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ReconstructionReconstructionU. S. HistoryFall 2006Paul Dunn
The Old South DestroyedThe Old South DestroyedThe Civil War shattered the
South’s economyTens of thousands of the
confederate veterans returned home without jobs
Millions of the newly freed slaves also found themselves homeless and broke
The Old South DestroyedThe Old South DestroyedThe former slaves had aspirations
of starting their own schools and churches
They also took this time to try and find lost loved ones who had been sold off as slaves
Most of all they wanted to own their own land◦Rumors spread that each freedman
would get 40 acres and a mule
Presidential Presidential ReconstructionReconstructionLincoln’s Goal – “With malice
towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to bind up the nation’s wounds….to do all which may achieve a just and lasting peace.”◦Lincoln was clearly not interested in
punishing the south◦Focus on healing and re-uniting
Presidential PlanPresidential Plan Reconstruction – rebuilding the former confederate states and reuniting the nation◦ Grant amnesty to all
southerners – except high-ranking Confederate leaders – if they would swear allegiance to the US Constitution and accept federal laws ending slavery
◦ Permitted states to re-enter union after 10% of its residents who voted in 1860 swore their loyalty to the nation Wade-Davis Bill – Congress
wanted 50% of citizens of a state to swear allegiance to be re-admitted to the Union
Lincoln vetoed
Lincoln’s AssassinationLincoln’s AssassinationApril 14th, 1865 –
Ford’s theater◦ Play – “My American
Cousin”◦ John Wilkes Booth
Shot at point blank range
Confederate sympathizer
◦ Hundreds of thousands of people stood and watched funeral train as it passed by on the trip from Washington to the burial site in Illinois
◦ Eliminates Lincoln’s calming influence and compassion from the reconstruction debate
Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson
DemocratFormer Slave
HolderFavored
government run by “white” citizens
Lacked political skill
Refused to compromise
The Question of The Question of ReconstructionReconstruction Should the President or
Congress be in charge of reconstruction?
Following the assassination of Lincoln, Andrew Johnson took over as president◦ Stubborn◦ Lacked social skills◦ Refused to compromise◦ Took debate and criticism
personally◦ Also lacked the personal
“clout” to force hard proposals through congress
Presidential Reconstruction Presidential Reconstruction under Johnsonunder Johnson1865 – Pardoned all rebels except
former confederate officeholders and the richest planters◦These he pardoned on an individual
basisRe-admission to the Union
◦Nullify acts of secession◦Abolish slavery◦Refuse to pay confederate gov’t.
debts
Southern Attempts to keep slaves Southern Attempts to keep slaves in slaveryin slaverySharecropping – practice
of borrowing money to former slaves in return for a portion of their crop◦ Sharecroppers were
constantly in debt◦ Sharecroppers were often
confined to one plantation to prevent financial “penalties”
◦ Sharecroppers never made enough to payoff loans and have financial freedom
Black CodesBlack CodesLaws passed by white southerners intended to keep
former slaves as close to slavery as possible. Reestablished white control over black laborVaried from state to state (recycled “slave” codes)
◦ Curfews◦ No travel without permits◦ Pass system – blacks could only enter “white towns” with a
special pass issued by the plantation owners◦ Could not hold meetings unless whites were present◦ Could not own guns◦ Could not attend schools with whites◦ Long term labor contracts◦ Allowed judges to decide if black parents could support
their children – used this as leverage to get blacks to work in certain jobs
◦ Could not rent or own land in some areas
The elections of 1866 and The elections of 1866 and the Reconstruction Actsthe Reconstruction ActsViolence in the south made
President Johnson’s call for leniency toward the southern rebels seem particularly absurd
In 1866 northerners overwhelmingly vote Republican
With the Radicals at the helm the Republicans seize control of the Reconstruction process
Congress Versus JohnsonCongress Versus JohnsonThe moderate Republicans and
Radical Republicans joined forces against Johnson◦Witnesses were coming forward with
stories of murder and lynching◦ schools, churches, and homes being
burnt down to intimidate blacks and their supporters
◦stories of death threats to those that were viewed as southern unionists
ContinuedContinuedRepublicans quickly decided that
African Americans would need the right to vote◦The Reconstruction Acts of 1867:
Divide the former confederacy into five military districts
◦To gain readmission to the Union States would have to ratify the 14th amendment as well as letting all men vote
Constitutional RemediesConstitutional Remedies13th Amendment –
Outlawed Slavery
- Ratified December 1865
14th Amendment –
1. Defined citizenship
2. Established Due Process
3. Equal Protection of the Law
4. Declared Confederate Debt from war null and void
1. Ratified July 1868
15th Amendment - gave freedmen the right to vote
- Ratified 1870
Martial Law – Reconstruction Act of Martial Law – Reconstruction Act of 18671867
Rule by the military3 conditions to
stop martial law◦ Hold constitutional
conventions to adopt new constitutions
◦ Ratify the 14th Amend
◦ Guarantee freedmen the right to vote
Southern AidSouthern AidFreedman’s Bureau
◦ Set up schools for both blacks and poor whites Segregated Hired teachers from
the North Opposed by wealthy
southerners Suffered intimidation
from groups like the KKK
Southern ProgressSouthern Progress1869 Hiram Revels
◦ 1st black man elected to congress
◦ 22 blacks eventually were elected
New State Constitutions◦ Were written between 1866 –
1870 Black Republicans Carpetbaggers –
northerners who came to south to help write constitutions
Scalawags – southerners who supported the north
Economic recoveryEconomic recovery
Northern Capital ($) was quickly invested in the south to rebuild◦ Rebuilt Railroads,
Factories, Cotton Mills, etc.
◦ Widespread fraud and corruption
Presidential ImpeachmentPresidential ImpeachmentRepublicans knew that the success of
the Reconstruction act depended on enforcement◦They were equally sure that President
Johnson would not cooperate◦ Johnson challenged the Tenure of Office
Act this act required the firing of federal officials be
approved by Congress first this was a clear challenge to the power of the
president Johnson proceeded to fire numerous officials
Congress responded by voting to impeach him
ContinuedContinuedThey charged him with violating
the Tenure of Office Act, making scandalous speeches, and bringing Congress into disgrace
◦Many thought that a Congress this aggressive threatened the checks and balances of the Constitution
ContinuedContinuedThe case against Johnson was weak
from the start◦Many members of the Congress were
concerned that President Johnson would lead the country into another Civil War
◦The Trial lasted 8 weeks◦The final tally fell one vote short of the
two thirds necessary to remove him from office He remained in office to fill out his term but
was largely ineffective. (Lame Duck)
Further Political DifficultiesFurther Political DifficultiesRadical Republicans
sensed trouble To retain voters they
nominated General Ulysses S. Grant◦ Lacked Political
experience but was a popular war hero
◦ Grant defeated Seymour in a close race
Radicals continued to lose influence as society moves on to other issues
The End of ReconstructionThe End of Reconstruction
Disputed election in 1877◦ South agreed to let
Rutherford B. Hayes to become President if all federal troops were withdrawn from the south
◦ This effectively ended reconstruction