chapter 11-reconstruction notes part 2

7/31/2019 Chapter 11-Reconstruction Notes Part 2

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Congressional Reconstruction

Newly reconstituted Southern states

representatives arrived in Congress in

December 1865

Among them were many former Confederate

leaders

Former generals, colonels, and various members of

the Richmond cabinet and Congress- including ex-vicepresident Alexander Stephens, who was still under

indictment for treason


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Congressional Reconstruction

Former Confederate

Vice-President

Alexander Stephens-

now Senator fromGeorgia (1866)


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Congressional Reconstruction Republicans in Congress were appalled by the former

Confederate presence now in the chambers of the Capitol They had gotten used to passing legislation free from

Democratic opposition during the Civil War Morrill Tariff-increased taxes on imports for the first time since

the Tariff of 1832 to raise revenue for the North during the war Pacific Railroad Act- allowed for the construction of the

transcontinental railroad

Homestead Act-offered 160 acres of land west of the MississippiRiver to homesteaders that would live on the land for 5 years andmake improvements

December 4, 1865- Republicans denied Southern Democrats(former Rebels) from entering congressional chambers


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Congressional Reconstruction Issue of Representation-

The seceding states now had increased representation inCongress due to Freedmen counting as a whole person (asopposed to 3/5ths)

Northern Republicans began to fear a coalition ofSouthern and Northern Democrats taking over Congress Possible perpetuation of the Black Codes

Virtual re-enslavement of the Freedmen

Dismantling of the economic program of the Republican partyby lowering tariffs, rerouting the transcontinental railroad, orrepealing the Homestead Act

This perspective was made worse when President Johnsonannounced in December, 1865, that the rebel states hadsatisfied his conditions and now the Union was restored


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Johnson vs. Congress

February, 1866- Johnson vetoed a bill extending thelife of the Freedmens Bureau

March, 1866- Republicans pushed through a CivilRights Bill

Conferred on blacks the privilege of American citizenshipand struck at the Black Codes

Johnson (now dubbed Sir Veto and Andy Vetovetoed this bill saying that it was unconstitutional

Congress overrode his veto with a 2/3rds vote andpassed the Civil Rights Bill (eventually becoming the14th Amendment to the Constitution


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14th Amendment

Conferred civil rights, including citizenship butexcluding the franchise, on the Freedmen

Reduced proportionately the representation of astate in Congress and in the Electoral College if itdenied blacks the ballot

Disqualified from federal and state office formerConfederates who as federal officeholders hadonce sworn to support the Constitution of the

United States Guaranteed the federal debt, while repudiating

all Confederate debts


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14th Amendment Radical Republicans in Congress were upset

that the Civil Rights Bill did not grant theright to vote

All Republicans agreed that no rebel stateshould be allowed into the Union withoutratifying the 14th Amendment

President Johnson advised the rebel states toreject it and all of the sinful eleven, exceptTennessee defiantly snubbed the amendment


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President Andrew Johnson

Congressional Elections of 1866 President Johnson jumped at the opportunity to help

those who favored his soft-on-the-South policy Embarked upon his swing round the circle which started

in the late summer of 1866 Attacked Radical Republicans of planning large-scale anti-

Black riots and murder in the South

As hecklers insulted him while he spoke Johnsonfired back getting involved in shouting matches with

the crowds His plan to garner support for like-minded

candidates backfired as the Republicans took morethan a 2/3rds majority in both houses of Congress


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Republican Principles and Programs

Republicans had gained a veto-proof Congressand virtually unlimited control of Reconstructionpolicy Still a contingent of Moderates provided a bit of an

obstacle Leaders of the Radical Republicans

Charles Sumner- (Senate) promoted black freedomand racial equality

Thaddeus Stevens- (House) championed the blackcause Served on the joint Committee on Reconstruction


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Radical Republican Leaders


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Republican Principles and Programs Radical Republican Reconstruction Policy

Opposed to rapid restoration of the Southern stateswanting to keep them out as along as possible andwanting to apply federal power to bring about adrastic social and economic transformation in theSouth

