ReconstructionReconstructionChapter 12Chapter 12

1865-18771865-1877

With the Civil War over, Union and Confederate With the Civil War over, Union and Confederate soldiers return home.soldiers return home.

However, the Confederate soldiers return to However, the Confederate soldiers return to devastated homes and land.devastated homes and land.

The Lost Cause The Lost Cause was a transitional phase that white was a transitional phase that white Southerners went through after the war. While some Southerners went through after the war. While some Southerners viewed the war as a “Lost Cause,” most Southerners viewed the war as a “Lost Cause,” most Southerners viewed the war as a temporary setback Southerners viewed the war as a temporary setback before the South’s vindication.before the South’s vindication.

Southerners spent the summer Southerners spent the summer and fall of 1865 haunted by and fall of 1865 haunted by ghosts of loved one’s lost, ghosts of loved one’s lost, beautiful memories, self-beautiful memories, self-assurance, and slavery.assurance, and slavery.

The Southerners believed that The Southerners believed that God had spared them for God had spared them for something greater and made something greater and made Robert E. Lee the patron saint Robert E. Lee the patron saint for his nobility against the for his nobility against the Yankees.Yankees.

While the North added their victory to history While the North added their victory to history books and moved on, the South took their books and moved on, the South took their defeat to rationalize and remember.defeat to rationalize and remember.

White Southerners saw African Americans as White Southerners saw African Americans as adversaries whose attempts at self-adversaries whose attempts at self-improvement, where a direct challenge to improvement, where a direct challenge to white racial superiority.white racial superiority.

Lincoln’s Plan for Lincoln’s Plan for ReconstructionReconstruction

Ten-Percent PlanTen-Percent Plan Government would pardon all Confederates who

would swear their allegiance to the Union and obey its laws; High ranking officials and those accused of crimes against prisoners of war were EXEMPT from this plan.

Once 10% of 1080 voters took this oath, a Confederate state could form a new state government and send representatives to Congress.

Before Lincoln’s death, Arkansas, Louisiana, Before Lincoln’s death, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia were moving towards Tennessee, and Virginia were moving towards being readmitted into the Union.being readmitted into the Union.

Radical RepublicansRadical Republicans Proposed laws to ensure African American rights.Proposed laws to ensure African American rights.

CitizenshipCitizenship Right to VoteRight to Vote

Senator Charles Sumner (Mass.) and Representative Thaddeus Stevens (Penn.) Senator Charles Sumner (Mass.) and Representative Thaddeus Stevens (Penn.) wanted to destroy the political power of former slaves holders.wanted to destroy the political power of former slaves holders.

Wade-Davis Bill (July 1964)Wade-Davis Bill (July 1964) Response to Lincoln's Ten-Percent PlanResponse to Lincoln's Ten-Percent Plan Proposed Congress, NOT the president, would be responsible for Proposed Congress, NOT the president, would be responsible for

Reconstruction.Reconstruction. Declared state governments could only be formed by majority rules, rather Declared state governments could only be formed by majority rules, rather

than 10% rule.than 10% rule. Lincoln used a pocket veto to kill the bill.Lincoln used a pocket veto to kill the bill.

Thaddeus Stevens of Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania led the radical Pennsylvania led the radical forces in the House of forces in the House of Representatives.Representatives.

Stevens envisioned a South Stevens envisioned a South with no large plantations with no large plantations and few landless farmers.and few landless farmers.

Stevens found very few Stevens found very few supporters for is ideas.supporters for is ideas.

Johnson’s ReconstructionJohnson’s Reconstruction

Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson became president after became president after the assassination of the assassination of Lincoln.Lincoln.

Johnson had been the Johnson had been the only Southern senator in only Southern senator in the U.S. Senate to the U.S. Senate to remain after the South’s remain after the South’s concession.concession.

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan (Presidential (Presidential

Reconstruction)Reconstruction)

Johnson extended pardons to Southerners who swore an oath of Johnson extended pardons to Southerners who swore an oath of allegiance.allegiance.

