Unit XVI: ReconstructionUnit XVI: Reconstruction

Reconstruction Raised Three Questions Reconstruction Raised Three Questions

1.1. Can the United States be truly united? Can the United States be truly united?

2.2. Can blacks and whites live together? Can blacks and whites live together?

3.3. Who runs this country? Who runs this country?

What the War had done to the South What the War had done to the South

1.1. Physically Physically

2.2. Legally and Constitutionally Legally and Constitutionally

3.3. Emotionally Emotionally

The first northern efforts to The first northern efforts to reconstruct the South took place reconstruct the South took place during the Civil War itself. On Dec. 8, during the Civil War itself. On Dec. 8, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued his Proclamation of Amnesty issued his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. and Reconstruction.

Lincoln was prepared to recognize Lincoln was prepared to recognize Southern state governments Southern state governments established by only one tenth the established by only one tenth the number of voters in the 1860 number of voters in the 1860 presidential election.presidential election.

These persons were simply These persons were simply required to take an oath required to take an oath supporting the United States supporting the United States Constitution and the Union. Constitution and the Union.

In 1864 Congress passed the In 1864 Congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill, which required Wade-Davis Bill, which required 50% of the population to take an 50% of the population to take an oath of loyalty and stronger oath of loyalty and stronger protection of emancipation. protection of emancipation. Lincoln however pocket vetoed Lincoln however pocket vetoed the bill. the bill.

Lincoln had no intention of Lincoln had no intention of distributing the estates of the distributing the estates of the masters among the freedmen. Under masters among the freedmen. Under Lincoln confiscated lands in some Lincoln confiscated lands in some parts of the South were for a time parts of the South were for a time distributed among the freedmen. distributed among the freedmen. Subsequently, however, much of this Subsequently, however, much of this land was restored to its former land was restored to its former owners. owners.

The failure to provide lands to The failure to provide lands to the freedmen helped make them the freedmen helped make them the easy victims of economic the easy victims of economic exploitation and political exploitation and political intimidation during and after intimidation during and after Reconstruction. Reconstruction.

Opposing views on ReconstructionOpposing views on Reconstruction Throughout the summer of 1865 Johnson Throughout the summer of 1865 Johnson had proceeded to carry out Lincoln's had proceeded to carry out Lincoln's reconstruction program, with minor reconstruction program, with minor modifications. By presidential proclamation modifications. By presidential proclamation he appointed a governor for each of the he appointed a governor for each of the seceded states and freely restored political seceded states and freely restored political rights to large numbers of southern citizens rights to large numbers of southern citizens through use of the presidential pardoning through use of the presidential pardoning power. power.

He disenfranchised all former military He disenfranchised all former military and civil officers of the Confederacy and and civil officers of the Confederacy and all those who owned property worth all those who owned property worth $20,000 or more and made their estates $20,000 or more and made their estates liable to confiscation. The obvious intent liable to confiscation. The obvious intent was to shift political control in the South was to shift political control in the South from the old planter aristocracy to the from the old planter aristocracy to the small farmers and artisans, and it small farmers and artisans, and it promised to accomplish a revolution in promised to accomplish a revolution in Southern society. Southern society.

In due time conventions were held in each In due time conventions were held in each of the former Confederate states to repeal of the former Confederate states to repeal the ordinances of secession, repudiate the the ordinances of secession, repudiate the war debt, and draft new state war debt, and draft new state constitutions. Eventually the people of constitutions. Eventually the people of each state elected a governor and a state each state elected a governor and a state legislature, and when the legislature of a legislature, and when the legislature of a state ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, state ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, the new state government was recognized the new state government was recognized and the state was admitted back in the and the state was admitted back in the Union again. Union again.

By the end of 1865, this process, By the end of 1865, this process, with a few exceptions, was with a few exceptions, was completed. But the states that had completed. But the states that had seceded were not yet fully restored seceded were not yet fully restored to their former positions within the to their former positions within the Union because the Congress had not Union because the Congress had not yet seated their U. S. Senators and yet seated their U. S. Senators and Representatives, who were now Representatives, who were now coming to Washington to take their coming to Washington to take their places in the federal legislature. places in the federal legislature.

Both Lincoln and Johnson had Both Lincoln and Johnson had foreseen that the Congress would foreseen that the Congress would have the right to deny southern have the right to deny southern legislators seats in the United legislators seats in the United States Senate or House of States Senate or House of Representatives, under the Representatives, under the clause of the Constitution that clause of the Constitution that says: "Each house shall be the says: "Each house shall be the judge of the qualifications of its judge of the qualifications of its own members." own members."

This denial came to pass when, This denial came to pass when, under the leadership of Thaddeus under the leadership of Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, those Stevens of Pennsylvania, those Congressmen who sought to punish Congressmen who sought to punish the south refused to seat its duly the south refused to seat its duly elected Senators and elected Senators and Representatives. Then, within the Representatives. Then, within the next few months, the Congress next few months, the Congress proceeded to work out a plan of proceeded to work out a plan of southern reconstruction quite southern reconstruction quite different from the one Lincoln had different from the one Lincoln had started and Johnson had continued.started and Johnson had continued.

