American Stories:American Stories:A History of the United States

Second Edition

Chapter

American Stories: A History of the United States, Second EditionBrands • Breen • Williams • Gross

The Agony of Reconstruction1863–1877

16

Robert Smalls Robert Smalls With the help of several black With the help of several black crewmen, Robert Smalls—then twenty-three years crewmen, Robert Smalls—then twenty-three years

old—commandeered the Planter, a Confederate old—commandeered the Planter, a Confederate steamship used to transport guns and ammunition, steamship used to transport guns and ammunition,

and surrendered it to the Union vessel, USS and surrendered it to the Union vessel, USS Onward. Smalls provided distinguished service to Onward. Smalls provided distinguished service to the Union during the Civil War and after the war the Union during the Civil War and after the war went on to become a successful politician and went on to become a successful politician and

businessman.businessman.

The Agony of ReconstructionThe Agony of Reconstruction1863–1877 1863–1877

• The President Versus Congress• Reconstructing Southern Society• Retreat From Reconstruction• Reunion and the New South

Robert Smalls and Black Politicians Robert Smalls and Black Politicians During ReconstructionDuring Reconstruction

• Robert Smalls of South Carolina took command of vessel and slave crew, surrendered it to Union Army; became hero to antislavery Northerners

• Elected to Congress; made land available for blacks to own

• Defeated by whites falsely claiming he was corrupt

The President Versus CongressThe President Versus Congress

The President Versus CongressThe President Versus Congress

• The North split on reconstructing the South

• White House seeks speedy reconstruction with minimum changes in the South

• Congress seeks slower reconstruction, demands protection for freedmen

Wartime ReconstructionWartime Reconstruction

• Lincoln announces lenient policy in 1863

• Congress resents Lincoln's effort to control

• Congressmen seek to condition readmission to Union on black suffrage

• Congress mistrusts white Southerners

Andrew Johnson at the HelmAndrew Johnson at the Helm

• Republicans initially support Southern Democrat Johnson as enemy of planter class

• Johnson, Republicans split on Reconstruction

Andrew Johnson at the Helm Andrew Johnson at the Helm (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Johnson instructs Southern conventions to: Declare secession illegal Repudiate Confederate debt Ratify the 13th Amendment

Andrew Johnson at the Helm Andrew Johnson at the Helm (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Southern conventions reluctantly carry out Johnson's orders

• Conventions pass “Black Codes”• Johnson approves conventions' actions• Congress condemns conventions

Congress Takes the InitiativeCongress Takes the Initiative

• Republicans had ideological commitment to equal rights, even if some did not believe in racial equality

• Johnson vetoes two bills Extension of Freedmen's Bureau Civil rights bill to overturn Black Codes

Congress Takes the Initiative Congress Takes the Initiative (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Republicans pass 14th Amendment • Johnson's National Union party runs

against Republican congressmen in elections

• Election of 1866 strengthens Republicans

TABLE 16.1 TABLE 16.1 Reconstruction Amendments, 1865–Reconstruction Amendments, 1865–18701870

Congressional Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction Plan EnactedPlan Enacted

• South under military rule until black suffrage fully secured

• Split over duration of federal protection Radicals recognize need for long period Most wish military occupation to be short

Congressional Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction Plan Enacted (cont’d)Plan Enacted (cont’d)

• Assumption: black suffrage sufficient to empower freedmen to protect themselves

Map 16.1 Map 16.1 Reconstruction Reconstruction During the During the Reconstruction era, the southern state Reconstruction era, the southern state

governments passed through three phases: control governments passed through three phases: control by white ex-Confederates; domination by by white ex-Confederates; domination by

Republican legislators, both white and black; and, Republican legislators, both white and black; and, finally, the regaining of control by conservative finally, the regaining of control by conservative

white Democrats.white Democrats.

The Impeachment CrisisThe Impeachment Crisis

• Johnson obstructs Congressional Reconstruction

• Congress limits Presidential power Tenure of Office Act

The Impeachment Crisis (cont’d)The Impeachment Crisis (cont’d)

• February, 1868: Congress impeaches• Senate refuses to convict Johnson• Radical Republicans seen as subversive

of Constitution, lose public support

Impeached Impeached Andrew Johnson’s successful defense Andrew Johnson’s successful defense against conviction in his impeachment case against conviction in his impeachment case

centered on his invocation of the Constitution to centered on his invocation of the Constitution to defend his presidential rights and powers. defend his presidential rights and powers.

Impeached in 1868, Johnson escaped conviction by Impeached in 1868, Johnson escaped conviction by a single vote.a single vote.

Reconstructing Southern SocietyReconstructing Southern Society

Reconstructing Southern SocietyReconstructing Southern Society

• Three contending interests in South Southern whites seek to keep newly freed

blacks inferior Northern whites seek to make money or to

"civilize" the region Blacks seek equality

Reconstructing Southern Society Reconstructing Southern Society (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Decline of federal interest in Reconstruction permits triumph of reaction and racism

Reorganizing Land and LaborReorganizing Land and Labor

• Ex-slaves wish to work their own land• Federal government sometimes grants

land• Land reverts to white owners under

Johnson

Reorganizing Land and Labor Reorganizing Land and Labor (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Slaveowners try to impose contract labor

• Blacks insist on sharecropping• Sharecropping soon becomes peonage

Sharecropping Sharecropping The Civil War brought The Civil War brought emancipation to slaves, but the sharecropping emancipation to slaves, but the sharecropping

system kept many of them economically bound to system kept many of them economically bound to their employers. At the end of a year the their employers. At the end of a year the

sharecropper tenants might owe most—or all—of sharecropper tenants might owe most—or all—of what they had made to their landlord. Here, a what they had made to their landlord. Here, a

sharecropping family poses in front of their cabin. sharecropping family poses in front of their cabin. Ex-slaves often built their living quarters near Ex-slaves often built their living quarters near

woods in order to have a ready supply of fuel for woods in order to have a ready supply of fuel for heating and cooking. The cabin’s chimney lists heating and cooking. The cabin’s chimney lists away from the house so that it can be easily away from the house so that it can be easily

pushed away from the living quarters should it pushed away from the living quarters should it catch fire.catch fire.

