Reconstruction Presidents

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Reconstruction PresidentsReconstruction Presidents1865-18771865-1877

• Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln

• Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson

• Ulysses GrantUlysses Grant

• Rutherford HayesRutherford Hayes

AFTERMATH OF THE CIVIL WARAFTERMATH OF THE CIVIL WAR

• Amazingly destructive on human Amazingly destructive on human

lives, property and infrastructurelives, property and infrastructure– Southerners lives were now changed foreverSoutherners lives were now changed forever– Trains & crops destroyedTrains & crops destroyed– Plantation owners upset loss of land and slavesPlantation owners upset loss of land and slaves– Social & Economic order turned upside downSocial & Economic order turned upside down

Physical Toll in the South:Physical Toll in the South:

Key QuestionsKey Questions

1. How do we1. How do webring the Southbring the Southback into the back into the

Union?Union?

1. How do we1. How do webring the Southbring the Southback into the back into the

Union?Union?

2. How do we 2. How do we rebuild the rebuild the

South after itsSouth after itsdestruction destruction

during the war?during the war?

2. How do we 2. How do we rebuild the rebuild the

South after itsSouth after itsdestruction destruction

during the war?during the war?

3. How do we3. How do weintegrate andintegrate andprotect newly-protect newly-emancipatedemancipated

black freedmen?black freedmen?

3. How do we3. How do weintegrate andintegrate andprotect newly-protect newly-emancipatedemancipated

black freedmen?black freedmen?

4. What branch4. What branchof governmentof governmentshould controlshould controlthe process ofthe process of

Reconstruction?Reconstruction?

4. What branch4. What branchof governmentof governmentshould controlshould controlthe process ofthe process of

Reconstruction?Reconstruction?

Key QuestionsKey Questions

The Constitution had no answers The Constitution had no answers to these questions, in other to these questions, in other words, there was no prior words, there was no prior

precedent on how toprecedent on how to resolve these questionsresolve these questions

The Constitution had no answers The Constitution had no answers to these questions, in other to these questions, in other words, there was no prior words, there was no prior

precedent on how toprecedent on how to resolve these questionsresolve these questions

President Lincoln’s 10% Plan

President Lincoln’s 10% Plan1. Based on forgiveness, pardons

the confederates states - Amnesty

2. 10% of voters in the election had to take an “Oath” of allegiance they could organize a new state government

3. Former Confederate government members and Confederate Army officers in the army wouldn’t receive amnesty or NO PARDONS FOR THEM

Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson

President Andrew Johnson

President Andrew Johnson« V.P under Lincoln

« Southern Democrat

« Anti-Aristocrat

« White Supremacist

« Doesn’t really want blacks to have equal rights

« Disagrees with Radical Republicans

President Johnson’s Plan (Presidential

Reconstruction Plan

President Johnson’s Plan (Presidential

Reconstruction Plan1. Offered amnesty upon simple oath to all except Confederate civil and military officers and those with property over $20,000 (they could apply directly to Johnson)

2. In new constitutions, they must accept minimumconditions repudiating slavery, secession and state debts.

3. Named provisional governors in Confederate states and called them to oversee elections for constitutional conventions.

Growing Northern Alarm!

Growing Northern Alarm! Many Southern state

constitutions fell short of minimum requirements.

Andrew Johnson granted 13,500 special pardons to former Confederate officers and government officials

Southern States began to write BLACK CODES in their new state constitutions

Radical Republicans: Thaddeus Radical Republicans: Thaddeus Stevens, Charles Sumner, Stevens, Charles Sumner,

Ben WadeBen Wade

Radical RepublicansRadical Republicans• Outlaw slaveryOutlaw slavery• Pass amendments to grant African Americans Pass amendments to grant African Americans

citizenship and voting rightscitizenship and voting rights• Divide the south into five military districts and Divide the south into five military districts and

keep troops in the southkeep troops in the south• Each state must pass African American voting Each state must pass African American voting

rights which would be protected by the militaryrights which would be protected by the military• Empower African Americans in government Empower African Americans in government

and education and education

Wade-Davis Bill (1864)*radical

Wade-Davis Bill (1864)*radical1. Required 50% of the number of 1860 voters to take an “iron clad” oath of allegiance (swearing they had never voluntarily aided the rebellion ).