Eventually President Johnson alienated Eventually President Johnson alienated Congress, which led them to take over Congress, which led them to take over Reconstruction. Reconstruction.

He had done little to stop a campaign of terror He had done little to stop a campaign of terror that extralegal organizations (KKK) had that extralegal organizations (KKK) had launched against Southern freedmen and pro-launched against Southern freedmen and pro-Union whites. Union whites.

When Congress refused to seat the newly When Congress refused to seat the newly elected Confederate leaders, Johnson elected Confederate leaders, Johnson responded by vetoing Congressional responded by vetoing Congressional Reconstruction legislation and personally Reconstruction legislation and personally attacking Republican leaders. attacking Republican leaders.

Johnson vetoed a Civil Rights bill, as well Johnson vetoed a Civil Rights bill, as well as a bill to extend the life of the as a bill to extend the life of the Freedmen's Bureau, which Congress Freedmen's Bureau, which Congress established just before the end of the Civil established just before the end of the Civil War to aid and protect the freed slaves. War to aid and protect the freed slaves.

He also condemned the He also condemned the proposed 14th Amendment, proposed 14th Amendment, which all Southern states except which all Southern states except Tennessee refused to pass. Tennessee refused to pass.

Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights bill was overridden, and the bill was overridden, and the 14th Amendment--which, like 14th Amendment--which, like the Civil Rights bill, conferred the Civil Rights bill, conferred citizenship upon the freedmen--citizenship upon the freedmen--was eventually ratified.was eventually ratified.

This was the first of several civil This was the first of several civil rights bills passed near the end rights bills passed near the end of Reconstruction aimed at of Reconstruction aimed at countering the effects of Black countering the effects of Black Codes enacted in the South. The Codes enacted in the South. The codes were Southern laws forcing codes were Southern laws forcing blacks to live in rural areas; sign blacks to live in rural areas; sign labor contracts, and avoid labor contracts, and avoid confrontation with whites. confrontation with whites.

Republicans, who wanted to Republicans, who wanted to punish the South, were lead in punish the South, were lead in part by Charles Sumner. The part by Charles Sumner. The moderate Republicans agreed moderate Republicans agreed with Lincoln’s viewpoint that with Lincoln’s viewpoint that states should be re-admitted states should be re-admitted swiftly but under Congressional swiftly but under Congressional terms, but sided with the terms, but sided with the Radicals against Johnson’s Radicals against Johnson’s leadership. leadership.

Overall the Republicans wanted Overall the Republicans wanted to ensure that they controlled to ensure that they controlled Southern politics in large part Southern politics in large part due to the fact that newly freed due to the fact that newly freed slaves increased the number of slaves increased the number of eligible southern voters therefore eligible southern voters therefore increasing the number of increasing the number of southern representatives (12) in southern representatives (12) in the House and the addition of the House and the addition of twelve electoral votes. twelve electoral votes.

The newly created Joint The newly created Joint Committee on Reconstruction Committee on Reconstruction reported (Apr. 28, 1866) that the reported (Apr. 28, 1866) that the ex-Confederate states were in a ex-Confederate states were in a state of civil disorder, and hence, state of civil disorder, and hence, had not held valid elections. It had not held valid elections. It also maintained that also maintained that Reconstruction was a Reconstruction was a congressional, not an executive, congressional, not an executive, function.function.

Under the First Reconstruction Act of Under the First Reconstruction Act of March 2, 1867--also passed over March 2, 1867--also passed over Johnson's veto--military rule was to Johnson's veto--military rule was to be imposed on the South until new be imposed on the South until new state constitutional conventions were state constitutional conventions were called and new state constitutions called and new state constitutions written. The South was divided into written. The South was divided into five military districts in which the five military districts in which the commanding officer would determine commanding officer would determine eligible voters. eligible voters.

White Southerners who had White Southerners who had participated in the rebellion were participated in the rebellion were disenfranchised, while blacks, disenfranchised, while blacks, Southern Unionists, and Northern Southern Unionists, and Northern whites enjoyed the franchise and whites enjoyed the franchise and assumed political leadership in the assumed political leadership in the Southern states. Southern states.

Before a state could be readmitted Before a state could be readmitted to the Union, more than half of its to the Union, more than half of its white male voters had to take an white male voters had to take an oath of loyalty to the Union.oath of loyalty to the Union.

Also, black males had to be given the Also, black males had to be given the right to vote, and the 14th right to vote, and the 14th Amendment had to be ratified. To Amendment had to be ratified. To get a clean start for reentry into the get a clean start for reentry into the Union, all state governments elected Union, all state governments elected during the time of Presidents Lincoln during the time of Presidents Lincoln and Johnson were no longer valid and Johnson were no longer valid and new elections were to be held. and new elections were to be held.

The radical Republican The radical Republican governments in the South governments in the South attempted to deal constructively attempted to deal constructively with the problems left by the with the problems left by the Civil War and the abolition of Civil War and the abolition of slavery. Led by so-called slavery. Led by so-called carpetbaggers, scalawags and carpetbaggers, scalawags and freedmen, they began to rebuild freedmen, they began to rebuild the Southern economy and the Southern economy and society.society.

