The American Civil War (1861-1865)

3 million fought; 620,000 died

185,000 African-American men fought, 85% of those eligible

$10 billion in property damage to the South

The nation, public servants, military comrades, families and communities split

Left enormous post-war reconstruction task

Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

According to Lincoln, what were the causes of the Civil War?

Who does he blame for the war?

What view of American slavery does Lincoln lay out in this speech?

How does Lincoln link the Civil War and the American practice of slavery?

What type of peace settlement does Lincoln call for at the conclusion of the war?

Reconstruction 1865-1877

Questions to be Resolved during Reconstruction

Under what terms would the South and its citizens be readmitted to the United States?What would freedom mean for emancipated slaves? Would they be equal citizens?How would the South and its economy be rebuilt and what type of labor system would replace slavery?How would Southern politics and government be altered during Reconstruction?

Reconstruction Plans during the Civil War

Lincoln’s “Ten Percent Plan,” Dec. 1863

10% Loyalty pledge and accept abolition of slavery

Johnson’s Plan (1865)

General amnesty for those who swear loyalty to U.S.

High-ranking Confederate officers must seek Presidential pardon. Johnson pardons many

Ratify 13th Amendment, ending slavery, and repudiate Confederate debt

Congressional Reconstruction (1866)

Extends and expands Freedmen’s Bureau over President Johnson’s veto: provides education, relief and protection for freed blacks 14th Amendment to the Constitution passed establishing equal rights for citizensJohnson attacks Congressional Reconstruction in 1866 elections. Republicans secure more than 2/3rds majority in Congress, thus repudiating Johnson’s Reconstruction plan

Edisto Island

The Letter from Edisto Island

What do the committee of freedmen who draft this letter desire and what do they hope the government will do?

What is their response to President Johnson returning their lands to the former planters?

What do they believe that they need in order to be freemen?

Gen. Rufus Saxton’s Report

How does Saxton’s report corroborate the freedmen’s views expressed in their letter?

According to Saxton, how do the freedmen feel about signing labor contracts?

What have the freedmen accomplished in building a new society since obtaining these lands?

What does Saxton believe that the government should do given the views of the freedmen?

Economic Reconstruction: The Labor Problem

Slavery abolishedLand redistribution to freedmen rejectedLong-term labor contracts-resisted by freed blacksSharecropping as a compromise: pros and cons

Military Reconstruction (1867)

Former Confederacy divided into 5 military districts

New state governments formed with freedmen voting –period of Republican rule in South

High Confederate officers barred from participating

States must ratify the 14th Amendment

Republican Rule in the South, 1868 to mid-1870s

Accomplishments:State funded public education (mostly segregated)

Public funding for railroad development

Civil rights, voting rights and access to public accommodations regardless of race

About 2000 blacks held political office at various levels: local, state and national

Impeachment of President Johnson

House of Reps brings articles of impeachment against President Johnson (March 1868)

Senate votes to acquit Johnson by one vote (May 1868)

Reconstruction (continued)

14th Amendment is ratified (July 1868)

Ulysses S. Grant elected President (Nov. 1868)

Congress passes 15th Amendment- voting rights cannot be denied on basis of race, ratified in 1870

Southern Redemption

Rise of the Ku Klux Klan (1868)

Southern states begin electing Redeemer (Democratic) governments (1869)

Congress enacts Enforcement Acts and KKK Act (1870-71)

The End of Reconstruction

Democrats win control of both houses of Congress (Nov. 1874)

Tilden-Hayes Presidential election is thrown into Congress (Nov. 1876)

Disputed electoral votes given to Hayes in exchange for removing remaining federal troops from the South