Restored property rights to Southerners who swore an oath of allegiance.Restored property rights to Southerners who swore an oath of allegiance.

His plan had nothing to say about the voting and civil rights of former His plan had nothing to say about the voting and civil rights of former slaves.slaves.

Declared Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, N. Carolina, S. Declared Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, and Texas could be readmitted to the Union.Carolina, and Texas could be readmitted to the Union.

Presidential Reconstruction Presidential Reconstruction Comes to a StandstillComes to a Standstill

With slavery emancipated, Congress decided to do With slavery emancipated, Congress decided to do more for the African American people.more for the African American people.

Freedmen’s Bureau-Freedmen’s Bureau- established by Congress, established by Congress, provided social, educational, and economic services, provided social, educational, and economic services, advice, and protection to former slaves and homeless advice, and protection to former slaves and homeless whites.whites.

Freedmen’s Bureau also rented out confiscated and Freedmen’s Bureau also rented out confiscated and abandoned farmland in 40 acre plots, with an abandoned farmland in 40 acre plots, with an opportunity to buy.opportunity to buy.

Freedmen’s Bureau was most successful in education, creating Freedmen’s Bureau was most successful in education, creating more than fifty philanthropic and religious groups, which later more than fifty philanthropic and religious groups, which later turned into three thousand freedmen’s schools in the South turned into three thousand freedmen’s schools in the South serving 150,000 men, women, and children.serving 150,000 men, women, and children.

The Bureau also distributed clothes and food, set up over 40 The Bureau also distributed clothes and food, set up over 40 hospitals, 4,000 primary schools, 61 industrial institutes, and hospitals, 4,000 primary schools, 61 industrial institutes, and 74 teacher-training establishments.74 teacher-training establishments.

Single young women from the North comprised much of the Single young women from the North comprised much of the teaching staff in these schools.teaching staff in these schools.

26 year old Martha Schofield opened a school in 26 year old Martha Schofield opened a school in Aiken, South Carolina in 1871, which has been in the Aiken, South Carolina in 1871, which has been in the public school system since 1953.public school system since 1953.

By the end of the Civil War only 10% of black By the end of the Civil War only 10% of black Southerners were literate, versus the 70% literacy rate Southerners were literate, versus the 70% literacy rate for white Southerners.for white Southerners.

Within the next ten years, the Freedmen’s schools Within the next ten years, the Freedmen’s schools had reduced illiteracy to under 70%.had reduced illiteracy to under 70%.

Civil Rights Act of 1866Civil Rights Act of 1866

Black codes-Black codes- laws passed by states and municipalities laws passed by states and municipalities denying many rights of citizenship to free blacks after denying many rights of citizenship to free blacks after the Civil War.the Civil War.

Codes also allowed blacks to be arrested for not Codes also allowed blacks to be arrested for not having employment documentation and residence, or having employment documentation and residence, or who were “disorderly.”who were “disorderly.”

Blacks were sentenced to hard labor on farms or road Blacks were sentenced to hard labor on farms or road construction crews.construction crews.

President Johnson vetoed both the Freedman’s President Johnson vetoed both the Freedman’s Bureau Act and the Civil Rights Act.Bureau Act and the Civil Rights Act.

Johnson had now alienated the moderate Republicans Johnson had now alienated the moderate Republicans and proved that he supported the South’s plan to deny and proved that he supported the South’s plan to deny African-Americans’ rights.African-Americans’ rights.

Congressional ReconstructionCongressional Reconstruction To keep freedmen's right safe To keep freedmen's right safe

from presidential vetoes, from presidential vetoes, state legislatures, and federal state legislatures, and federal courts added the Fourteenth courts added the Fourteenth Amendment to the Amendment to the Constitution.Constitution.

Fourteenth Amendment-Fourteenth Amendment- Guaranteed every citizen Guaranteed every citizen equality before the law by equality before the law by prohibiting states from prohibiting states from violating the civil rights of violating the civil rights of their citizens, thus outlawing their citizens, thus outlawing the black codes.the black codes.

