Reconstruction

1865-1876

Aftermath of the War

South is in ruins

Sherman’s march to the Sea/Grant’s Virginia campaign

Southern economy destroyed

Wealthy planters bankrupted by the war

European demand for cotton met elsewhere

Confederate dollars worthless

Many Southern slaves had been given their freedom

Southern states occupied by Union army

Questions to Answer for the North:

Slavery-What to do with current and former slaves?

How to restore the Union?

Should the South be punished for secession?

Lincoln’s Plan

Reconstruction begins before the war ends

By 1863, Union armies controlled much of the South

Lincoln hoped to restore the Southern states to the Union peacefully

Lincoln’s view conflicted with Republican members of Congress who hoped to punish the South (Radical Reps)

10% Plan (Proposed by Lincoln)

10% of a state’s voting population pledged loyalty to the Union (using 1860 election totals)

Once they met quota states could hold elections and rejoin the Union

Generous pardon were given to all but the highest ranking Confederates

Reaction to Lincoln’s PlanPlan did not go far enough for Radical Republicans

Proposed tougher Wade Davis Bill

Required an “ironclad” oath (never were disloyal)

Attempted to give control to black voters

Lincoln “pocket” vetoed the bill

Lincoln is assassinated April 14, 1865

Replaced by Vice President Andrew Johnson

Congress hoped that Johnson would be tougher on the South

They’re wrong--Johnson follows Lincoln’s path

Johnson’s PlanJohnson former Democrat, former slave holder believed

white men should continue to run the South

Johnson favored giving power to yeoman farmers in the South

Plan for readmission only slightly tougher than Lincoln’s

Forced wealthy land owners and former Confederate officials to apply directly to the President for pardons

Pardoned many major Confederate figures

Forced Southern states to repudiate Confederate debt

States had to ratify 13th amendment to rejoin union

13th—Abolishes slavery

Johnson’s Plan and subsequent vetoes of Congressional Reconstruction Plans made him many enemies in Congress

Congressional ReconstructionRadical Republicans were committed to crippling the South

politically

Created Freedmen’s Bureau (1865)

Assisted former slaves

Passed the 13th Amendment banning slavery (1865)

Angry at Johnson’s plan and Southern action (black codes), proposed stronger legislation

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Extended the power of Freedmen’s Bureau

Both Vetoed by Johnson and overridden by Congress

Proposed 14th Amendment

Defined citizenship and protected that right

Punished former Confederates

Congressional ReconstructionMilitary Reconstruction Act of 1867

Passed over Johnson’s veto

Divided South into military districts

Each run by a military general with dictatorial powers

To be “readmitted” to the Union:

States drafted Constitution granting black suffrage

Ratified the 14th Amendment/Later 15th Amendment

Congress passed Army Act and Tenure of Office Act to prevent Johnson from interfering with their plans

Johnson violated Tenure of Office Act

Fired radical Secretary of War Edwin Stanton

Impeached by Congress

Removal fails by a single vote

Grant as PresidentElected narrowly as a Republican in 1868 & again in 1872

Secures passage of the 15th Amendment

Prevents voting discrimination based on race

Quickly dismantled by Southern laws

Grant’s administration is filled with scandal and corruption

Routinely placed trust in dishonest men

“Black Friday” scandal

Whiskey Ring

Credit Moblier

Grant also faced economic woes (Panic of 1873)

Election of 1876By 1876, all but three Southern states had been

“redeemed”

Northern Democrat Tilden vs. Republican Hayes

“Waving the bloody shirt” has lost most of its impact

Tilden wins the election narrowly

Fails to get necessary electoral votes

20 electoral votes came from occupied South

Election is disputed on both sides

Congress creates a special commission to decide matter

Republican manipulated the commission

Both sides struck a compromise

Republicans got Hayes elected

Democrats secured an end to Reconstruction

Net Results of ReconstructionDespite efforts by Congress, political control gradually return to white Southern Democrats (Redeemers)

Former slaves had in many states gained political control during the early days of Reconstruction

Black representatives reach Congress (Hiram Revels)

Republicans attempted to build support among poor southern whites (scalawags) and northern transplants (carpetbaggers)

Race is used by southern Democrats to divide Republicans

Segregation laws/voting restriction put in place by Reedemer governments

Racist groups form in the South to resist growing black rights (KKK, Knights of White Camellia)

Supreme Court overturned civil rights cases

Net Results of ReconstructionReconstruction did little to diminish sectionalism

Destruction of the Southern economy will create change, but slowly (New South)

Northern war strategies and Republican reconstruction measures create lasting animosity

Democrats will be the party of the South for next 100 years

Former slaves had little opportunity to change their status

Many become sharecroppers

Only a small number leave the South