AND ITS EFFECTS

Reconstruction

Reconstruction

1st major task is to rebuild the country. A very difficult task.

Before his death, Lincoln had already began making plans.

Reconstruction Plans : Lincoln

Lincoln wanted to be lenient.

10% Plan: The president would be

in charge of Reconstruction

Government would pardon all Confederates, except high-ranking officials

10% of state’s voters must swear allegiance before they could rejoin the Union

After 10% swears allegiance: Write a new

constitution Elect a new governor Elect senators and

representatives to send to D.C.

Reconstruction Plan: Radical Republicans

Radical Republicans wanted to punish the South. The Wade-Davis Bill:

Congress would be in charge of Reconstruction Former CSA states must declare their secession illegal A majority of a state’s voters must swear allegiance to

rejoin the Union (If not the state would be considered conquered territory)

All ex-Confederates would be prevented from voting or holding office

African Americans would be given full citizenship Former CSA states would be placed under military rule.

President Andrew Johnson

After Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson takes the presidency.

He represented Tennessee but stayed in the Union after secession.

Lincoln chose him as a running mate because he knew the war was coming to an end and wanted the Democrat vote.

Reconstruction Plan: Presidential

Congress had adjourned in March, so while Congress was away Johnson began implementing his own plan.

This is all without Congressional approval.

Presidential Reconstruction CSA states must

declare their secession illegal

At least 20% must swear allegiance to the Union

Ratify the 13th Amendment

Only high-ranking officials must apply for pardon

Reconstruction Plan

Under this plan all the states come back except for Texas.

When Congress reconvened and saw all the representatives from the former Confederate states, they were furious!

The Republicans did not recognize the states and told them to go home.

Congressional Takeover

Johnson worked to readmit states and pardon most Southerners.

Congress began passing legislation to prevent this and to address issues regarding freed slaves Freedman’s Bureau Civil Rights Act of

1866

Freedman’s Bureau

Help freed slaves adjust to new ways of life

Supply food, clothing, and shelter

Supervise labor relations between blacks and white employers Ex- failure to pay an ex-

slave results in the bureau taking you to court

Create educational opportunities.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Gave African Americans citizenship and forbade states from passing black codes.

Ex – Vagrancy Law says that if any adult male was unemployed he could be arrested and fined for being a vagrant. If he could not pay, then he would be hired out to a white employer until he was able to pay the fine.

14th Amendment

Congress passed the 14th Amendment which recognized people born within the United States as citizens.

Congress also said that if the southern states agree to ratify the Amendment then they can rejoin the Union as legitimate states.

However Johnson denounced it saying it was illegitimate. He said it was only passed by northerners.

Johnson convinced all states to denounce the Amendment. To him they were already legitimate states. The only state to ratify the Amendment was Tennessee, Johnsons own state.

Congressional Takeover

1866 – The Radical Republicans gained enough seats to give them complete control of Reconstruction. They could overrun presidential vetoes. Divided the former CSA states into 5 military districts,

governed by a Union general

To Rejoin the Union

All males, white and black, had to register and vote. However, if you held office under the Confederacy you

could not vote. Once that is complete you could have

elections and create your own state government.

Then these governments had to ratify the 14th Amendment.

Then they could be a legitimate state and have representation in Washington.

Johnson’s Impeachment

President Johnson and the Radical Republican Congress did not get along. Congress wanted to limit the power of the Presidency.

Congress, who was led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner, passed the Tenure of Office Act in 1867.

Johnson’s Impeachment

The Tenure of Office Act prohibited the President from removing federal officials without the approval of the Senate. (So the President can appoint federal positions but not fire them)

Johnson believed this was unconstitutional and therefore tested it out by firing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

Johnson’s Impeachment

February 24, 1868 - the House of Representatives voted for impeachment on the grounds of Johnson violating federal law. The House brings

charges against someone – impeach. To be removed they must be tried by the Senate and voted out by a 2/3 majority.

Johnson’s Impeachment

March – May 1868 – Johnson was tried before the Senate.

