notes: reconstruction defined

1. The Aftermath2. Problems:

• The South• Freedmen• Leadership

3. President Andrew Johnson4. Power Struggle: Johnson vs. Congress

• President’s plan: gentle---1865 to 1867• Radical Republicans---opposed

Johnson• Congress’s plan: harsh---1867 to 1876

• South followed Johnson’s plan until??????until??????

Notes: Reconstruction defined

•What went wrong?•Black Codes---1865 to 1866•Johnson vetoed Civil Rights Act for Freedmen

•Congress impeachedimpeached Pres. Johnson---1868

•Election of 1868: President Grant enforces Congress’s “harshharsh” plan

•Reconstruction Act of 1867

4. Revolutionary changes•Civil War Amendments:

•13th, 14th and 15th•Effects of Emancipation on Freedmen

•Freedmen’s Bureau•New South

Notes: Presidential and Congressional Recons

•Abolished slavery

•gained citizenship

•right to vote

Human toll of the Civil War: The North lost 364,000 soldiers. The South lost 260,000 soldiers.

Between 1865 and 1877, the federal government carried out a program to repair the damage to the

South and restore the southern states to the Union. This program was known as ReconstructionReconstruction.

FreedmenFreedmen (freed slaves) were starting out their new lives in a poor region with slow economic

activity. Plantation owners lost slave labor worth $3 billion.

Poor white Southerners could not find work because of new job competition from FreedmenFreedmen.

The war had destroyed two thirds of the South’s shipping industry and about 9,000 miles of railroad.

South after war 1

are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds….to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace, among

ourselves, and with all nations.”

Lincoln’s speech

Lincoln speech

“With malice toward none; with

charity for all; with firmness in the

right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to

finish the work we

Johnson’s plan to readmit the South was considered too gentlegentle.

Amnesty:Amnesty: Presidential pardonPresidential pardon•Rebels sign an oath of allegianceRebels sign an oath of allegiance

•10% of the population10% of the population•Even high ranking Confederate officialsEven high ranking Confederate officials

Write new state ConstitutionsWrite new state Constitutions•approve the approve the 13th Amendment13th Amendment

•reject secession and state’s rightsreject secession and state’s rights•submit to U.S. Government authoritysubmit to U.S. Government authority

No mention ofNo mention of•Education for freedmenEducation for freedmen

•Citizenship and voting rightsCitizenship and voting rights Presidential Reconstruction

pardon

•Remained loyal to the Union during the Civil

War.

•Lincoln chose him as his VP to help with the

South’s Reconstruction.

•Supported Lincoln’s Plan

•Engaged in a power struggle with Congress

over who would lead the country through Reconstruction.

•Would be impeached but not removed from

office.

•Remained loyal to the Union during the Civil

War.

•Lincoln chose him as his VP to help with the

South’s Reconstruction.

•Supported Lincoln’s Plan

•Engaged in a power struggle with Congress

over who would lead the country through Reconstruction.

•Would be impeached but not removed from

office.

John Picture background info

Plans compared

•AmnestyAmnesty : : Presidential pardonPresidential pardon•oath of allegiance---50%

•high ranking Confederate officials•loose voting rights if you don’t sign oath

•Write new state ConstitutionsWrite new state Constitutions•Ratify: 13, 14 & 15 Amendments•reject secession and state’s rights

•submit to U.S. Government authority•Help for FreedmenHelp for Freedmen

•Freedmen’s Bureau for education•40 acres and a mule

•Divide the South into 5 military districts

Reconstruction Act of 1867-Reconstruction Act of 1867--76 (Harsh)(Harsh)

Thaddeus Stevens Charles Summner

•Wanted to the see the South punished.

•Advocated political, social and economic equality for the Freedmen.

•Would go after President Johnson through the impeachment process after he vetoes

the Civil Rights Act of 1866.Radical Republicans

Thaddeus Stevens, in Congress, Thaddeus Stevens, in Congress, 18661866

“Strip a proud nobility of their bloated estates, send them forth to labor and you

will thus humble the proud traitors.”

Thaddeus Steven, in Congress, Thaddeus Steven, in Congress, 18671867

“I am for Negro suffrage in every rebel state. If it be just, it should not be denied: if it be necessary, it should be adopted: if it be a punishment of traitors, they deserve

it.”

Quotes of Radicals

•Similar to Similar to Slave Slave CodesCodes. .

•Restricted the Restricted the

freedom of movement.freedom of movement.

•Limited their Limited their rightsrights as free people.as free people.

As southern states were restored to the Union under President Johnson’s plan, they began to enact black codes, laws that

restricted freedmen’s rights. The black codes established virtual slavery with provisions such as

these:Curfews: Generally, black people could not gather after sunset.Vagrancy laws: Freedmen convicted of vagrancy– that is, not

working– could be fined, whipped, or sold for a year’s labor.Labor contracts: Freedmen had to sign agreements in January

for a year of work. Those who quit in the middle of a contract often lost all the wages they had earned.

