Chapter 12 – Reconstruction and Its Effects

Section One – The Politics of ReconstructionI. Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction

a. Lincoln’s Ten-Percent Plani. Reconstruction—period of rebuilding after Civil War, 1865–1877ii. Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction calls for 10% allegianceiii. Radical Republicans led by Charles Sumner, Thaddeus Stevens

- want to destroy power of former slaveholders- give full citizenship, suffrage to African Americans

b. Radical Reactioni. 1864 Wade-Davis Bill makes Congress responsible for Reconstructionii. Lincoln uses pocket veto to kill Wade-Davis; Radicals outraged

II. Johnson’s Plana. Johnson Continues Lincoln’s Policies

i. President Andrew Johnson proposes own Presidential Reconstruction:- states must swear allegiance, annul war debts, ratify 13th Amendment- does not address voting rights, land, laws for former slaves

ii. States that had not applied under Lincoln agree to Johnson’s terms- some states do not fully comply

b. Presidential Reconstruction Comes to a Standstilli. Radical Republicans in Congress refuse new Southern legislatorsii. Congress enlarges Freedmen’s Bureau—helps former slaves, poor whites

- gives social services, medical care, education

c. Civil Rights Act of 1866i. Congress passes Civil Rights Act of 1866:

- grants citizenship to African Americans- forbids black codes or discriminatory laws

ii. Black codes restore many restrictions of slaveryiii. Whites use violence to prevent blacks from improving their livesiv. Johnson vetoes Freedmen’s Bureau and Civil Rights Actv. Alienates moderate Republicans; angers Radicals

III. Congressional Reconstructiona. Moderates and Radicals Join Forces

i. In mid-1866, moderate Republicans join Radicals to override vetoii. Draft Fourteenth Amendment—makes African Americans full citizensiii. Most Southern states reject amendment; not ratified until 1868

b. 1886 Congressional Electionsi. Johnson jeered on tour urging election of supporters of his planii. Moderates, Radicals win 2/3 majority in Congress, can override veto

c. Reconstruction Act of 1867i. 1867 Reconstruction Act doesn’t recognize most new state governments

- divides South into military districts- sets new conditions for reentry in Union

ii. Johnson believes act unconstitutional, vetoes; Congress overrides

d. Johnson Impeachedi. Radicals seek to impeach—formally charge with misconduct in officeii. Johnson fires Stanton—test constitutionality of Tenure of Office Actiii. House Radicals impeach Johnson; Senate does not convict

e. U.S. Grant Electedi. 1868, Grant wins presidency with help of African-American voteii. Fifteenth Amendment— gives voting rights to all, regardless of color iii. South does not enforce 14th, 15th Amendmentsiv. White Southerners use violence to prevent blacks from votingv. Enforcement Act of 1870—federal government can punish violators

Section Two – Reconstructing SocietyI. Conditions in the Postwar South

a. Physical and Economic Conditionsi. By 1870, all Confederate states in Union with Republican governmentsii. Buildings, infrastructure, farms destroyed throughout Southiii. People poor; property value plummets, Confederate bonds worthlessiv. 1/5 white males dead, many maimed; tens of thousands black males dead

b. Public Works Programsi. Transportation; homes for orphans, disabled; public schools builtii. Northern capitalists do not invest in South; states must raise taxes

II. Politics in the Postwar Southa. Scalawags and Carpetbaggers

i. Democrats call Southern white Republicans scalawags - most are small farmers- want better economic position

ii. Carpetbaggers—Northerners who moved to South after warb. African-Americans as Voters

i. African Americans are largest group of Southern Republicansii. In many areas, 90% of African-American voters vote

c. Political Differencesi. Few scalawags support civil rights for blacks; many rejoin Democratsii. Republican governors appoint Democrats; do not win white supportiii. Some whites support Republicans; think end of slavery good for Southiv. Many whites refuse to accept new status or equal rights for blacksv. Several thousand Southerners emigrate to Europe, Mexico, Brazil

III. Former Slaves Face Many Challengesa. New-Won Freedoms

i. At first, former slaves cautious about testing limits of freedomii. Some travel to new placesiii. Many leave plantations to find work in Southern towns

b. Reunification of Familiesi. Many search for loved ones on different plantationsii. Couples can marry legally and be sure of keeping their children

c. Educationi. Freed people of all ages seek educationii. African Americans establish schools and universitiesiii. Initially, most teachers Northern whites; by 1869, most are black

d. Churches and Volunteer Groupsi. Many African Americans found churches; mostly Baptist, Methodistii. Black ministers become influential community leadersiii. African Americans form thousands of volunteer organizations:

