CHAPTER 4, SECTION 3

Influences and Effects of Reconstruction

Blacks During Reconstruction

Black voters in the South were vital to Ulysses S. Grant’s win in the 1868 Presidential race. He received nearly

500,000 African American votes from the South.

Blacks During Reconstruction

Nearly 700 African Americans served in Southern legislatures during the Reconstruction era.

New laws were passed in every state that made it illegal to: Require property ownership to vote Discriminate against blacks in hotels, railroads, and

other public facilities

Blacks During Reconstruction

Freed African American slaves eagerly sought education. The Freedmen’s Bureau

started more than 4000 schools during Reconstruction

Many black colleges were founded across the South as well.

Whites During Reconstruction

Many whites supported Reconstruction as well. White Southerners who supported the changes

brought by Reconstruction were known as scalawags.

Northerners who came South to help “re-make” the South during Reconstruction were known in the South as carpetbaggers.

Carpetbaggers & Scalawags

Reconstruction in the South

Violence plagued the South throughout the era of Reconstruction.

Whites, especially ex-Confederates, hated the idea of black enfranchisement (voting)

The desire to restore the old political order was strong across the region.

Discontent

Reasons: Peace in the South

maintained by military Republican state

governments ineffective

African Americans upset at poverty and lack of land reforms

Almost everyone was dissatisfied with Reconstruction.

Black Poverty During Reconstruction

Slavery•No Rights•Forced Labor•No freedom of movement without permission•Family Members sold away from one another•No representation in government

Freedom•Slavery banned•Free to work for wages•Could move and live anywhere•Many families reunited•Could vote and serve in political office

Rights Denied•Sharecropping system put in place•Ability to vote or hold office is restricted•White leadership regained control of Southern state governments

Reconstruction Dies

By the mid 1870’s, the strongest proponents of Radical Reconstruction, Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner had died.

Supreme Court overturned some laws passed by the radical Congress. Slaughterhouse Cases (1873) Court rules that Civil

Rights should be state controlled.

Vigilante Justice

To reduce participation of blacks, many vigilante groups emerged.

The dominant and longest lasting group to emerge from this era, the Ku Klux Klan, began as a social club in Tennessee in 1866.

Ku Klux Klan

Founded by six former Confederate soldiers, the Klan distinguished itself by their elaborate rituals, hooded costumes, and secret passwords.

By the election of 1868, Klan dens had spread to all Southern states.

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Night Raids

With their ultimate goals to suppress black voting, reestablish white supremacy, and topple the Reconstruction governments.

To intimidate Black voters in the 1868 election, Klansmen conducted night raids.

Who Was a Target?

In the early days, the Klan attacked Freedmen’s Bureau officials Black Militia Units White Republicans Black Voters Economically Successful Blacks

The Enforcement Acts

Between May 1870 and February 1871, Congress passed the Enforcement Acts. First Enforcement Act: protected black voters, but

witnesses to intimidation were afraid to testify Second Enforcement Act: provided for federal

supervision of Southern elections Third Enforcement Act (Ku Klux Klan Act): gave

the national government power to use federal troops to enforce law and strengthened the penalties for those who attempted to stop blacks from voting in the South.

Exodusters

Many African Americans in the South chose to leave once Democrats re-established control.

Known as “exodusters” some 4000 left Mississippi and Louisiana to join about 10,000 who had reached Kansas a decade earlier.

From Reconstruction to Redemption

As Reconstruction collapsed, Democrats regained control of the state legislatures in the South.

Calling their return to power, a “Redemption of the South”, Southern Democrats worked to undo the gains made by Freedmen during Reconstruction.

They instituted many laws aimed at limiting opportunities of blacks. These laws are called “Jim Crow” laws.

Jim Crow