Land restrictions: Freed people could rent land or homes only in rural areas. This restriction forced them to live on plantations.

Black codes 1

Mississippi Governor, 1866: Mississippi Governor, 1866: “The Negro is free”“The Negro is free”

“Whether we like it or not; we must realize that fact now and forever.

To be free, however, does not make him a citizen or entitle him to

social or political equality with the white man.”

Gov of Miss

St. Landry’s Parish, St. Landry’s Parish, Louisiana, 1865Louisiana, 1865

Section 1: Be it ordainedSection 1: Be it ordained by the by the police jury of parish of St. Landry, police jury of parish of St. Landry, That no negro shall be allowed to That no negro shall be allowed to

pass within the limits of said pass within the limits of said parish without a special permit in parish without a special permit in

writing from his employer. writing from his employer. Whoever shall violate this Whoever shall violate this

provision shall pay a fine of $2.50, provision shall pay a fine of $2.50, or in default thereof shall be or in default thereof shall be

forced to work four days on the forced to work four days on the public road or suffer corporeal public road or suffer corporeal

punishment.punishment.

Black codes 2


Section 2: Be it ordained:Section 2: Be it ordained: That That every Negro who shall be found every Negro who shall be found absent from the residence of his absent from the residence of his

employer after 10 o’clock at employer after 10 o’clock at night, without a written permit night, without a written permit from him employer, shall pay a from him employer, shall pay a

fine of $5.00, or in default fine of $5.00, or in default thereof, shall be compelled to thereof, shall be compelled to

work 5 days on the public road or work 5 days on the public road or suffer corporeal punishment.suffer corporeal punishment.

Black codes 2


Section 3: Be it further ordainedSection 3: Be it further ordained, , That no Negro shall be be That no Negro shall be be

permitted to rent or keep a house permitted to rent or keep a house within said parish. Any Negro within said parish. Any Negro

violating this provision shall be violating this provision shall be immediately ejected and immediately ejected and

compelled to find an employer; compelled to find an employer; and any who shall rent, or give and any who shall rent, or give the use of the any house to any the use of the any house to any

Negro, in violation of this section, Negro, in violation of this section, shall pay a fine of $5.00 for each shall pay a fine of $5.00 for each

offence.offence.

Black codes 3


Section 4: Be it further ordainedSection 4: Be it further ordained, ,

No Negroes shall be allowed to No Negroes shall be allowed to congregate in public meetings congregate in public meetings between the hours of sunset to between the hours of sunset to

sunrise and by special permission sunrise and by special permission of the police chief may a public of the police chief may a public

meeting of Negroes occur. meeting of Negroes occur. However, church services are not However, church services are not included in this law. Pay a fine of included in this law. Pay a fine of

$5.00, work 5 days on the road $5.00, work 5 days on the road crew or receive corporeal crew or receive corporeal

punishmentpunishment

Black codes 3


Section 5: Be it ordainedSection 5: Be it ordained, No , No Negro who is not in the military Negro who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry service shall be allowed to carry

firearms, or any kind of weapons, firearms, or any kind of weapons, within said parish, without the within said parish, without the

special written permission of his special written permission of his employers. Subject to $5.00 fine, employers. Subject to $5.00 fine,

road work or corporeal road work or corporeal punishment.punishment.


Section 6: Be it ordainedSection 6: Be it ordained, That it , That it shall be the duty of every citizen shall be the duty of every citizen to act as a police officer for the to act as a police officer for the detection of offences and the detection of offences and the

apprehension of offenders, who apprehension of offenders, who shall be immediately handed over shall be immediately handed over

to the proper police officer or to the proper police officer or captain.captain.

•President Johnson vetoed the Civil

Rights Act of 1866

•Gave $$$$ to Freedmen’s Bureau

for schools and granted citizenship to the Freedmen

•Congress believed Johnson was working

against Reconstruction and overrode his veto.

•Pres. Johnson impeached

•Led to the 14th Amendment

•President Johnson vetoed the Civil

Rights Act of 1866

•Gave $$$$ to Freedmen’s Bureau

for schools and granted citizenship to the Freedmen

•Congress believed Johnson was working

against Reconstruction and overrode his veto.

•Pres. Johnson impeached

•Led to the 14th Amendment

Johnson’s Veto

An inflexible President, 1866: Republican cartoon shows Johnson knocking Blacks of the Freedmen’s

Bureau by his veto.

An inflexible President, 1866: Republican cartoon shows Johnson knocking Blacks of the Freedmen’s

Bureau by his veto.

