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Reconstruction Triumphs and Tragedies: Freedman's Bureau, Education, Migration, Religion, and Politics

Dive into the era of Reconstruction after the Civil War, exploring the Freedman's Bureau, education initiatives, and the challenges faced by freed slaves. Discover the impacts on land ownership, migration patterns, religious institutions, politics, and the fight for civil rights. Learn about key figures, policies, and the ongoing struggles against racism.

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Reconstruction Triumphs and Tragedies: Freedman's Bureau, Education, Migration, Religion, and Politics

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  1. Reconstruction: Triumphs and Tragedies

  2. Base Problems • Treason? • Status of the States • Rights of ex-slaves • Rights of Unionists • Veteran’s Rights • Law and Order • Repairs • Economic Wasteland

  3. The Freedman's Bureau • Operates: March 1865-1872 • Boss: General Oliver Howard • Assists Freedmen in many different ways, many unprecedented

  4. The Freedman’s Bureau -- Education • Biggest Success of the Agency • No Southern Public Education Pre-War • 3000 Schools, 150,000 students • Originally Northern White Women Teachers • Later staffed by Blacks • Literacy: Up to 30% by 1876, 70% by 1910

  5. Sea-Island School

  6. Black Universities • 1880—13 Black Universities • “Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute” (1870—Land Grant University) • Trained Teachers • “Head, Heart, and Hands”--Mixed intellectual, moral, and craft instruction • Booker T. Washingtonwas a graduate

  7. Other Freedman's Bureau Activities • Food Distribution (15 million rations) • Reuniting Families • 100 Hospitals • Work Dispute Resolution and Contract Negotiations

  8. Land for the Freedmen • Former Slaves wanted land (“Forty Acres and a Mule”) • Sherman's Field Order Number 15—January, 1865—Land for slaves on South Atlantic Coast • 1866—Southern Homestead Act: Blacks get first Homestead rights in South

  9. Results • 33% of Upper South Blacks own a farm • 20% of all Blacks • Why no redistribution? Too radical for a bunch of laissez-faire economists • Most blacks and whites are tenant farmers / sharecroppers by 1900. • Sharecroppers rent land with part of their crops

  10. Freedmen--Migration • Many former slaves hit the road once free and move around a year or two • Many move to the cities because there is lots of work, even if wages = poor.

  11. Freedmen--Religion • Churches usually segregated, but whites and blacks follow same religions • Churches serve as a major community hub • Provide experience in managing and organizing things • Used for clubs, businesses, fraternities, etc. • Focus for defense of civil rights

  12. A Black Church

  13. The Lincoln Plan • States now federal territories • 10% of voters must swear allegiance • Must ban slavery • A minimalist plan • Lincoln dies, only applied in Tennessee.

  14. President Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)

  15. The Johnson Plan (1865-1867) • States exist, but former Confederates can't vote • Under $20,000 dollars property folk can get easy pardon • Rich must apply to president • No protection of former slaves • Johnson hopes poor whites will rule!

  16. Southern Response • Southerners resist any changes • Re-elect ex-confederates • Institute 'Black Codes', which limit freedom of ex-slaves, force them to work for others

  17. Congress Fights Back • December 1865—Congress in session • Congress’ Desires • Extend Suffrage to Blacks • Protect Civil Rights of Ex-Slaves • The Whites had to acknowledge these civil rights

  18. Congress vs. South, Round 1, Fight! • Civil Rights Act of 1866 • All born in US are citizens! • Mainly protects business / court rights • Fourteenth Amendment • All born in US are citizens! • Defends basic rights of citizens to life, liberty and property • No ex-Confederates in office • Confederate debts NEVER to be paid

  19. 1866 Mid-Term Elections • Johnson opposes the Republicans • Goes on a speaking tour before 1866 elections • This is unusual • He fails miserably • Congressional Reconstruction Begins

  20. Military Reconstruction Act of 1866

  21. Congress vs. Andrew Johnson • Tenure of Office Act—No firing anyone without Senate saying yes. • Andrew Johnson fires Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to control the generals for Military Reconstruction • Congress tries to impeach Johnson. • House: YES • Senate: No by 1 vote

  22. 1868 Election

  23. 1868 Election • Ulysses S. Grant (Moderate Republican) vs. Horatio Seymour (Democrat) • Grant wins: 52.66% Popular, 214 EV vs 80. • Grant takes 7 Southern states • Black support is key

  24. The Grant Administration • 1869: Fifteenth Amendment—All adult males can vote, 21+ • Grant is not very experienced • Failure of oversight • Some appointees are corrupt • Conflict between reformers and 'stalwarts' (who are more interested in perks of office)

  25. 1868 Election

  26. The Southern Republican Party • Southern Poor to Middling Whites: “Scaliwags” • Debt Relief, Education, Roads • Northern Whites: “Carpetbaggers” • Economic Development, Civil Rights • Southern Blacks • The Union Leagues. • 90% of Blacks Vote • Debt Relief, Land, Education, Civil Rights!

  27. Black Politicians:Senator Blanche K. Bruce, Frederick Douglass, and Senator Hiram Revels

  28. Expansion of State Government • Debt and Stay Laws • Building Projects • Public Education • Child Support • Legal Aid • Medical Assistance • The Unfortunate Side Effects: • Higher Taxes • Corruption

  29. Counter-Reconstruction • Racism • Racism used to divide poor whites and blacks in favor of 'white unity' • Violence • the Klu Klux Klan – Ex-Confederate murderers, rapists, and thugs who attacked former slaves and their white allies • Enforcement and Klu Klux Klan Acts • Allowed calling in federal help against political violence

  30. “The Union as it was,” Thomas Nast, Harper’s Weekly, 1874

  31. Failure of Northern Will • Many see Southern Republican governments as corrupt • Many don't care about black rights • Many care more about other issues: • Immigration • Fiscal Responsibility • Tariffs • Hard Money (This is a priority for Grant)

  32. 1872: ‘Liberal Republican’ Insurgency • Some Republicans now revolt against corruption of the 'Stalwarts' • Platform: • Civil Service Reform • Tariff Reductions • End of Federal Grants to Railroads • Amnesty for Southern Whites • Southern Self-Government

  33. 1872 Election • US Grant (Rep.) vs. Horace Greeley (Liberal Republicans + Democrats) • Grant wins: 55.58% of Popular, 286-66 EV • Greeley then dies.

  34. 1872 Election

  35. ‘Redemption’: 1874-7 • ‘Redeemers’ --Racist militia who aided Southern Democrats • They triggered growing violence • Civil Rights Act of 1875: No discrimination in public places • Useless vs. Violence

  36. Grant's Failing Administration • Corruption: • 1874 Sanborn Incident • 1875 Whiskey Ring • 1876 Indian Trading Post Ring • Indian Wars • Gold in Black Hills; settlers invade Sioux land • Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

  37. 1876: Tilden v. Hayes • Samuel Tilden (D) vs. Rutherford B. Hayes (Rep.) • Election results disputed in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina • No good way to resolve fairly • Compromise of 1877 • Hayes becomes President • Hayes abandons Reconstruction

  38. The Failure of Reconstruction • The Lost Cause • Survival of Segregation • Sharecropping • Slaughterhouse Cases (1873) • United States vs. Cruikshank (1876) • Gutting of Protections

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