Agricultural production was restored, Agricultural production was restored, roads rebuilt, a more equitable tax roads rebuilt, a more equitable tax system adopted, and schooling system adopted, and schooling extended to blacks and poor whites. extended to blacks and poor whites. The freedmen's civil and political The freedmen's civil and political rights were guaranteed, and blacks rights were guaranteed, and blacks were able to participate in the were able to participate in the political and economic life of the political and economic life of the South as full citizens for the first South as full citizens for the first time. time.

The governments established The governments established under Congressional under Congressional Reconstruction made notable Reconstruction made notable and lasting achievements. They and lasting achievements. They established free public schools established free public schools in which many thousands of in which many thousands of blacks and poor whites began to blacks and poor whites began to learn to read and write. They learn to read and write. They removed property qualifications removed property qualifications for voting and abolished for voting and abolished imprisonment for debt. imprisonment for debt.

Cruel and extreme forms of Cruel and extreme forms of punishment were declared illegal. punishment were declared illegal. Crimes punishable by death were Crimes punishable by death were drastically reduced in number. Large drastically reduced in number. Large sums of money were spent on sums of money were spent on valuable public-works projects.valuable public-works projects.

When President Andrew Johnson When President Andrew Johnson removed Secretary of War Edwin removed Secretary of War Edwin Stanton from office on February 21, Stanton from office on February 21, the Radical Republican-dominated the Radical Republican-dominated House of Representatives accused House of Representatives accused him of violating the 1867 Tenure of him of violating the 1867 Tenure of Office Act, which prevented the Office Act, which prevented the president from dismissing any president from dismissing any federal officeholder who had been federal officeholder who had been appointed with the consent of the appointed with the consent of the Senate. Senate.

The Radical Republicans, who The Radical Republicans, who disliked Johnson's plans for disliked Johnson's plans for reconstruction of the former reconstruction of the former Confederate states, used the Confederate states, used the president's violation of the law to president's violation of the law to organize an impeachment vote organize an impeachment vote against him for "high crimes and against him for "high crimes and misdemeanors," which they won misdemeanors," which they won by a 126 to 47 margin. by a 126 to 47 margin.

On May 16 and May 26, the On May 16 and May 26, the Senate held votes on the Senate held votes on the charges against the president. charges against the president. Both times the vote was 35 for Both times the vote was 35 for conviction and 19 for acquittal--conviction and 19 for acquittal--one vote short of the two-thirds one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction. majority needed for conviction. After their loss, the Radical After their loss, the Radical Republicans dropped the Republicans dropped the proceedings against Johnson. proceedings against Johnson.

Moderate Republicans refused to Moderate Republicans refused to impeach Johnson for fear of impeach Johnson for fear of destabilizing the government, no destabilizing the government, no vice president was chosen after vice president was chosen after Lincoln’s death which meant Lincoln’s death which meant President Pro-Tempore of the Senate President Pro-Tempore of the Senate Ben Wade would become President Ben Wade would become President and he was disliked by the business and he was disliked by the business community. community.

By the mid-1870's Democrats had By the mid-1870's Democrats had begun winning elections in the south begun winning elections in the south as voting restrictions were relaxed as voting restrictions were relaxed and white voters took control of local and white voters took control of local elections. Democratic victory in the elections. Democratic victory in the South led to a massive scaling back South led to a massive scaling back of Reconstruction's accomplishments of Reconstruction's accomplishments as southerners claimed that as southerners claimed that reconstruction governments were reconstruction governments were corrupt. Taxes were slashed; so too corrupt. Taxes were slashed; so too was spending on education, was spending on education, especially for black schools. especially for black schools.

Throughout the South, a campaign Throughout the South, a campaign ensued to put blacks in “their place,” ensued to put blacks in “their place,” which culminated around the turn of which culminated around the turn of the century when one state after the century when one state after another passed laws providing for another passed laws providing for the rigid segregation of the races the rigid segregation of the races and for the disfranchisement of and for the disfranchisement of blacks through such devices as blacks through such devices as literacy tests, poll taxes, and political literacy tests, poll taxes, and political primaries that were open only to primaries that were open only to whites. whites.

These devices prevented almost all These devices prevented almost all Southern blacks and some poor Southern blacks and some poor whites from voting or choosing whites from voting or choosing candidates. candidates.

Demobilization at the end of the Demobilization at the end of the war by the Union army took place war by the Union army took place so quickly that there was only a so quickly that there was only a small occupation force in the south, small occupation force in the south, which disappeared in 1877 which disappeared in 1877 following a political compromise.following a political compromise.

In the 1876 election four In the 1876 election four southern states had returned southern states had returned controversial votes which would controversial votes which would decide the presidency. A special decide the presidency. A special commission was created to commission was created to determine the winner. determine the winner. Republicans managed to gain the Republicans managed to gain the essential votes for Rutherford B. essential votes for Rutherford B. Hayes in return for Hayes’s Hayes in return for Hayes’s promise to end reconstruction. promise to end reconstruction.