- foster independence- give financial, emotional support- offer leadership opportunities

e. Politics and African Americansi. 1865–1877, African Americans hold local, state, federal officeii. At first, most officeholders freeborn; by 1867 some former slavesiii. Almost as many black as white citizens; black officeholders minority

- only 16 African Americans in Congress- Hiram Revels is first black senator

f. Laws Against Segregationi. By 1866, Republican governments repeal most black codesii. Anti-segregation laws created, but many not enforcediii. Blacks focus on building up their community, not total integration

IV. Changes in the Southern Economya. 40 Aces and a Mule

i. Sherman: slaves who follow him can have 40 acres, use of army mules- freed slaves settle on abandoned land- Johnson orders them evicted

ii. Many Republicans reject seizing property; pass weak land-reform lawsb. Restoration of Plantations

i. African Americans, poor whites want small farms ii. Planters, Northern merchants, mill owners want cotton plantationsiii. Planters fear will be unable to make profit if must pay wagesiv. Freedmen work in mills, railroad, farming

- planters prevent them getting land

c. Sharecropping and Tenant Farmingi. Landless African Americans sign labor contracts with planters

- neither freedmen nor planters happy with systemii. Sharecropping—owner gives land, seed, tools for part of cropsiii. Tenant farming—rent land from owner; buy own tools

d. Cotton No Longer Kingi. Other countries increase cotton production; South creates oversupplyii. Try to diversify—textiles, tobacco products; wages lower than Northiii. Banks hold Confederate debt, mounting planters’ debts; many fail

Section Three – The Collapse of ReconstructionI. Opposition to Reconstruction

a. Ku Klux Klani. Ku Klux Klan (KKK)—Confederate veterans group that turns terrorist ii. Grows rapidly; aims to restore white supremacy

b. Anti-Black Violencei. 1868–1871 Klan, others kill thousands, burn schools, churches, homesii. Klan works to force Republican state governments out of poweriii. Southern Democrats use violence to intimidate black votersiv. White Democratic candidates win state elections in 1875, 1876

c. Economic Pressurei. Black landowners, non-farmers attacked, have property destroyedii. Need forces freedmen into wage labor, sharecropping for whites

d. Legislative Responsei. 1870, 1871 Enforcement Acts passed to curtail Klan, Democrats

- Supreme Court rules 1871 act unconstitutionalii. Klan violence decreases because restore white supremacy in South

e. Shifts in Political Poweri. 1872 Amnesty Act returns voting rights to many former Confederatesii. Congress allows Freedmen’s Bureau to expire

II. Scandals and Money Crises Hurt Republicansa. Fraud and Bribery

i. Grant considered honest; appoints friends to political officeii. Beginning in 1872, series of Grant administration scandals exposed

b. Republican Unity Shatteredi. 1872, Liberal Republican Party forms, nominates Horace Greeley ii. Democrats also nominate Greeley; Grant wins by wide marginiii. Liberal Republicans weaken Radicals, make Reconstruction difficult

c. Continued Scandali. Administration corruption continues; Grant does not seek reelection

III. Economic Turmoila. The Panic of 1873

i. Business opportunities in South lead investors to excessive debtii. Largest government securities dealer bankrupts, starts panic of 1873

- banks, businesses close; stock market collapsesiii. Panic triggers 5-year economic depression\

b. Currency Disputei. Panic of 1873 fuels dispute over currency

- financial experts want return to gold standard- South, West want more greenbacks to pay debts

ii. 1875, Specie Resumption Act puts country back on gold standard

IV. Judicial and Popular Support Fadesa. Supreme Court Decisions

i. 1870s Supreme Court decisions undermine 14th, 15th Amendmentsii. Federal government loses power to protect African-American rights

b. Northern Support Fadesi. Northerners grow indifferent to events in South:

- shift attention to national problems- want reconciliation between regions- begin to dislike Reconstruction policies

ii. Republicans give up from lack of judicial, public support, leadersiii. Republicans conclude government cannot impose moral, social changes

V. Democrats Redeem the Southa. Election of 1876

i. Republicans nominate Governor Rutherford B. Hayes, not Grantii. Democrats choose Governor Samuel J. Tildeniii. Tilden wins popular vote, 1 shy of electoral; 20 electoral disputediv. Compromise of 1877—Hayes gets presidency, Democrats get:

- federal troops leave LA, SC- funding for Southern railroad, waterways- conservative Southerner in cabinet

v. Compromise means end of Reconstruction

b. Home Rule in the Southi. After Hayes removes federal troops, Democrats take over statesii. Home rule—running state government without federal intervention

c. Legacy of Reconstructioni. Republicans fail to protect rights they gave to former slavesii. Unwillingness to distribute land blocks economic independenceiii. Amendments abolish slavery, give basis for civil rights legislationiv. African-American schools, civic groups increase literacy, opportunity