads to depression • Debtors demanded inflationary greenbacks • Grant vetoed release of more greenbacks

  25. 1876 Election • Helped end Reconstruction • Two candidates: • Samuel Tilden: Dem. From NY; political reformer • Rutherford B. Hayes: Rep.; former OH Gov. • SC, FL, LA  voter irregularity; both claimed to win

  26. Election of 1876 • Closely contested…

  27. Wormley Hotel, D.C. • Electoral Commission • 7 Dems. • 8 Repub. • Compromise of 1877 • Hayes is President (pleases North) • Military occupation ended in the South (please white Southerners) • Rights of former slaves not protected • Hayes would support building southern transcontinental railroad

  28. Respond in your journal: • 1. Brainstorm a response: To what extent was Reconstruction a political success or failure? • 2. Create a thesis that responds to the prompt • 3. Write your intro. Paragraph – to be collected at

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