American History 1865-present

Introduction• Syllabus • Midterm and Final ExamsReading Assignments• Name: Class: Date:• SUMMARY: What are the central issues in today’s

reading?• QUOTES FROM READING. Write 2 quotes that you want to

discuss in class.• QUESTIONS/THOUGHTS FOR CLASS: Write 2 questions or

thoughts that you would like discussed in class about the reading.

Historical Knowledge in American History

• How it is obtained• How it is transmitted• Primary / Secondary Sources• Primary Sources Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHTtpYYbhm0• The study of the human past—the individual? The

civilization? The culture? Or the nation state?• Are there broad patterns and progress? Are there

cycles? Is human history random and devoid of any meaning?

Our Narrative

We need to understand the economic, political, and social factors that took the United States from what it was after the Civil War to the most powerful and most influential nation in the history of the world.

How do we go from…

to this…

Atlanta at Civil War’s End

Atlanta Today

From…

To…

And…

To…

Critical Goals in Our Narrative

• Explain the consequences of the Civil War• Understand the transformation of the American economy • Examine the changing role of the United States in world

affairs• Show the effects of major social, economic, political

changes • Understand the causes and know the results of WWI and

WWII• Understand the United States’ role as world leader and

the effect of contemporary political and social movements

Quotes

Key speeches and writings for this course

• Martin Luther King “I have a dream”

Lecture One: Outline

1. The Reconstruction Era 2. Radical Republicans / Southern Violence3. 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments4. Freed Slaves5. The Grant Administration6. The End of Reconstruction

The Civil War and Reconstruction

• Civil War ends with 630,000 dead and 4 million freed slaves

What are some questions for the country?List two with a partner.

Partner Activity Johnson’s lenient plan Radical Republicans strict

plansWanted the South to set its own terms of Reconstruction

Punish the South, Conquered territory

Didn’t oppose Black Codes Enacted Civil Rights Acts to protect black against the Black Codes

Recognized Lincoln’s 10% plan Ratify 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments

Not much help for Freedom Aggressive plans to help Freedmen

No Freedman’s Bureau Establish Freedmen’s Bureau

No political equality for blacks Political equality for blacks

Less change than the Radicals Radically change Southern society

The Civil War and Reconstruction

• Lincoln’s lenient philosophy; Johnson’s philosophy (Hanibal Hamlin)

• Lenient Plan led to ex-Confederate leaders in Congress and Black Codes

• Radical Republicans – vast, strict planWhat would be the effects of the two plans –

economically, socially, and politically? Discuss with your partner – give one reason for each.

Consequences

• Effect of power on Southern planter and Northern industrialists? Who gained?

• Freedman’s Bureau – first experiment in social welfare

• What do you think the Freedmen’s Bureau tried to do?

Radical Republicans Gain Power

• 1866 Republicans win major victories• Republicans impeach Johnson but Senate

does not convict him; however, he loses substantial power to do what he wanted

• Confederates angry; adopted militant stance

Southern Violence

• Carpetbaggers: northern Republicans • Scalawags: Southern white Republicans• These two groups gained top positions in

Southern gov’t• KKK forms in South to weaken black and

Republicans leaders

What does the picture depict?

Reconstruction Amendments: 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

• Amendment 13: Abolishes slavery• Amendment 14: Defines citizenship

(supported Civil Rights Act) • Amendment 15: Gives all men the right to

vote

Freed Slaves (Freedmen)

• Some take part in government in the South• Freedom challenging for most, lacking

money and education• Rise of sharecropping • Rise of Baptist Church

Sharecropping Contract

• Agreement between Landlord and Sharecropper• This agreement, made and entered into this 18th day of January, 1879, between Solid South, of the first part, and John Dawson, of the second

part.• Witnesseth: that said party of the first part for and in consideration of eighty-eight pounds of lint cotton to be paid to the said Solid South, as

hereinafter expressed, hereby leases to said Dawson, for the year A. D. 1879, a certain tract of land, the boundaries of which are well understood by the parties hereto, and the area of which the said parties hereby agree to be fifteen acres, being a portion of the Waterford Plantation, in Madison Parish, Louisiana.

• The said Dawson is to cultivate said land in a proper manner, under the general superintendence of the said Solid South, or his agent or manager, and is to surrender to said lessor peaceable possession of said leased premises at the expiration of this lease without notice to quit. All ditches, turn-rows, bridges, fences, etc. on said land shall be kept in proper condition by said Dawson, or at his expense. All cotton-seed raised on said land shall be held for the exclusive use of said plantation, and no goods of any kind shall be kept for sale on any said land unless by consent of said lessor.

• If said Solid South shall furnish to said lessee money or necessary supplies, or stock, or material, or either or all of them during this lease, to enable him to make a crop, the amount of said advances, not to exceed $475 (of which $315 has been furnished in two mules, plows, etc.), the said Dawson agrees to pay for the supplies and advances so furnished, out of the first cotton picked and saved on said land from the crop of said year, and to deliver said cotton of the first picking to the said Solid South, in the gin on said plantation, to be by him bought or shipped at his option, the proceeds to be applied to payment of said supply bill, which is to be fully paid on or before the 1st day of January, 1880.

• After payment of said supply bill, the said lessee is to pay to said lessor, in the gin of said plantation, the rent cotton herein before stipulated, said rent to be fully paid on or before the 1st day of January, 1880. All cotton raised on said land is to be ginned on the gin of said lessor, on said plantation, and said lessee is to pay $4 per bale for ginning same.

• To secure payment of said rent and supply bill, the said Dawson grants unto said Solid South a special privilege and right of pledge on all the products raised on said land, and on all his stock, farming implements, and personal property, and hereby waives in favor of said Solid South the benefit of any and all homestead laws and exemption laws now in force, or which may be in force, in Louisiana, and agrees that all his property shall be seized and sold to pay said rent and supply bill in default of payment thereof as herein agreed. Any violation of this contract shall render the lease void.

• [signed]• Solid South• John Dawson

X (his mark)

The Grant Administration

• Ulysses Grant former general – Have we seen this before?

• Bad staffing decisions• Administrative scandals between government

and business• Grant was protected by big business• During his presidency, Democratic South

rises again

The End of Reconstruction

• Northern interest in Reconstruction declines 1. Economic Panic – defaulting railroad

companies2. Political scandals

The End of Reconstruction

Election of 1876: Dispute of results, corruption• Republican Hayes chosen in bargain

between Southern Democrats and Northern Republicans

• Withdraw Federal troops (favors whom?)• Follow the Reconstruction Amendments

(favors whom?)• The Compromise of 1877 = End of

Reconstruction

Election of 1876

Analysis of Reconstruction

• Generally considered a noble effort that has many successes but failed to fully integrate blacks.

• Effect and laws provided foundation for Civil Rights Movements in the 1960s

Review

• Why did Southerners dislike Carpetbaggers?• What ended Reconstruction?• How did sharecropping arise? • What were some differences between the

Radical Republicans and Johnson?• What problems did Freedmen face? • What do you think of Reconstruction?

Reading and Quiz

• Reading Assignments: page 521-563• Quiz

DBQ Activity

Lecture Two: 1865-1899

The New South

1. Industry 2. Agriculture 3. Politics

4. African AmericansThe New West (The End of the Frontier)

2. Emigrants 2. Miners 3. Native Americans

4. Cowboys 5. Farmers

Transition

• A nation of farmers, Americans moved from the country to the city during this time period

• Immigration exploded