Impeachment:Impeachment: Bringing charges against the President. Two steps

involved……

1st Step: U. S. House of Representatives hold hearings to decide if there are crimes committed. They then vote on the charges

and if there is a majority, then, charges are brought against the President.

2nd Step: U.S. Senate becomes a courtroom. The President is tried for the charges brought against him. The Chief

Justice of the Supreme Court is the judge. Once trial is completed, Senators must

vote to remove President with a 2/3’s vote.

Impeachment process

Brought up on 11 charges of high

crimes and misdemeanors.

Tenure in Office Tenure in Office Act:Act: Law Congress passed. President can’t fire any of his cabinet members

without consulting Congress.

fired Edwin Stanton

Missed being removed from office

by 1 vote

Presidency would suffer as a result of this failed

impeachment. President would be more

of a figure-head. Saved the separation of

powers of 3 branches govt.

““Neither slavery nor involuntary slavery nor involuntary servitudeservitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall shall

exist within the United Statesexist within the United States, or any place subject to their

jurisdiction.”

The CongressCongress shall have power to enforceenforce by appropriate

legislation, the provisions of this article.

14th 13th: Slavery Abolished

Civil Rights: What Blacks want

““All persons born in the U.S. are citizens of this country and the state they reside in. No state No state shall make or enforce any law shall make or enforce any law

which deprives any person of life, which deprives any person of life, liberty, or property, without due liberty, or property, without due process of lawprocess of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction to

the equal protection of the lawsequal protection of the laws.”



14th 14th: Rights of Citizens

““The The right of citizensright of citizens of the of the United States to United States to votevote shall not be shall not be denied or abridged by the United denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account States or by any State on account

of race, color, or previous of race, color, or previous condition of servitude”.condition of servitude”.

The The Congress Congress shall have shall have power to power to enforceenforce this article by appropriate this article by appropriate

legislation.legislation.14th

15th: Voting Rights

•13th AmendmentAbolished slavery

(1865)

•14th Amendment Provided citizenship & equal protection

under the law. (1868)

•15th Amendment Provided the right to

vote for all men which included white

and black men. (1870)Voting rightsGiving the Black man the right to vote was

truly revolutionary……..A victory for A victory for democracy!democracy!

The 14th and 15th AmendmentsIn 1867 and 1869 Congress passed the 14th and 15th Amendments,

granting African American males citizenship, equality under the law and the right to vote.

In 1867 and 1868, voters in southern states chose delegates to draft new state constitutions. One quarter of the delegates elected were black.

The new state constitutions guaranteed civil rights, allowed poor people to hold political office, and set up a system of public schools and orphanages.

In 1870, southern black men voted in legislative elections for the first time. More than 600 African Americans were elected to state legislatures, Louisiana gained a black governor, and Hiram Revels of Mississippi became the first African American elected to the Senate.

Black Congressmen

First Black Senators and

representatives in the 42st and 42nd Congress.

Senator Hiram Revels, on the

left was elected in 1870 to

replace the seat vacated by

Jefferson Davis.

First Black Senators and

representatives in the 42st and 42nd Congress.

Senator Hiram Revels, on the

left was elected in 1870 to

replace the seat vacated by

Jefferson Davis.

The Taste of FreedomFreedom of movement: Enslaved people often walked away

from plantations upon hearing that the Union army was near. Exodusters: moved to Kansas and Texas

Freedom to own land: Proposals to give white-owned land to freed people got little support from the government. Unofficial land redistribution did take place, however.

Freedom to worship: African Americans formed their own churches and started mutual aid societies, debating clubs, drama societies, and trade associations.

Freedom to learn: Between 1865 and 1870, black educators founded 30 African American colleges.

“I felt like a bird out of a cage. Amen. Amen. Amen. I could

hardly ask to feel any better than I did that day…….The week passed off in a blaze of glory “Men are taking their wives and children,

families which had been for a long time broken up are united and oh!

Such happiness. I am glad I am here.”

emancipation

“The end of the war, it come just like that---like you snap

your fingers….Soldiers, all of a sudden, was everywhere---

coming in bunches, crossing and walking and riding.

Everyone was a-singing. We was all walking on golden

clouds. Hallelujah! Everybody went wild. We all felt like heroes, and nobody had made us that way but

ourselves. We was free. Just like that, we was free.”

emancipation

“Right off colored folks started on the move,

recalled a freedman. “They seemed to want to get closer to freedom, so they’d know freedom, so they’d know what it was---like it was a what it was---like it was a

place or a city.”place or a city.”

“Right off colored folks started on the move,

recalled a freedman. “They seemed to want to get closer to freedom, so they’d know freedom, so they’d know what it was---like it was a what it was---like it was a

place or a city.”place or a city.”

emancipation

No more auction block for me…No more, No more…No more auction block for me…Many

thousand gone..

No more auction block for me…No more, no more…No more auction block, whiplash for

me…Many thousand gone….