SenatorBenjamin

Wade(R-OH)

Congr.Henry

W. Davis(R-MD)

Wade-Davis Bill (1864)Wade-Davis Bill (1864)

« Pocket veto means – to let the session of Congress expire ”end” without signing the bill into law….essentially destroys the bill

PresidentPresidentLincolnLincoln

PresidentPresidentLincolnLincoln

Wade-DavisWade-DavisBillBill

Wade-DavisWade-DavisBillBill

PocketPocketVetoVeto

PocketPocketVetoVeto

1313thth Amendment Amendment

• Supported: Radical RepublicansSupported: Radical Republicans

• Outlawed slavery in the United StatesOutlawed slavery in the United States

DebateDebate

• Which of the three plans do you agree Which of the three plans do you agree with most? WHY?with most? WHY?

Freedmen's BureauFreedmen's Bureau


• Run by the War Dept.Run by the War Dept.

• Provided food, clothing a jobs to war Provided food, clothing a jobs to war refugeesrefugees

• Built schools and provided teachers and Built schools and provided teachers and education to former slaveseducation to former slaves

Civil Rights Act 1866Civil Rights Act 1866


• Goal to override black codes in the southGoal to override black codes in the south

• Stated - states could not deprive African Stated - states could not deprive African Americans of constitutional rights.Americans of constitutional rights.

1414thth Amendment Amendment


• Provided African Americans citizenship Provided African Americans citizenship rightsrights

Reconstruction Act 1867Reconstruction Act 1867


• Called Military ReconstructionCalled Military Reconstruction

• Divided south into 5 military districtsDivided south into 5 military districts

Military Reconstruction Act


Reconstruction Acts of 1867

Reconstruction Acts of 1867


Command of the Army Act

Tenure of Office Act

15th Amendment15th Amendment


• Provided voting rights to African Provided voting rights to African AmericansAmericans

General Amnesty Act of 1872General Amnesty Act of 1872

• Supported: White Southern Democrats Supported: White Southern Democrats and Andrew Johnsonand Andrew Johnson

• Removed voting and office holding Removed voting and office holding restriction on former Confederates restriction on former Confederates

Civil Rights Act of 1875Civil Rights Act of 1875


• Gave African Americans equal Gave African Americans equal protection in courtprotection in court

• Prohibited stacked jury Prohibited stacked jury

Compromise of 1877Compromise of 1877

• Supported: Compromise between Southern white Democrats and Supported: Compromise between Southern white Democrats and Radical RepublicansRadical Republicans

• Rep: Rutherford B. HayesRep: Rutherford B. Hayes

• Dem: Samuel TildenDem: Samuel Tilden

• Outcome: Tilden wins popular vote but not an electoral majorityOutcome: Tilden wins popular vote but not an electoral majority

• 15 member committee created (8 Republicans, 7 Democrats 15 member committee created (8 Republicans, 7 Democrats decides electiondecides election

• Committee Selected Rutherford B. Hayes as president in Committee Selected Rutherford B. Hayes as president in exchange for ending Reconstruction and removing troops from the exchange for ending Reconstruction and removing troops from the South.South.

THE TASTE OF FREEDOM!THE TASTE OF FREEDOM!• FreedmenFreedmen = Freed Black Slaves = Freed Black Slaves

• Freedom to: Freedom to: Own LandOwn Land, , MovementMovement, , LearnLearn & & WorshipWorship

• The Freedmen’s Bureau: The Freedmen’s Bureau: Created by the Created by the US Government to help freedmen adjust US Government to help freedmen adjust to freedom in 1865to freedom in 1865•Gave food and medical aid to former slaves

•Established schools for black children

•Tried to get former slaves jobs in the workplace and fair wages

4 million

Freedmen’s Bureau School

Freedmen’s Bureau School

• As the Southern states came back into the Union As the Southern states came back into the Union they passed laws that restricted Freedmen, called they passed laws that restricted Freedmen, called Black CodesBlack Codes::

