Download Jacob Schulman

Jacob Schulman
AP American History
December 15, 2007
Mr. Davis
Chapter 16: Reconstruction- An Unfinished Revolution
I. Wartime Reconstruction:
A. 1863: Reconstruction of the Union started to become an issue (before war ended)
How can we restore this nation? And Who is going to be in charge?
Lincoln’s 10 Percent Plan & Congress and the Wade-Davis Bill:
A. Lincoln wasn’t originally antisouthern; he didn’t want war to turn into Guerilla warfare
Insisted on lenient terms to southern soldiers once they surrendered
B. December 1863: Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction- proposed to replace
majority rule with “loyal rule” to reconstruct southern governments
- Wanted to pardon all ex-Confederates except highest military officers
- After 10% took an oath of loyalty, it would be recognized
C. LA, TN, AK got “loyal” assemblies or Lincoln governmentsWeak, and dependent on N.
D. Congress didn’t want to readmit Southern states so quicklyRadical Republicans saw the
10% plan as a mockery of Democracy
- Thaddeus Stevens of PA and Charles Sumner of MA- proposed longer, harsher terms
- Wanted to treat the Southern states like “conquered foreign lands”
E. July 1864: :Wade-Davis Bill emerged with the necessary conditions for Southern states
- Demanded a majority of while male citizens to make a new government
- Had to take an “iron-clad oath” (saying they didn’t help the war effort)
- All officers above rank of lieutenant would be disenfranchised and not made citizens
F. Lincoln vetoed the bill and said he would be more flexible
G. Timing was badLincoln’s reelection wasn’t cemented yet
H. August 5: Radical Republicans released “Wade-Davis Manifesto”- attack on Lincoln
- Accused him of abusing presidential powers and being unnecessarily lenient
I. Lincoln saw Reconstruction as a means of weakening the Confederacy
Thirteenth Amendment and the Freedmen’s Bureau:
A. January 31, 1865: Congress passed the 13th Amendment
- Abolished involuntary servitude everywhere in the US
- Declared that Congress has the power to enforce this outcome
B. March 3, 1865: Congress created the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned
Lands- Continued what private freedmen’s aid societies had started as early as 1862
- Supplied food, medical services, built schools, got people jobs
- Controversial, and not fully united
II. The Meanings of Freedom:
The Feel of Freedom & Reunion of Black Families:
A. Reconstruction allowed slaves to explore freedomThey were ecstatic
B. Some freed slaves were more cautious and shrewdDidn’t want to test the boundaries
- They learned to expect hostility, didn’t expect it to just disappear
C. Some freed slaves even stayed with their owners because there wasn’t anything else
D. Former slaves wanted to improve their daily lives
Reunite families that were separated by hardship; not all were successful
E. Husbands and wives could live together, parents could raise their own children
Blacks’ Search for Independence and African Americans’ Desire for Land:
A. Many blacks wanted to minimize contact with whites
B. Even slaves that had more privileges wanted more separation and independence
C. These new people wanted to be able to own landCould allow sufficiency
D. Most members of parties didn’t want to allow giving them land; even Northerners
E. Northern soldiers wanted blacks to grow cotton on Sea Island
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The Black Embrace of Education & Growth of Black Churches:
A. Education had been denied to themWanted knowledge- started schools and filled
classes day and night
- Desire to escape slavery’s ignorance was very strong; Still paid small tuition
B. Federal government and northern reformers assisted in pursuit of education
- Freedmen’s Bureau founded over 4000 schools
C. Saw a break from their past through learningTurned out to be the start of a public school
system in the southern states and enrollment of 600k blacks by 1877
D. Saw the need for colleges and universities to make teachers
- American Missionary Association founded 7 colleges
- By late 1870s black churches had joined in the effort
E. African American leaders were highly educated individuals and were free blacks prior
F. Men and self-educated former slaves brought experience as artisans to political office
G. Blacks built their own institutionsOpened secret churches of slavery
Independent branches of the Methodist and Baptist denominations
- Freedpeople demonstrated most secure claim on freedom through their churches
Rise of the Sharecropping System and Overdependence on Cotton:
A. Since most slaves lacked money to buy land, they rented the land they had worked