Reconstruction Act of 1867Reconstruction Act of 1867

Republicans dominated Congress from 1867-1870, Republicans dominated Congress from 1867-1870, that controlled the Reconstruction era.that controlled the Reconstruction era. Did not recognize state governments under the Lincoln or Johnson plan. Did not recognize state governments under the Lincoln or Johnson plan.

(Except Tennessee who ratified the 14(Except Tennessee who ratified the 14 thth Amendment and was accepted back in Amendment and was accepted back in the Union).the Union).

Divided the remaining 10 Confederate states into 5 military districts.Divided the remaining 10 Confederate states into 5 military districts.

Required new state constitutions to grant African-American men the right to Required new state constitutions to grant African-American men the right to vote and ratify the 14vote and ratify the 14thth Amendment. Amendment.

Johnson vetoed this legislation; Congress overturned his veto.Johnson vetoed this legislation; Congress overturned his veto.

Johnson’s ImpeachmentJohnson’s Impeachment

Tenure of Office ActTenure of Office Act (March 1867)(March 1867) Act prohibited the president from removing certain cabinet officers Act prohibited the president from removing certain cabinet officers

“during the term the president by whom they may have been “during the term the president by whom they may have been appointed” without the Senate’s consent by two-thirds majority.appointed” without the Senate’s consent by two-thirds majority.

Johnson deliberately violated the act in February of 1868 Johnson deliberately violated the act in February of 1868 when he fired Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton.when he fired Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton.

The House brought 11 charges of impeachment against The House brought 11 charges of impeachment against Johnson; 9 of which were based on violations of the Tenure Johnson; 9 of which were based on violations of the Tenure of Office Act.of Office Act.

Impeachment trial lasted 11 weeks.Impeachment trial lasted 11 weeks. Johnson missed being impeached by one Johnson missed being impeached by one

single vote. single vote.

Ulysses S. Grant gained Ulysses S. Grant gained the Republican party the Republican party nomination in 1868.nomination in 1868.

Fifteenth Amendment-Fifteenth Amendment- passed in 1869, passed in 1869, guaranteed the right to guaranteed the right to vote for American men, vote for American men, regardless of race.regardless of race.

Southern Republican GovernmentsSouthern Republican Governments

Republican party was gaining momentum in the South.Republican party was gaining momentum in the South.

ScalawagsScalawags- southern whites, mainly small landowning farmers - southern whites, mainly small landowning farmers and well off merchants and planters, who supported the and well off merchants and planters, who supported the Southern Republican party during Reconstruction.Southern Republican party during Reconstruction.

CarpetbaggersCarpetbaggers- - Northerners who moved to the Northerners who moved to the South after the war; Freedman’s South after the war; Freedman’s Bureau agents, teachers, ministers Bureau agents, teachers, ministers who felt morally obligated to who felt morally obligated to move south; others were former move south; others were former Union soldiers who wanted land.Union soldiers who wanted land.

Brought very few belongings with Brought very few belongings with them.them.

Union Leagues-Union Leagues- Republican party Republican party organizations in Northern cities that became an organizations in Northern cities that became an important organizing device among freedmen important organizing device among freedmen in Southern cities after 1865.in Southern cities after 1865.

They demanded “the right of universal They demanded “the right of universal suffrage” for “all loyal men without distintion suffrage” for “all loyal men without distintion of color.”of color.”

Migration to CitiesMigration to Cities After the war, African Americans travelled to large cities to After the war, African Americans travelled to large cities to

find families, seek work, escape farm work, and test out their find families, seek work, escape farm work, and test out their rights to move around. rights to move around.

Once in the city, freedmen settled in cheap low-lying areas or Once in the city, freedmen settled in cheap low-lying areas or on the outskirts of cities where building codes did not exist.on the outskirts of cities where building codes did not exist.

Many blacks went from door to door looking for work.Many blacks went from door to door looking for work.

Many worked for families as guards, laundresses, maids Many worked for families as guards, laundresses, maids getting paid very little.getting paid very little.

