Download Chapter 22 – Reconstruction

Chapter 22 – Reconstruction
Guided Reading Notes
I Problems of Peace
A. Why were Davis and the conspirators released? No Virginia court would convict
B. Who pardoned the rebel leaders? Johnson
C. What was forever gone from the South after the War? Civilization/social structure (feudalism)
Examples:
1. banks & businesses shut their doors
2. factories were dormant or dismantled
3. transportation system was in ruins
D. What was crippled? Agricultural economy
Examples/reasons:
1. fields/seed gone
2. livestock gone (either killed or eaten by Union troops)
3. slave-labor gone (freed)
II Freedmen Define Freedom
A. What does freedom for blacks mean? Different in different areas
B. How does Emancipation NOT really happen for the slave? Enslaved by masters
Examples:
1. attacked while swimming in river to get across border to freedom
2. hanged
C. What is the master-slave relationship? Ingrained loyalty of slave to master
Effects:
1. resisted the liberating Union troops when they arrived
2. turned violent against their masters
D. How do blacks react to emancipation initially? With suspicion and uncertainty
Positive effects
1. took new names and demanded to be addressed properly
2. wanted fine new things
E. How do whites react? They tried to keep them in a subordinate role/ very bitter
F. What becomes the focus of the black community following emancipation? The church
G. What else does emancipation mean that was formerly denied? A chance at an education
Help from:
1. American Missionary Association
2. Federal Government
III Freedmen’s Bureau
A. What reality sets in as blacks are freed? No skills, no money, & no job
B. What is created to assist? Freedmen’s Bureau
Purpose:
1. provide food and shelter
2. education
3. medical care
C. Greatest success? EDUCATION!!!!
D. Failure? Tracts of land failed to get into the hands of the newly freed slaves (almost no better off)
IV Johnson: Tailor President
A. Early background – orphaned at age 10 – apprenticed to a tailor
B. Political career – moved to Tennessee – championed the rights of poor whites (hated aristocracy)
C. Why was he in the election of 1864? To balance the Union ticket to get Lincoln elected
V Presidential Reconstruction
A. What were Lincoln’s beliefs? South never legally withdrew from Union – admit them back quickly
How: 10% plan
1. 10% of voters of 1860 took an oath of allegiance to Union
2. pledged to abide by emancipation proclamation
B. What was the reaction in Congress? There was sharp and heated reaction in Congress
Fears:
1. restoration of the planter aristocracy
2. re-enslavement of blacks (back to square one)
C. What did Republicans ram through Congress? Wade-Davis Bill
Required:
1. 50% of states’ voters take an oath of allegiance
2. stronger safeguards for emancipation
D. What did Lincoln do? Pocket veto (refused to sign it after Congress adjourned)
E. What does this reveal about the president and Congress? Deep differences between them
F. How do many in Congress feel about seceders? They left, so they forfeit all rights
G. What was happening to the Republicans? Splitting into 2 factions
Examples:
1. majority – moderates that agreed with Lincoln
2. minority – South should pay – it should be painful
H. After Lincoln’s assassination, what position did Johnson take? Agreed with Lincoln
I. What was Johnson’s Reconstruction proclamation? Presidential Reconstruction
1. it disfranchised certain leading confederates including those w/taxable property over $20,000
2. it called for special state conventions which required the South:
a. to repeal the ordinances of secession
b. to repudiate all Confederate debts
c. to ratify the 13th Amendment
J. What else did Johnson do in abundance?
Grant pardons
VI The Baleful Black Codes
A. What was one of the first acts passed by new Southern regimes? Black codes
Purpose:
1. to regulate the affairs of the emancipated blacks (in short, to subjugate them)
a. to ensure a subservient labor force
b. to impose dire penalties for jumping the labor contracts with white landowners
2. they sought to restore the pre-emancipation labor relations
a. forbade blacks to serve on a jury
b. forbade them from renting or leasing land in town
B. Even after the worst of laws were repealed, why was the status of freed blacks still shameful? It did
not give blacks economic independence – another form of oppression and forcing them into subjugation
Examples:
1. they lacked the capital to buy land or start a business
2. became stuck as sharecroppers (no other choice)
VII Congressional Reconstruction
A. Who showed up in Congress in Dec of 1865? Cong. delegates from newly reconstituted So. states
B. Why was this a problem? They were associated with a lost cause
1. Infuriated the Republicans (at least ones who wanted blood)
2. alarmed the North that a restored South would be stronger in politics (may be elbowed aside)
C. What did the future hold for the Republicans?
1. South could perpetuate the Black codes
2. South could lower tariffs
3. South could reroute the Transcontinental RR
4. South could repeal the Free-farm Homestead Act
VIII Johnson Clashes with Congress
A. When and why did it happen? Feb 1866 after Johnson veto’s Freedmen’s Bill
B. How did Congress retaliate? Civil Rights Bill
C. How did Congress clip the wings of Johnson? Overriding vetoes – proved who was dominant
D. How does Congress try to make the Civil Rights Bill part of the Constitution? 14th amendment
1. conferred civil rights (only citizenship)
2. reduced proportionately the reps of a state in Cong & Elect. Col if denied rights to blacks