– CurfewsCurfews - blacks couldn’t gather after sunset - blacks couldn’t gather after sunset – VagrancyVagrancy - hanging out or wondering around ,“not - hanging out or wondering around ,“not

working” – one could be finedworking” – one could be fined– Labor contractsLabor contracts - freedmen signed agreements for a - freedmen signed agreements for a

year to workyear to work– Land restrictionsLand restrictions - freedmen could rent land or - freedmen could rent land or

homes in rural areas homes in rural areas These Black Codes upset the Radical RepublicansThese Black Codes upset the Radical Republicans

Black CodesBlack Codes

Congress Breaks with the President

Congress Breaks with the President These Black Codes enraged the

Radical Republicans in Congress as a result they began to try change the Constitution

In 1866, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 which outlawed Black Codes- President Johnson vetoed

the Act Congress passed it anyway over-ride

veto 1st in US history

Radical Republicans helped pass three Amendments stitution, these amendments are called the Civil War Amendments


Slavery is Illegal

Ratified in December, 1865


All people born or naturalized in the US are Citizens

The states may not deny anyone the equal protection of the laws

Ratified in July, 1868

15th Amendment15th Amendment The right of citizens of the United

States to vote shall not be denied on acount of race, color or previous condition of servitude.

Women’s rights groups were furious that they were not granted the vote!

Military Reconstruction ActMilitary Reconstruction Act

• Divided South into Military DistrictsDivided South into Military Districts

Command of the Army ActCommand of the Army Act

• Required all orders from the President to go through Required all orders from the President to go through the headquarters of the General’s armythe headquarters of the General’s army

The Tenure of Office ActThe Tenure of Office Act

Edwin Stanton

The Senate must approve any presidential dismissal of a cabinet official or general of the army.

President Johnson’s Impeachment

President Johnson’s Impeachment« Johnson removed Stanton in February,

1868.

« Johnson replaced generals in the field who were more sympathetic to Radical Reconstruction.

« The House impeached him on February 24 before even drawing up the charges by a vote of 126 – 47!

The Senate TrialThe Senate Trial

« 11 week trial.

« Johnson acquitted 35 to 19 (one short of required 2/3s vote).

Carpetbaggers Carpetbaggers « Many former

northern abolitionists and Union soldiers risked their lives to help freedmen« The southerners called these people “carpetbaggers”

« They were seen as intruders seeking to make $ from the South’s poor condition

ScalawagsScalawags« Native white

Southerners who joined the Republican party after the Civil War and advocated the acceptance of the congressional Reconstruction were called scalawags « They were seen by many in the South as traitors who deserted their countrymen

Blacks in Southern PoliticsBlacks in Southern Politics« Blacks were politically unprepared

« Blacks could register and vote in states since 1867.

« The 15th Amendment guaranteed federal voting for Freedmen (not black women)

Black Senate & House Delegates

Black Senate & House Delegates

First African-American SenatorFirst African-American Senator

• Hiram RevelsHiram Revels

• Elected as a Senator in 1870 Elected as a Senator in 1870 Representing the state of Mississippi Representing the state of Mississippi

The “Invisible Empire of the South”

The “Invisible Empire of the South”

““Boy, You ain’t a votin’ here”!Boy, You ain’t a votin’ here”!

Southern whites were violently opposed to Southern whites were violently opposed to Freedmen’s rightsFreedmen’s rights

As a result, it led to the rise of secret society called As a result, it led to the rise of secret society called the Ku Klux Klan …. (KKK)the Ku Klux Klan …. (KKK)

Violently targeted and terrorized: Freedmen, Violently targeted and terrorized: Freedmen, Scalawags and CarpetbaggersScalawags and Carpetbaggers

In opposition, the Radical Republicans passed the In opposition, the Radical Republicans passed the Enforcement Acts of 1870 & 1871, (also know as Enforcement Acts of 1870 & 1871, (also know as the KKK Act)the KKK Act)

Where army was present, KKK leaders were Where army was present, KKK leaders were apprehended and imprisonedapprehended and imprisoned

WHITE SUPREMACYWHITE SUPREMACY

• The Klan used The Klan used various various

means of terrorism means of terrorism

including:including:– IntimidationIntimidation– KidnappingKidnapping– TorturingTorturing– HarassmentHarassment– HangingsHangings

The 1868 Republican Ticket

The 1868 Republican Ticket

The 1868 Democratic Ticket

The 1868 Democratic Ticket

1868 Presidential Election


Grant Presidency- Scandals and Crisis

Grant Presidency- Scandals and Crisis

« Grant presided over an era of unprecedented growth and corruption.