When the vote came in Johnson needed a 2/3 vote to convict, but was saved by 1 vote. Those who voted in favor of Johnson believed the Act was unconstitutional.

Johnson remained in office, but lost political power.

Election of 1868

Democrats chose Horatio SeymourRepublicans chose war hero Ulysses S. Grant

The African American vote helped secure Grant’s victory.

New Opportunities for African Americans

Began participating in all levels of government

1867 – 16 seats in the South were held by African Americans

1st African American Senator was Hiram Revels

In the South about 90% of the qualified African American voters voted.

New Opportunities for African Americans

Few former slaves had enough money to buy land and if they could many whites would refuse to sell property to them.

40 acres and a Mule is what General Sherman promised freed slaves that followed his army. 40 acres / family and the use of an army mule.

Eventually President Johnson gave the land back to the original land owners. Pro – Former slaves deserved the land because they

worked on it. Believed they really needed land for them to truly be free.

Con – viewed it as wrong to seize citizens private property

New Opportunities for African Americans

1866 Southern Homestead Act – 44 million acres were distributed in the South for freed slaves and loyal whites. Yet the land was swampy and unsuitable for farming.

Opposition to Reconstruction

Many white Southerners opposed losing their political voice and resorted to violence to prevent African Americans from exercising their political rights.

Ku Klux Klan

3 main goals:1. Restore white

supremacy and economic power

2. Throw Republicans out of power

3. Prevent African Americans from voting or holding office.

Why do they wrap themselves in white hoods and sheets?

Ways of Terror Who was Targeted

Wear their white sheets and hoods roaming the countryside on horses.

Various forms of harassment, beatings, and hangings.

Typically if you were visited 3 times they would hang you.

Blacks in politics Blacks sending their kids

to school Blacks discriminating

whites Whites who sympathized

with blacks Whites who educated

blacks Whites who encouraged

blacks to participate in politics.

Ku Klux Klan

http://www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan/videos/the-kkk

Ways of keeping economic power:1. Sharecropping – where landowners divided

their land and gave each worker a few acres with seed and tools to use. At harvest time the worker gave a share of his crop.

2. Tenant Farming – “Croppers” who bought their own tools could rent the land from landowners. Then they could keep all their harvest. Problem – rarely earn enough to pay for past debt and future supplies.

Between 1880 and 1900, the number of tenants increased from 53,000 to 93,000.

By 1890, one in three white farmers and three of four black farmers were either tenants or sharecroppers.

Corruption in Grant’s Administration

When making political appointments, Grant selected friends and acquaintances. Many turned out to be dishonest.

Credit Mobilier scandal – involving a construction company, working for the Union Pacific Railroad, skimming money through the government contract. Grant’s vice president was found to be part of the scandal.

Whisky Ring – govt. officials accepted bribes from whiskey distillers to be excluded from paying taxes.

Anger begins to Erode

1872 – Amnesty ActRestored to almost all southern males the right to vote

and hold officeWhy: 7 years since the war and anger starts

to cool downMost blacks and carpetbaggers were voted

out of officeNewly elected state governments were run

by democratic whites.

The Election of 1876

Republican: Rutherford B. Hayes

Democrat: Samuel J. Tilden Tilden won the popular

vote Hayes was declared

the winner of the Electoral College, but many votes were disputed.

The Election of 1876

Democrats agreed to accept Hayes if Republicans agreed to a compromise:

The Compromise of 1877: Remove Federal troops

from the South Federal money to build

railroads in the South Hayes must appoint a

Southerner to his cabinet

The Compromise brought an end to Reconstruction

Home Rule

Democrats were allowed to run state governments without federal intervention. Passed laws restricting

the rights of African Americans- some Supreme Court decisions limited the 14th and 15th amendments

Ended social programs Cut taxes Closed public schools

Poll tax, literacy tests, grandfather clause

The Legacy of Reconstruction

13th Amendment – Outlawed slavery14th Amendment – people born in the U.S. were

automatic citizens15th Amendment – No one can be kept from voting

because of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude.

Increased educationSegregation Laws protecting African Americans were not

enforced Increased bitterness

Overall Reconstruction is not considered a success