Reconstruction EraReconstruction Era

““The Decades of Disappointment”The Decades of Disappointment”

The Freedmen BureauThe Freedmen BureauEst. 1865Est. 1865

A federal agency intended to help African A federal agency intended to help African Americans acquire training and to gain Americans acquire training and to gain rights denied to them under slavery.rights denied to them under slavery.

Establish schooling for African AmericansEstablish schooling for African Americans Provide a court of law where a black Provide a court of law where a black

person could legally testifyperson could legally testify Negotiate fair labor contractsNegotiate fair labor contracts Family services, aiding African Americans Family services, aiding African Americans

in finding lost family membersin finding lost family members

Freedman BureauFreedman Bureau

Had little impact because:Had little impact because: Not enough fundingNot enough funding Poor organizationPoor organization Opposition from conservativesOpposition from conservatives Apathy of southernersApathy of southerners Bureau was disbanded in 1872Bureau was disbanded in 1872

Civil Rights Act of 1866Civil Rights Act of 1866

Passed over President Johnson’s vetoPassed over President Johnson’s veto Declared all persons born in U.S. citizens Declared all persons born in U.S. citizens

regardless of their previous condition (including regardless of their previous condition (including race and color)race and color)

Allowed these citizens to make and enforce Allowed these citizens to make and enforce contracts, sue and be sued, inherit, lease, contracts, sue and be sued, inherit, lease, purchase propertypurchase property

Denying these rights resulted in one being guilty Denying these rights resulted in one being guilty of a misdemeanor and facing fines and prisonof a misdemeanor and facing fines and prison

Civil Rights Act of 1875Civil Rights Act of 1875

Established to guarantee African Established to guarantee African Americans equal treatment in public Americans equal treatment in public places and transportationplaces and transportation

Last effort by Congress to protect rights of Last effort by Congress to protect rights of African Americans for more than half a African Americans for more than half a centurycentury

Later declared unconstitutional by Later declared unconstitutional by Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Important ActsImportant Acts

1865: 13th Amendment1865: 13th Amendment 1868: 14th Amendment1868: 14th Amendment 1870: 15th Amendment1870: 15th Amendment

Other important eventsOther important events In 1867, Congress passed the first of a series of In 1867, Congress passed the first of a series of

Reconstruction Acts, which sought to prevent laws set Reconstruction Acts, which sought to prevent laws set up in the south to limit the freedoms of ex-slaves.up in the south to limit the freedoms of ex-slaves.

Barred southern states from participating in Congress Barred southern states from participating in Congress until they revised their state constitutionsuntil they revised their state constitutions

Each act was passed over the veto of President JohnsonEach act was passed over the veto of President Johnson The 1867 Republican convention introduces a party The 1867 Republican convention introduces a party

platform that includes civil rightsplatform that includes civil rights By 1871, the U.S. House of Representatives included By 1871, the U.S. House of Representatives included

five black membersfive black members 1875, Blanche Kelso of Mississippi became the first 1875, Blanche Kelso of Mississippi became the first

black Senator to serve a full 6 year termblack Senator to serve a full 6 year term

So, much of this sounds like So, much of this sounds like progress . . .progress . . .

But what happened?But what happened? Wade Hampton, a former leader in the Wade Hampton, a former leader in the

Confederacy, is elected governor of South Confederacy, is elected governor of South Carolina in 1876Carolina in 1876

Another sign of trouble: the election of Another sign of trouble: the election of 1876 . . .1876 . . .

Results of 1876 electionResults of 1876 election

Rutherford B. Hayes (Rep)Rutherford B. Hayes (Rep)

4,036,572 votes (185 electoral)4,036,572 votes (185 electoral)

Samuel J. Tilden (Dem)Samuel J. Tilden (Dem)

4,284,020 votes (184 electoral)4,284,020 votes (184 electoral)

1876 election cont.1876 election cont.

Results of the election led to the Results of the election led to the Compromise of 1877.Compromise of 1877.

This officially ended Reconstruction by This officially ended Reconstruction by eliminating the threat of a Democratic eliminating the threat of a Democratic filibuster in exchange for removing from filibuster in exchange for removing from the South what amounted to an occupying the South what amounted to an occupying armyarmy

With the end of With the end of Reconstruction, what Reconstruction, what

happened?happened?

Hate groups had free reign to gather under Hate groups had free reign to gather under the old Confederate flag (KKK est. by ex-the old Confederate flag (KKK est. by ex-Confederate soldiers in 1865)Confederate soldiers in 1865)

Lynchings, burnings, murdersLynchings, burnings, murders Jim Crow LawsJim Crow Laws Tenant Farmer systemsTenant Farmer systems Black CodesBlack Codes

1981 lynching of Michael Donald

“ “The Race Problem”The Race Problem”

What was the best way to integrate newly What was the best way to integrate newly liberated African Americans into American liberated African Americans into American way of life?way of life?

What kind of education?What kind of education? What kind of opportunities?What kind of opportunities? What kind of societal aid?What kind of societal aid? What would YOU have done?What would YOU have done?