3. Confederates were disqualified from Fed or state office
4. guaranteed the Federal debt while repudiating all Confederate debts
IX Swinging ‘Round the Circle with Johnson
A. What was the root of all of the controversy? Johnson’s 10% gov’ts that passed the Black codes
B. What question has yet to be answered? Reconstruction: with or without the 14th amendment?
C. What crucial event was to take place in 1866? Congressional elections
D. What does Johnson do to gather support for his views? Traveled to various cities to speak on his views
Tactics:
1. “give ‘em hell” speeches – comedy of errors
2. accused radicals of planning anti-black riots
E. Results of his “campaigning”?
His office sank to a new low and many Republicans lost
X Republican Principles and Programs (veto proof)
A. Who led the radicals in Congress? Senate was Charles Sumner ; House was Thaddeus Stevens
B. What was the Representative’s best attribute? Unswerving friend of blacks
C. What were radicals most opposed to? Rapid restoration of So. states (wanted soc & econ transform)
D. What did moderates propose? Policies that did not abridge citizens’ rights
E. Upon what did they both agree? Necessity to enfranchise black voters
XI Reconstruction by the Sword
A. What was passed on March 2, 1867? Reconstruction Act
B. What was the South divided into? 5 military districts
C. Who commanded and policed each? Union general & soldiers
D. What stringent conditions did Congress give for Southern states?
1. ratify 14th amendment
2. guarantee in state constitutions full suffrage for all former adult male slaves
E. What is not provided for blacks? Land or education at federal expense
F. What was the purpose of moderates? Create an electorate in So. States to vote state back into Union
G. Why was this ironic? Was really inadequate to provide justice
H. To guarantee black suffrage, what did radicals propose and pass? make part of Constit – 15th amend
I. Why was the Congressional Reconstruction policy close to treading on the Constitution? Usurped Pres funct & martial regime
J. When did the last Federal troops pull out of the South? 1877
K. Did Republican ideals remain? Why or why not? No – South more determined than ever
XII No Women Voters
A. What group besides the Southerners was disappointed by the Reconstruction Acts? Advoc of wom’s rts
B. Why? Because they had campaigned for black freedom and wom’s rights
C. Who campaigned against the 14th amendment and why? Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony
D. How long after the Reconstruction amendments were passed before women got to vote? 50 years
XIII The Realities of Radical Reconstruction in the South
A. What was ironic about the Southern blacks being denied the right to vote? Most No. states denied also
B. What was the first political organization among Southern blacks? Union League
C. What was the goal of this group? Educate in civic duties, campaign for Repub, build churches/schools
D. Despite not getting the right to vote, black women contributed with what new roles? Parades, rallies,
E. What success did blacks see for all of their political efforts? expanded
F. Who was most offended by this? Their former white masters (lashed out at white allies to blacks)
Groups most hated:
1. scalawags (Southerners)
2. carpetbaggers (Northerners)
G. Despite the radical regime of the Republicans, what good came out of this? reforms
1. adequate public schools
2. tax systems stream-lined
3. public works were launched
4. property rights guaranteed to women
H. With the good comes the bad. What came with radical governments? Graft was rampant
XIV The Ku Klux Klan
A. What formed out of resentment to black successes and where was it formed? KKK - Tennessee
B. Tactics/punishments?
1. fright
2. force
3. flogged
4. mutilated
5. murdered
C. How did Congress respond to these lawless acts? Passed harsh Force Acts of 1870 & 1871
D. What were the literacy tests passed in the South? Tests to keep black from voting
XV Johnson Walks the Impeachment Plank
A.
Congress plans to place a permanent check on Johnson’s presidential power by what? Remove by const. process
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Who would become president? Radical President Pro Tempore of Senate - Wade
What does Congress pass in 1867 despite being vetoed by Johnson? Tenure of Office Act
What was the purpose of this? To secure consent of Sen before removing an appointed official
How does Johnson cause Congress to begin impeachment proceedings? Dismissal of Stanton
Who brought charges and what was the vote? House with 126 votes to 47
Charges:
1. high crimes and misdemeanors w/ various violations of Tenure of Office Act
2. Two articles dealt w/ verbal assaults on Congress
XVI A Not-Guilty Verdict for Johnson
A. Who became the court for Johnson and why is this crucial? Radical Senate – already hated him
B. Who prosecuted? House
C. Why was this considered a “show”? tickets printed and sold – huge implications for country
D. What was the basis of Johnson’s defense argument? Ten of Off Act unconstitutional
E. Who had the larger burden of proof? House
F. What was the outcome of the vote in the Senate? Failed to get 2/3 majority by 1 vote
G. What factors shaped the outcome?
1. fears of creating a destabilizing precedent
2. hurting the system of check and balances
3. Political considerations (VP had been left vacant)
4. Johnson claimed he would stop obstructing Rep. policies
H. Why did many view this trial as a victory for democracy? They system worked – no armed uprising
XVII The Purchase of Alaska
A. What was Johnson’s most enduring success during his administration? Foreign relations
B. Who sold Alaska? Russians
Why:
1. overextended themselves in N. America
2. in event of another war w/ Britain, it would lose it to British
3. was furred out & an economic liability
C. Who orchestrated a treaty to obtain Alaska and for how much? Sec of St – William Seward
D. Despite ridicule for this purchase, why was it seen as a politically savvy move? Russia being friendly
XVIII The Heritage of Reconstruction
A. Why did many consider reconstruction more grievous than the war? It left a festering scar
B. In what way did Reconstruction set a precedent? No clear policy to deal with the south
C. What was the greatest irony about the determination to emancipate and bring equality to the slaves?
Republicans never fully appreciated the effort to make freed slaves independent citizens
Explain: “…The Old South was in many ways more resurrected than reconstructed” (497).