* “Indian Ring”

* Whiskey Ring

* Panic of 1873

Indian RingIndian Ring

« In 1876, Grant’s Secretary of War, William Belknap had accepted bribes from merchants at Indian posts in the West

« Belknap was impeached but resigned before the Senate could convict

Whiskey RingWhiskey Ring« A group of

government officials cheated the government out of millions of dollars by filing false tax reports

« Orville E. Babcock, Grant’s private secretary was allegedly involved

The Panic of 1873The Panic of 1873 Many banks declared

bankruptcy from bad railroad investments

A wave of fear spread throughout the financial community sent the economy in a downward spiral for over 6 years

Sound familiar- ?

The Election of 1872The Election of 1872 Rumors of corruption

during Grant’s first term discredited the Republicans.

Horace Greeley runsas a Democrat/LiberalRepublican candidate.

Greeley was attacked as a fool and a crank

Grant won the Election of 1872

Greeley died on November 29, 1872!



And They Say He Wants a Third Term

And They Say He Wants a Third Term

Reconstruction EndsReconstruction Ends

Hot topics of the election: “Grantisms” & corruption

Panic of 1873 [6-yeardepression]

Concern over Westwardexpansion and Indian wars

What to do with Reconstruction???

Election of 1876:

Republicans nominated – Rutherford B. Hayes

Democrats nominated – Samuel Tilden

1876 Presidential Tickets1876 Presidential Tickets



A Political Crisis: The “Compromise” of 1877A Political Crisis: The “Compromise” of 1877

The New SouthThe New South

* Tenant Farming - Freedmen paid rent for the land they farmed

* Sharecroppers - Freedmen didn’t pay rent in cash but were given land to harvest but they had to share a portion of their crops with the plantation owners

The collapse of Reconstruction ended African Americans’ hopes of being granted their own land…..Add on their lack of money and Freedmen returned to plantations owned by whites to work:

SharecroppingSharecropping

Tenancy & the Crop Lien System

Tenancy & the Crop Lien SystemFurnishing

MerchantTenant Farmer Landowner

§ Loan tools and seed up to 60% interest to tenant farmer to plant spring crop.

§ Farmer also secures food, clothing, andother necessities oncredit from merchant until the harvest.

§ Merchant holds “lien” {mortgage} on part of tenant’s future crops as repayment of debt.

§ Plants crop, harvests in autumn.

§ Turns over up to ½ of crop to land owner as payment of rent.

§ Tenant gives remainder of crop to merchant inpayment of debt.

§ Rents land to tenant in exchange for ¼ to ½ of tenant farmer’s future crop.

Effects of ReconstructionEffects of ReconstructionSuccesses of ReconstructionSuccesses of Reconstruction

1.1. Republicans carried out their two main Republicans carried out their two main goalsgoals

A. Rebuild the Union & B. Repair war-A. Rebuild the Union & B. Repair war-torn Southtorn South

2.2. The 13The 13thth, 14, 14thth and 15 and 15thth Amendments: Amendments: abolished slavery, guaranteed Freedmen abolished slavery, guaranteed Freedmen the rights of citizenship and right to votethe rights of citizenship and right to vote

3.3. The Freedmen’s Bureau helped many The Freedmen’s Bureau helped many black families obtain jobs, housing and black families obtain jobs, housing and

EDUCATION!!!EDUCATION!!!

Effects of ReconstructionEffects of ReconstructionFailures of ReconstructionFailures of Reconstruction

1.1. As Reconstruction ended most Freedmen As Reconstruction ended most Freedmen remained in a cycle of poverty, Freedmen remained in a cycle of poverty, Freedmen still lacked property, economic opportunity still lacked property, economic opportunity and political power.and political power.

2.2. Racists attitudes towards African Americans Racists attitudes towards African Americans continued as a result of hate groups like the continued as a result of hate groups like the KKKKKK

3.3. Reconstruction left a lasting bitterness Reconstruction left a lasting bitterness among many white southerners toward the among many white southerners toward the federal government and the Republican federal government and the Republican Party.Party.

Documents

Reconstruction Presidents