Faith and FreedomFaith and Freedom

Many African Americans found inspiration and Many African Americans found inspiration and courage in their religious faith.courage in their religious faith.

Most black churches split from white-dominated Most black churches split from white-dominated congregations after the war.congregations after the war. BaptistBaptist MethodistMethodist

Black churches created a variety of organizations Black churches created a variety of organizations that served the black community.that served the black community.

Forty Acres and a MuleForty Acres and a Mule

By June 1865, more than forty thousand former slaves had By June 1865, more than forty thousand former slaves had settled along the southeastern coast called “Shermanland.”settled along the southeastern coast called “Shermanland.”

Southern Homestead Act-Southern Homestead Act- law passed by Congress in 1866, law passed by Congress in 1866, that gave black people preferential access to public lands in that gave black people preferential access to public lands in five southern states.five southern states.

By the 1870’s, over fourteen thousand African American By the 1870’s, over fourteen thousand African American families had taken advantage of this program to finance lnd families had taken advantage of this program to finance lnd purchases with state-funded, long-term, low-interest loans.purchases with state-funded, long-term, low-interest loans.

SharecroppingSharecropping- labor - labor system that evolved system that evolved during and after during and after Reconstruction, whereby Reconstruction, whereby landowners furnished landowners furnished laborers with a house, laborers with a house, farm animals, and tools farm animals, and tools and advanced credit in and advanced credit in exchange for a share of exchange for a share of the laborers’ crops.the laborers’ crops.

The Collapse of ReconstructionThe Collapse of Reconstruction As African American started to come out to vote, As African American started to come out to vote,

compete for work, and carried arms as part of compete for work, and carried arms as part of occupying Union forces, Southern whites started to occupying Union forces, Southern whites started to lose their patience.lose their patience.

Ku Klux Klan-Ku Klux Klan- founded in Tennessee in 1866 by six founded in Tennessee in 1866 by six Confederate veterans. Originally, a social club that Confederate veterans. Originally, a social club that soon assumed a political purpose.soon assumed a political purpose.

Racial violence and the combative reaction it Racial violence and the combative reaction it provoked both among black people and Republican provoked both among black people and Republican administrations energized white voters.administrations energized white voters.

Civil Rights Act of 1875Civil Rights Act of 1875

Introduced by Charles Sumner, the bill passed in a Introduced by Charles Sumner, the bill passed in a watered down version after his death.watered down version after his death.

Bill prohibited discrimination against black people in Bill prohibited discrimination against black people in public accommodations (theatres, parks, trains) and public accommodations (theatres, parks, trains) and guaranteed freedmen’s rights to serve on juries.guaranteed freedmen’s rights to serve on juries.

Overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1883.Overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1883.

AdvancesAdvances Black families and institutions played a crucial role in Black families and institutions played a crucial role in

Reconstruction era.Reconstruction era.

Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed equality before the law.Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed equality before the law.

Fifteenth Amendment protected the righ tot vote for men.Fifteenth Amendment protected the righ tot vote for men.

Slaughterhouse cases-Slaughterhouse cases- group of cases resulting in one group of cases resulting in one sweeping decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1873 that sweeping decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1873 that contradicted the intent of the Fourteeth Amendment by contradicted the intent of the Fourteeth Amendment by decreeing that most citizenship rights remained under state, decreeing that most citizenship rights remained under state, not federal control.not federal control.

Democrats “Redeem” the SouthDemocrats “Redeem” the South

Redemption – – Democrats regain Democrats regain control if the South.control if the South.

Election 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes

(Rep.) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (Dem.)

Electoral College nightmare?

Compromise of 1877Compromise of 1877

Congressional settlement of the election of Congressional settlement of the election of 1876.1876.

Put Rutherford B. Hayes into the White House Put Rutherford B. Hayes into the White House and gave Democrats control of all state and gave Democrats control of all state governments in the South.governments in the South.

Home rule Home rule – ability to run state governments – ability to run state governments without federal intervention.without federal intervention.