An oh, the one thing…That we did wrong…No more, no more…Staying in the

wilderness…A day too long…No more, no more…

And oh, the one thing..That we did right..Oh yes, oh yes… Was the day….That we began

to fight…Oh yes, oh yes….. My Lord….

And it’s no more auction block for me….No more, no more, no more…Auction block for

me….Many, many thousand gone…...

1865, Congress created the Freedman’s Bureau to help former

slaves get a new start in life. This was the first major relief agency in United

States history.

Bureau’s AccomplishmentsBuilt thousands of schools to educate

Blacks. Former slaves rushed to get an education

for themselves and their children. Education was difficult and dangerous to

gain. Southerners hated the idea that Freedmen would go to school.

Importance of Educ to freedmen

Letter by a Teacher teaching freedmen on Letter by a Teacher teaching freedmen on the importance of education, 1869:the importance of education, 1869:

“It is surprising to me to see the amount of suffering which many of the people endure for

the sake of sending their children to school. Men get very low wages here---from $2.50 to $8.00 month usually, while a first rate hand may get $10.00, and a peck or two of meal per week for

rations-----and a great many men cannot get work at all.

The women take in sewing and washing, go out by day to sour, etc. There is one woman who

supports three children and keeps them at school; she says, “ I don’t care how hard I has to

work, if I can only send Sallie and the boys to school looking respectable.”

Freedmen’s Bureau 2

Letter for teachers 1

Letter to the Editor of the National EraLetter to the Editor of the National EraCreswell, Texas, November 29, 1867Creswell, Texas, November 29, 1867

W.V. Tunstall, School Board, Houston, TexasW.V. Tunstall, School Board, Houston, Texas

To the Editor:We need immediately 500 teachers for colored

schools in Texas. The colored people in this state cannot supply the demand. There are but a few

white Republicans who can engage in the profession of teaching and Rebels (Southern whites) will not

teach them. Therefore, our only prospect is to get teachers

among the educated colored people of the North or Christian white people who are willing to endure

privations among the heartless whites of the “sunny South.” The late elections have opened the South, I

trust, for the introduction of civilization. Send us teachers…….

Forsyth, Georgia, July 22, 1867Dear Sir,

I write to inform you of a most cowardly outrage that I write to inform you of a most cowardly outrage that took place last Saturday night. took place last Saturday night. Our teacher whom Our teacher whom we have employed here was shot down by a crowd we have employed here was shot down by a crowd of Rebel Ruffians for no other cause than teaching of Rebel Ruffians for no other cause than teaching

school.school. General, this is the second teacher that has General, this is the second teacher that has been assaulted. been assaulted.

The rebels make their brags to kill every Yankee The rebels make their brags to kill every Yankee teacher that they find.teacher that they find. We do not know what we may We do not know what we may do if the military does not assist us. The Freedmen do if the military does not assist us. The Freedmen

are much excited at such an outrage.are much excited at such an outrage.

George H. Clower, William Wilkes, FreedmenGeorge H. Clower, William Wilkes, Freedmen

Once Johnson is impeached,

Congress passes Reconstruction

Act of 1867.

The South would be reconstructed under the Radical Republicans plan.

Republicans would elect Grant as their President

and he would carry out the

Radical Reconstruction.“The Strong

Government”, 1869-1877. Grant

enforcing the Reconstruction Act of 1867 and

“forcing” the South to change.

Military Reconstructio

n

Each number indicates the Military Districts

•Women rights supporters refused to support the 14th Amendment giving African American Men citizenship unless women were added to it.

•Abolitionists would not support women’s rights

Abolitionists vs Women’s rights

New South

New South•Becomes

industrialized

•Cities rebuilt

•Railroads

•Schools, over a thousand

•Hospitals, 45 in 14 states

•Diversify economy.

Funding ReconstructionRebuilding the South’s infrastructure, the public property and

services that a society uses, was one giant business opportunity.

Roads, bridges, canals, railroads, and telegraph lines had to be rebuilt.

Funds were also needed to expand services to southern citizens. Following the North’s example, all southern states created public school systems by 1872.

Congress, private investors, and heavy taxes paid for Reconstruction. Spending by Reconstruction legislatures added another $130 million to southern debt.

““All persons born in the U.S. are citizens of this country and the state they reside in. No state No state shall make or enforce any law shall make or enforce any law

which deprives any person of life, which deprives any person of life, liberty, or property, without due liberty, or property, without due process of lawprocess of law, nor deny to any

person with its jurisdiction to the equal protection of the lawsequal protection of the laws.”



14th 14th: Rights of Citizens

notes: reconstruction defined

Documents

civil rights act

president johnson

souths reconstruction

south followed johnsons

new lives

reconstruction definedwhat

congresspresidents plan

new state constitutionsratify