Ch. 16: Reconstruction

American History (CHA3U1)

Introduction

Confederate war veterans returned to devastated land

African Americans quickly learned that freedom didn’t mean equality

Readmitting Southern states to the Union difficult because of white Southern bitterness & Radical Republicans in Congress

Sec. 1: After Slavery (pgs. 440 – 44)

New Ways of Life The Plight of Landowners some slaves

agreed to stay and work the land for housing, food and cash after crops harvested

Many lost land because Confederate money worthless therefore couldn’t pay taxes or debts

The Plight of Workers poor whites / African Americans tenant farmers / sharecroppers

Sharecroppers

Sec. 1: After Slavery

From Slavery to Freedom strengthened family ties

Chose new surnames Left for cities or farmland in the West

Sec. 1: After Slavery

The Freedmen’s Bureau Education taught former slaves to read /

write Jobs encouraged former slaves to sign

labour contracts with planters Land land given to former slaves returned to

previous white owners

Sec. 2: Reconstructing the South (pgs. 445 – 51)

Presidential Reconstruction Lincoln’s Plan amnesty / pardon to all

Southerners who pledged an oath of loyalty to the United States

African Americans could return to Africa or colonize Caribbean

The Radical Republicans’ Plan harsher than Lincoln’s plan military rule

Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

Sec. 2: Reconstructing the South

Johnson’s Program President after Lincoln assassinated tried to implement Lincoln’s generous plan but Radical Republicans refused to co-operate

White Men & Black Codes states allowed to create their own laws that denied African Americans many basic rights such as voting or gov’t education

Sec. 2: Reconstructing the South

Presidential Reconstruction The North Responds April 1866 Congress

passed the Civil Rights Bill giving citizenship to African Americans and all the rights entailed

The Fourteenth Amendment defined citizenship to include African Americans who were guaranteed equal protection under the law

Sec. 2: Reconstructing the South

Radical Reconstruction Reconstruction Plans appreciative African

Americans would vote for Radical Republicans Reconstruction Legislation March 1867

Reconstruction Act passed putting the South under five district military rule until the states gave African Americans the right to vote

Sec. 2: Reconstructing the South

Carpetbag Government

Scalawags (Union sympathizers) and carpetbaggers (Northerners) despised

The Radicals in Power reduce Pres. power Challenging the Tenure Law Pres. Johnson

twice fired Edwin Stanton a supporter of Radicals

Sec. 2: Reconstructing the South

Carpetbag Government Johnson Impeached May 16, 1868 Senate

voted 35 to 19 to convict Pres, one vote shy The 1868 Election General Grant won as a

Radical Republican to become new President

Andrew Johnson & Ulysses S Grant

Sec. 3: Restoring Southern Power(pgs. 453 – 56)

Opponents of Reconstruction set up secret societies (e.g. KKK) wore out Radicals

The Compromise of 1877 Electoral Commission disputed Pres vote in

1876 given to Republican candidate Hayes Reaching an Agreement Democrats

outraged so Republicans promised South power, funds and removal of federal troops

Sec. 3: Restoring Southern Power

After Reconstruction Segregation separation of races made legal

by Supreme Court ruling Civil Rights Act of 1875 unconstitutional Jim Crow laws follow

The “New South” industrialization with Northern financing brought railroads, factories

Few Gains for African Americans temporary gains soon gone with economic slavery

Conclusion

Civil War devastated the South but in the long run the abolition of slavery helped the South to industrialize and diversify its economy

Unfortunately it would take another 100 years for African Americans to gain political and economic equality