Chapter 12-Reconstruction and Its Effects

Section 1-The Politics of Reconstruction

Section 2-Reconstructing Society

Section 3-The Collapse of Reconstruction

Section 1-The Politics of Reconstruction

Reconstruction was the name of the time period following the Civil War, from 1865-1877.

It also refers to the process the federal gov’t used to readmit the Confederate states.

The process became very complicated because of the differing views that Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and Congress held.

After Lincoln’s untimely death, President Andrew Johnson had to deal with Reconstruction.

Presidential Reconstruction included the following:

1. Southerners who swore allegiance to the Union were pardoned (forgiven of any crimes against the US).

2. Former Confederate states could hold constitutional conventions to set up state gov’ts.

3. States had to void (cancel) secession and ratify (approve) the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery throughout the nation.

4. Once the 13th Amendment was ratified, states could then hold elections and be part of the Union.

Lincoln and Johnson’s plans for moderate Reconstruction angered some Republicans, known as Radical Republicans.

This group was led by Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens.

The Radical Republicans were members of the Republican party who favored a much tougher stance against the former Confederate states.

Johnson wanted to allow states to manage their internal affairs and pardon all Confederate gov’t & military officials.

Radical Republicans were infuriated and Congress refused to allow the readmission of the seceded states.

In the meantime, Congress created the Freedmen’s Bureau to assist former slaves and poor whites in the South by distributing food and clothing.

It also set up hospitals, schools, industrial institutes, and teacher training centers.

Congress also tried to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to get rid of black codes and give AfrAmer citizenship.

Johnson vetoed the act and further angered Congress.

Moderate and Radical Republicans joined forces and overrode the veto.

They also drafted the 14th Amendment which made all people “born or naturalized in the US” citizens with rights.

Not ratified until 1868.

Congress finally passed the Reconstruction Act of 1867 which created a plan called Radical Reconstruction. It did the following:

1. Southern states were put under military rule.

2. Southern states had to hold new constitutional conventions.

3. AfrAmer were allowed to vote.4. Southerners who supported the

Confederacy were temporarily not allowed to vote.

5. Southern states had to guarantee equal rights to AfrAmer.

6. Southern states had to ratify the 14th Amendment, which made AfrAmer citizens of their states and the nation.

Johnson vetoed again and Congress overrode it again.

Many decided Pres. Johnson was not carrying out his responsibilities and voted to impeach him for misconduct.

The trial took place from March to May of 1868 and ended one vote short of the 2/3 majority needed.

At the presidential election of 1868, General Ulysses S. Grant was the Republican candidate and won the majority vote.

AfrAmer had turned out in large numbers and Congress passed the 15th Amendment to protect voting rights.

Voting could not be prohibited because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

Section 2-Reconstructing Society By 1870 all of the former Confederate states

had re-entered the Union. However, the Republicans did not want to

end Reconstruction because they wanted to make economic changes.

Because the majority of fighting had occurred in the South most farms and plantations had been destroyed and the new gov’ts faced the difficult task of rebuilding properties and lives.

Republican gov’ts started massive public works programs to help the Southern people.

Some of the projects included rebuilding roads, bridges, and railroads and setting up orphanages and hospitals.

They also est. the first public school systems across the South.

These programs were extremely expensive, however.

$$ was scarce in the South. In order to pay for the programs taxes were increased and new ones were created.

Democrats that opposed this plan for Reconstruction called white Southerners who joined the Republican party scalawags.

Many scalawags believed the R.party offered the best chances to improve the South while others wanted political power.

The Democrats also gave the name carpetbagger to Northerners who moved South after the war.

Many believed the carpetbaggers wanted to exploit the South for profit.

Some felt they had a moral duty to help the South, some wanted to buy land or open business, and others were dishonest business people.

During Reconstruction, AfrAmer males gained the right to vote and belonged mainly to the R.party.

AfrAmer had many new decisions to make for themselves and looked forward to new opportunities.

Many ex-slaves moved to the cities looking for work and family members.

Some of the first churches, schools, and universities (Morehouse College in Atlanta) were started for AfrAmer.

Many also became involved in politics at all levels of gov’t.

Hiram Revels was the 1st AfrAmer Senator in the US.

Many of the black codes had been repealed, but segregation was still common in the North and South.

Section 3-Collapse of Reconstruction Some bitter Southerners turned to violence to

keep AfrAmer out of politics and from voting. Some vigilante groups whipped, tortured, and

killed former slaves in an attempt to restore “white supremacy.”

The Ku Klux Klan or KKK originally began as a social club for Confederate veterans in 1866.

As membership grew, however, the group turned into a violent terrorist organization.

The goals of the KKK included:

1. Destroy the R.party

2. Get rid of Reconstruction gov’ts

3. Restore white supremacy

4. Keep AfrAmer from exercising rights (especially politically and economically)

The KKK also attacked some white Southerners because of their pro-AfrAmer views.

During 1870-71 Congress passed the Enforcement Acts to protect Southerners and prevent attacks.

Although legislation was limited, it did lead to decreased KKK activity.

As Southern Republicans tried to maintain power, political corruption weakened the party.

Pres. Grant’s administration was plagued by scandals and corruption.

Grant himself was not involved, but several of his officials were corrupt and impeached.

In 1872 the R.party split. The Liberal Republicans wanted an “honest gov’t.”

Sec. of TreasuryBenjamin Bristow

Sec. to GrantOrville Babcock

Sec. of WarWilliam Belknap

President Ulysses S. Grant

Despite the split, corruption continued in Grant’s administration.

Officials were accused of accepting bribes, bribing others, using federal $$ for themselves, etc.

In 1873 one of the largest banking firms in the country went bankrupt, causing the Panic of 1873.

Smaller banks closed and the stock market temporarily collapsed.

The panic triggered a 5 year economic depression across the country.

It also caused a debate over the nation’s currency-gold standard vs. greenbacks

The Supreme Court also passed decisions that undermined the 14th and 15th Amendments.

As the SC rejected Reconstruction policies, Northern voters began to focus more on nat’l issues than events in the South.

R.party also began to back off.

Throughout all of this, Democrats began to regain control in the South and they called this redemption.

During the Election of 1876 the R.party nominated Rutherford B. Hayes and the D.party nominated Samuel Tilden.

Tilden won the popular vote, but Hayes won the Electoral College vote and became the next President.

The Compromise of 1877 brought an official end to Reconstruction in the South.

After the election the D.party created home rule where state gov’ts could run without federal intervention.

The Democrat “Redeemers” said they would rescue the South from rule by Northerners, Republicans, and AfrAmer.

With the end of Reconstruction and the rise of groups like the KKK, African Americans soon lost whatever political position they gained in the years following emancipation.

Southern states passed Jim Crow laws that required blacks and whites to use separate public facilities.

Tactics used to prevent AfrAmer from voting included: Literacy tests-required that a citizen prove

he could read/write. Poll taxes-required voters to pay a set

amount of $ in order to vote. Grandfather clause-exempted citizens from

restrictions on voting if they, or their ancestors, had voted in previous elections (before 1867) or had served in the Confederate military.