Few whites would consider renting land to blacks- had to find alternatives to cash
B. Turned to sharecropping- farmers kept part of their crop and gave rest to landowner
- Republican laws gave the owners the first profit- enhanced ownership
C. Sharecropping (1868) originated as a desirable compromiseGave blacks more freedom,
but owners and merchants gained a monopoly on control
D. Southern farmers still concentrated on cotton- other places were taking over
Cotton prices started to fall
E. Overspecialization in cotton was an issue, but there was no alternativeSouthern
economy slipped into depression- struggled under the debt
III. Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan:
A. Reconstruction under Andrew Johnson people thought would be harsh
Former slaveowners were angry when he became President
Who Was Andrew Johnson and Johnson’s Leniency and Radical Views:
A. Rose up the ranks in TN and became a senator in 1857
B. Refused to follow his state out of the Union
C. He looked like a Republican, but was really a Jacksonian Democrat
- Pro Union, but still valued states’ rights
- Called himself a champion of the common man- supported Homestead
- White supremacist totally; but accepted emancipation as a result of war
D. Johnson put into operation his own plan- made new state gvts in South by using power to
grant pardonsStill was lenient
- Said that black suffrage couldn’t be imposed on a southern state by federal gvt
- Said that blacks had less capacity for gvt than any other race of people
E. Johnson seemed to be pursuing changes in class relations with whiteswanted to keep
the wealthy planter class out of power, required sworn oaths of loyalty
- All Southerners who aided the rebellion and had more than $20k worth of property
couldn’t take the oath and couldn’t be accepted back into the union without special terms
Johnson’s Pardon Policy:
A. Appeared that the leadership of the otld South would be removed from power
President meant to take revenge on the aristocrats and promote a new leadership
B. Appointed provisional governors that called constitutional conventions
Had to make new constitutions
C. Didn’t hold to his desire to strip the old elite of it’s power
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Prominent confederates won elections and held elected offices
Then Johnson started pardoning aristocrats
The old elite was restored to power, but gained southern loyalty
Wanted to try and keep the Radicals out and get Reconstruction done quickly
D. December 1865: Many confederates went to Washington to claim seats in congress
E. Northerners were troubledDidn’t really know what to do
Black Codes:
A. Legislatures revised large sections of the slave codes by substituting the word freedmen
for slaves- compelled former slaves to have many restrictions
- Excluded blacks from many privileges that were given to other groups
B. Northerners thought that the South wanted to push ex-slaves back to servitude
C. Republican majority in Congress halted the results of Johnson’s Plan
Challenged the President’s authority and made a joint committee to find a new way
IV. The Congressional Reconstruction Plan:
A. Northern congressmen wanted to help shape ReconstructionCongress had the primary
role in admitting states into the union
B. Weren’t sure of what the relationship with the Southern states was Constiutionally
The Radicals:
A. Northern Democrats denounced any idea of racial equality and supported Johnson
B. Radical Republicans under Thaddeus Stevens, Charles Sumner, and George Julian
wanted to transform the South
- Wanted to democratize the South, make public education, ensure rights of freed people
- Radicals wanted to create an activist federal government and start racial equality
C. 1866 elections were approaching: Needed something for the voters
Congress Wrests Control from Johnson:
A. Spring 1866: Johnson agreed to 2 modifications of his program- extension of the
Freedmen’s Bureau for 1 more year, and passage of a civil rights bill
Force Southern courts to practice equality before the law
- Civil Rights Bill of 1866 was the first statutory definition of rights of Americans
B. Johnson then vetoed both bills, but they were re-voted by Congress and passed
He condemned their actions, and shows his racism- said they weren’t citizens
C. There were multiple incidents of infringing on the black rights
D. 1866: 14th Amendment is the Congress’ response to Johnson’s Reconstruction program
The 14th Amendment:
A. June 1866: 14th Amendment proposed
1. Conferred citizenship on the freedmen and prohibited states from suspending their
rights; Barred states from taking “life, liberty, or property” without full lawful process