Moderate Republican Reconstruction Policy

More attuned to time-honored principles of statesrights and self-government

Preferred policies that restrained the states fromabridging citizens rights


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Republican Principles and Programs Policies adopted by Congress showed the

influence of both these schools of thought

Moderates, who were in the majority, had

the upper hand in Congress

One thing both groups had come to agree on

by 1867 was the necessity to enfranchise

black voters

Even by force (Union soldiers) if necessary


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Reconstruction by the Sword

March, 1867- Congress passed the

Reconstruction Act

Divided the South into five military districts, each

commanded by a Union general and policed byUnion soldiers

Disenfranchised tens of thousands of former

Confederates


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Reconstruction by the Sword Congress additionally laid down stringent conditions

for the readmission of the seceded states

Ratification of the 14th Amendment

Giving former slaves their rights as citizens

Whites had to guarantee in their state constitutions fullsuffrage for their former adult male slaves

Reflecting Moderate sentiment it did not provide thefreedmen with land or education at federal expense

Resulted in an inadequate approach to the cause ofjustice for blacks


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Reconstruction by the Sword Radicals were still worried about Southern

whites gaining control of state governments

and doing all they could to keep blacks from

voting

Result- Passage of the 15th Amendment

1869- passed Congress

1870- passed the requisite amounts of states

Guaranteed voting rights for the Freedmen


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Reconstruction by the Sword Military Reconstruction

Took away certain functions of the president as

commander in chief

Established a martial regime of dubious legality

1866- (Ex parte Milligan) the Supreme Court ruled

that military tribunals could not try civilians, even

during wartime, in areas where the civil courts were

open

Prodded (at gunpoint) former Confederate states

to get on with the task of constitution making


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Reconstruction by the Sword

1870- all former Confederate states hadreorganized their governments and had beenaccorded full rights

Republican (Radical) regimes were establishedand firmly entrenched with the aid of theoccupying Union army

As federal troops left Southern states,

governments swiftly passed back into the handsof white Redeemers, or Home Rule regimesdominated by Democrats


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Blacks in Reconstruction Politics

Southern black men seized the initiative andbegan to organize politically

The Union League Assisted by Northern blacks (who initiated the

League), Freedmen turned the League into a networkof political clubs that educated members in theircivic duties and campaigned for Republicancandidates

Mission- included building black churches andschools, representing black grievances before localemployers and government, and recruiting militias toprotect black communities from white retaliation


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Blacks in Reconstruction Politics Freedmen elected as delegates to the state

constitutional conventions held great politicalauthority

These men formed the backbone of the black political

community Black political participation expanded exponentially

during Reconstruction Between 1868 and 1876- 14 congressmen and 2 senators

served in the nations capital

Many more served in state governments as lieutenantgovernors and representatives, and in local governmentsas mayors, magistrates, sheriffs, and justices of the peace


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Blacks in Reconstruction Politics Hiram Revels

Reconstruction Era

Mississippi Senator

Blanche K. Bruce

Reconstruction Era

Mississippi Senator


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Scalawags and Carpetbaggers

The sight of former slaves holding office

deeply offended white Southerners

They lashed out at the Freedmens white

allies

Scalawags- Southerners, often former

Unionists and Whigs, who were accused of

plundering the treasuries of the Southern statesthrough their political influence in the radical

governments


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Scalawags and Carpetbaggers Carpetbaggers- allegedly

sleazy Northerners who hadpacked everything into acarpetbag suitcase at warsend and had come South toseek personal power andprofit

Fact- most were former Unionsoldiers and Northernbusinessmen and

professionals who wanted toplay a role in modernizing theNew South


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Radical Regimes in the South

Much desirable legislation was passed and many

badly needed reforms were introduced

Steps were taken toward establishing adequate

public schools Tax systems were streamlined

Public works were launched

Property rights were guaranteed to women

Once Redeemer governments came to power

they retained many of these welcomed reforms


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Radical Regimes in the South Scandal and corruption

Graftran rampant in many radical governments inthe South

Taking advantage (particularly financially) of ones position

in government

Examples

Use of politically inexperienced blacks as pawns to garnerpersonal financial gain

legislative supplies included hams, perfumes,suspenders, bonnets, corsets, champagne, etc.

One carpetbagger governor saved over $100,000 in oneyear on a salary of $8,000

chapter 11-reconstruction notes part 2

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