Black Codes:Black Codes:A New Name for Slavery?A New Name for Slavery?

• South increasingly segregated after War

• Black Codes designed to return blacks to quasi-slavery Codes overturned by Congress

• Violence and discrimination continued on a large scale

Republican Rule in the SouthRepublican Rule in the South

• 1867: Southern Republican party organized Businesspeople want government aid White farmers want protection from

creditors Blacks form majority of party, want social

and political equality

• Republicans improve public education, welfare, and transportation

Republican Rule in the South Republican Rule in the South (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Republican state legislatures corrupt• Whites control most radical state

governments• African Americans given blame for

corruption

Claiming Public and Private RightsClaiming Public and Private Rights

• Freed slaves viewed legalized marriage as an important step in claiming political rights

• They also formed churches, fraternal and benevolent associations, political organizations, and schools

• Education for children was a top priority

Freedmen’s Schools Freedmen’s Schools A Freedmen’s school, one A Freedmen’s school, one of the more successful endeavors the Freedmen’s of the more successful endeavors the Freedmen’s

Bureau supported. The bureau, working with Bureau supported. The bureau, working with teachers from northern abolitionist and missionary teachers from northern abolitionist and missionary societies, founded thousands of schools for freed societies, founded thousands of schools for freed

slaves and poor whites.slaves and poor whites.

Retreat From ReconstructionRetreat From Reconstruction

Retreat from ReconstructionRetreat from Reconstruction

• Enormous problems 1868–1876• Grant's weak principles contribute to

failure

Final Efforts of ReconstructionFinal Efforts of Reconstruction

• 1869: 15th Amendment passed Also enfranchised Northern blacks

• Women's rights group was upset that they were not granted the vote

• Northern support for black citizenship waned

Black Voting Black Voting The First VoteThe First Vote, drawn by A. H. Ward , drawn by A. H. Ward for for Harper’s WeeklyHarper’s Weekly, November 16, 1867., November 16, 1867.

A Reign of Terror Against BlacksA Reign of Terror Against Blacks

• Secret societies used terror tactics to keep blacks out of the political process and near insurrections against state governments

• 1870s: Congress tries to suppress Ku Klux Klan, other Southern terrorist groups

A Reign of Terror Against Blacks A Reign of Terror Against Blacks (cont’d)(cont’d)

• By 1876 Republicans control only South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida

• Northern support for military action wanes

Ku Klux Klan Ku Klux Klan This 1868 photograph This 1868 photograph shows typical regalia of members of the Ku shows typical regalia of members of the Ku

Klux Klan, a secret white supremacist Klux Klan, a secret white supremacist organization. Before elections, hooded organization. Before elections, hooded

Klansmen terrorized African Americans to Klansmen terrorized African Americans to discourage them from voting.discourage them from voting.

Reunion and the New SouthReunion and the New South

Reunion and the New SouthReunion and the New South

• North and South reconcile after 1877• Terms of reconciliation

African Americans stripped of political gains

Big business interests favored over small farmer

The Compromise of 1877The Compromise of 1877

• Election of 1876 disputed • Special Congressional commission gives

disputed vote to Rutherford B. Hayes

The Compromise of 1877The Compromise of 1877

• Southern Democrats accept on two conditions Guarantee of federal aid to the South Removal of all remaining federal troops

• Hayes' agreement ends Reconstruction

Map 16.2Map 16.2

““RedeemingRedeeming”” a New South a New South

• Southern "Redeemers" not ideologically coherent, more power brokers between major interest groups commerce, manufacturing, and agriculture

• Gain power by doctrine of white supremacy

• Neglect problems of small farmers

The Rise of Jim CrowThe Rise of Jim Crow

• Redeemer Democrats systematically exclude black voters

• Jim Crow laws legalize segregation and restrict black civil rights

• By 1910 the process was complete• The North and the federal government

did little or nothing to prevent it

Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner and the “Unfinished Revolution”and the “Unfinished Revolution”

Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner and the and the ““Unfinished RevolutionUnfinished Revolution””

• Henry McNeal Turner's career summarized the Southern black experience during and after Reconstruction

• He supported the Union during the war and was elected to GA legislature in Reconstruction

Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner and Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner and the the ““Unfinished RevolutionUnfinished Revolution”” (cont’d) (cont’d)

• “Redeemed” GA legislature expels him, exemplifying Northerners tacit approval of oppression of Southern blacks

• Turner becomes A.M.E. bishop and major proponent of black emigration to Africa

Henry McNeal TurnerHenry McNeal Turner, who was born in freedom, , who was born in freedom, became a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal became a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was elected to the Georgia legislature.Church and was elected to the Georgia legislature.

TimelineTimeline