Chapter 12 Reconstruction and Its Effects

1. Chapter 12 Reconstruction and Its Effects Section 1 The Politics of Reconstruction

2. Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction • Reconstruction- period during which the United States began to rebuild after the Civil War- 1865-1877 • Lincoln, Andrew Johnson and Congress have different views on Reconstruction • Lincoln’s plan known as Ten- Percent Plan • Government would pardon all Confederates with exceptions who would swear allegiance to Union • After 10% of those on 1860 voting list take oath- Confederate state would be readmitted- AR, LA, TN and VA move toward readmission

3. Radical Republicans Reaction • Lincoln’s plan angered a minority of Republicans known as Radical Republicans • Led by Thaddeus Stevens- and Charles Sumner • Wanted to destroy political power of former slaveholders • Wanted African- Americans to have full citizenship and right to vote • July 1864- Wade- Davis Bill • proposes that Congress not President is responsible for Reconstruction • Majority of state must take oath not 10% • Lincoln pocket vetoes

4. Andrew Johnson’s Plan • Lincoln’s successor from Tennessee- wants to punish Confederate leaders • May 1865- announces Presidential Reconstruction • AL, GA, FL, MS, NC, SC and TX would be readmitted if they did 4 things- 1) Withdraw secession 2) Swear allegiance to Union 3) Annul Confederate war debts 4) Ratify 13th Amendment

5. Plans for Reconstruction • Only real difference from Lincoln was Johnson wanted to prevent most high-ranking Confederates and wealthy Southern landowners from taking oath • Both approaches fail to address needs of former slaves land needs, voting rights and protection under law • Most Southerners relieved as plan would pardon 13,000 Confederates- Johnson did not believe African Americans should have right to vote

6. Freedmen’s Bureau • February 1866- Congress votes to continue and enlarge Freedmen’s Bureau- assisted former slaves and poor whites by giving clothing and food, set up 40+ hospitals, 4,000 schools, 61 industrial institutes, 74 teacher- training centers • April 1866- Congress passes Civil Rights Act of 1866- African Americans gain citizenship- states cannot pass discriminatory laws known as black codes • Johnson vetoes both Freedmen’s Bureau and Civil Rights Act- angered many Republicans

7. Congressional Reconstruction • Moderate Republicans and Radical Republicans work together to override vetoes • Congress drafts 14th Amendment- provides a constitutional basis for the Civil Rights Act- “all persons born or naturalized in the United States” citizens of the country- voting not specifically mentioned • Johnson felt that it was too harsh on former Confederate leaders- persuades Southern states to reject- not ratified until 1868

8. Further differences lead to impeachment • 1866 Congressional elections- Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant go on speaking tour- Johnson offends many with language and behavior- Grant more likable • Republicans gain 2/3 majority in Congress- now have numbers to override vetoes • Reconstruction Act of 1867- did not recognize state governments under Lincoln and Johnson plans- divide Confederate states into 5 districts • States had to ensure African American right to vote and state had to ratify the 14th Amendment • Johnson vetoes believed it was in conflict with constitution- Congress overrides

9. Johnson Impeached • Radicals felt Johnson not carrying out his constitutional obligation to enforce Reconstruction Act- look for grounds to impeach- formally charge with misconduct in office • March 1867- Tenure of Office Act- protect Sec. of War- Edwin Stanton • Johnson fires Stanton- House of Rep. bring 11 charges of impeachment against Johnson • March- May 1868- last day of final vote- 35-19- Republicans 1 vote short of 2/3 majority

10. Grant elected President • Democrats know they cannot win Election of 1868 with Johnson- nominate Horatio Seymour • Republicans chose Ulysses S. Grant • Grant wins by wide margin in electoral college, close in popular vote • Radicals introduce 15th Amendment- no one can be kept from voting because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”- ratified in 1870 • Congress passes Enforcement Act of 1870- government has more power to punish those who prevent African Americans from voting

11. Section 2 Reconstructing Society • Physical and economic conditions leave southern states with problem of rebuilding • Population falls in the South- 1/5 of men died in war- tens of thousands of African Americans- as slaves or as army • Republican governments help with public work programs- roads, bridges, orphanages and mental institutions- 1st public school systems in the South- very expensive- taxes increased

12. Scalawags and Carpetbaggers • Scalawags- white southerners who joined Republicans- named by Democrats • Wanted to gain political offices with black votes- mainly small farmers • Carpetbaggers- northerners who moved to south • Wanted to exploit South’s turmoil for profit- some felt moral duty to help former slaves, buy land and start industries • African Americans voting- 9/10 vote for Republicans- 90% come out in South • Many political differences among two groups

13. Former slaves face many challenges • Families reunite thanks to Freedmen’s Bureau and newspapers- cannot legally marry • Only 80% of adults 20+ yrs old are literate- Hampton Institute, VA and other educational institutes established • Found own churches- Baptists and Methodists- ministers emerge as leaders- many other volunteer groups

14. African Americans in Politics • 1st time in public office- mainly ministers and teachers educated from North • Only S.C. has majority of African Americans in legislature- no governors of a state • 16 of 125 Congressmen- N.C Congressman- Hiram Revels • By 1866- most Southern governments repeal black codes but anti-segregation laws are not enforced

15. 40 Acres and a Mule and plantation problems • Jan. 1865- Sherman says slaves who follow him will receive 40 acres per family with use of mules- 40,000 settle on 400,000 abandoned/ forfeited land • Aug. 1865- Johnson orders original landowners to own land- Congress can’t grant land back to slaves • Planter class wanted to reestablish plantations- needed control over laborers • Now had to pay African Americans- no profits- those who produced crops felt it was too much like slavery- go to work in mills, subsistence farm • Since they cannot own land, African Americans enter contract- for wages, housing, food- they could work on farms • Thought wages were too low and whites had too much control- whites didn’t always have funds

16. Sharecropping and tenant farming • Sharecropping- landowners divide land and give each worker a few acres with tools- worker would give share to landowner- usually about ½ • Tenant farming- croppers would rent land for cash and keep harvest- could even own the farm one day

17. Cotton is no longer king • Demand for cotton declined during war- prices go down- creates a surplus • South turns to textile and tobacco manufacturing- helps raise wages • Southern banks cannot pay debts from war- many fail- South economic woes continue into 20th Century • Whites continue violence against African Americans

18. Section 3 The Collapse of Reconstruction • KKK- Ku Klux Klan formed in TN in 1866- goal was to restore white supremacy • Leads to different forms of violence throughout United States • NC Senator John Stephens assassinated in 1870- Democrats use violence in 1875 and 1876 elections • African Americans also being held down economically • Enforcement Acts of 1870 and 1871 help keep violence down

19. Shift in Political Power • Congress passes Amnesty Act and allows Freedmen’s Bureau to end • Grant’s administration has many fraud and bribery charges- Credit Mobiler Affair including VP • Republicans not united- formation of Liberal Republicans led by Horace Greeley • 1875- Whiskey Ring and other scandals in White House force Grant to not seek reelection

20. The economy, Supreme Court and Democrats redemption • Panic of 1873- Jay Cooke’s banking firm files for bankruptcy- 1875- 18,000 companies fold • Leads to 5 year economic depression where 3 million lose jobs • During War, greenbacks issued- not backed by gold- to go back to gold standard would reduce bills in circulation • Specie Resumption Act- 1875- U.S. back on gold standard

21. Supreme Court undermines Amendments • Slaughterhouse Decision- 1873- undermines 14th Amendment • U.S. v. Cruikshank- 1875- government does not have right to punish those who oppress African Americans • U.S. v. Reese- favors officials who barred African Americans from voting • Northerners fed up with scandals and want quick reconciliation- look to end Reconstruction

22. Democrats redemption leads to end of Reconstruction • Redemption- Democrats term for their return to power • Election of 1876- Rep.- Rutherford B. Hayes- Governor of Ohio-Dem.- Samuel J. Tilden- Gov. of NY • 1st time winner of popular vote loses election • Compromise of 1877- Southerners accept Hayes on conditions • 1) Federal troops withdraw from LA and SC • 2) Money to improve railroads, rivers, harbors and bridges in South • Hayes appoints Southern conservative in cabinet

23. Home Rule and the end of Reconstruction • Home Rule- the ability to run state government without federal intervention • Democrats allowed to pass laws that restrict rights of African Americans, wipe out social programs, dismantle public schools • Reconstruction ends without much of a fight against discrimination, Republicans made many mistakes but got 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments passed