2. Confederate debt null and void and guaranteed the war debt of the US
3. Barred Confederate leaders from holding public office
4. Dealt with representation and embodied the compromises- should blacks vote?
B. Republicans decided that if a southern state didn’t grant them the right to vote, their rep
would be reduced; if they were allowed to vote, their support would grow
C. Paved way for black male suffrage but ignored femalesStrong reaction from women
D. Male abolitionists were willing to delay women voting to get men voting faster
The South’s and Johnson’s Defiance, 1866:
A. Johnson tried to block the 14th Amendment; Every southern legislature except TN rejected
B. Johnson organized a National Union Convention- audiences rejected his views and were
horrible to him; he labeled Radicals traitors for their bad efforts in Reconstruction
C. Elections of 1866 were a big victory for Republicans and CongressRepublican majority
in House and Senate by 2/3
D. Republicans were fored to make new state governments in the South
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The Reconstruction Acts of 1867-1878:
A. March 1867: First Reconstruction Act- Southern states were actually readmitted into the
UnionGuaranteed freedmen the right to vote in elections
- Each Southern state was required to ratify the 14th Amendment
B. African Americans gained an opportunity to fight for a better life through the political
processEx-Confederates had to watch it all happen
C. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Reconstruction Acts: Provided details of operation for voter registration, etc
The Failure of Land Distribution and the Constitutional Crisis:
A. Radicals succeeded in holding Johnson back, but wanted to do more
- Thaddeus Stevens made a plan for redistribution of land, but only 1/10 was for freemen
- The rest was to be sold to generate money and lower the debt
B. Radicals were not able to generate public support; Black workers had to find work in
hostile environments
C. Congress’ quarrels with Andrew Johnson were just getting worsePassed laws
1. Set the date for its own reconvening
2. Limited Johnson’s power over the army by requiring president to issue orders through
Grant, who couldn’t be dismissed without the Congress’ consent
3. Tenure of Office Act: Gave senate power to make changes in president’s cabinet
These were passed by 2/3 votes over vetoes from Johnson
D. Johnson tried to gain back some of that power, tried to fire Stanton
Impeachment of President Johnson:
A. Johnson was impeached in the House, tried in the Senate
B. After Johnson tried to remove Stanton, 3rd attempt to impeach him was made
C. Prosecution to impeach him fell 1 vote short of actually impeaching him
Election of 1868 & The 15th Amendment:
A. 1868: U.S. Grant (Republican) defeated Horatio SeymourSupported congressional
reconstruction and endorsed black suffrage in the South
- Democrats denounced the reconstruction, and made more sectional divisions
B. Grant wasn’t an enthusiastic advocate of ReconstructionNever imposed a true military
occupation of the South- decreased the number of troops there
C. 1869: Radicals passed the 15th Amendment to the Constitution- forbade states to deny the
right to vote on account of race, color, or condition of servitude
Specifically left the door open to still not allowing women to vote in North, etc.
D. Several states outside the South refused to ratify, ¾ of the states approved the measure
Became law in 1870
V. Reconstruction Politics in the South:
A. Reconstruction had resistance of white southerners from the beginning
White Resistance:
A. Some planters attempted to postpone the emancipation of their slavesTried to keep the
children to force the parents to stay
B. Whites blocked blacks from getting landSoon manifested in other ways- violence
C. Johnson encouraged the South to resist Reconstruction, white conservatives worked
harder to try and get the governmentsBoycotted polls, sat out elections
Black Voters and Emergence of a Southern Republican Party:
A. Most black men voted, and they voted RepublicanMade intelligent choices
- Women encouraged men to use the franchiseVoting zeal spread
B. Constitutional Conventions of 1868-1870: New Southern Republican Party came to power
Brought the South into line with the progressive reforms from earlier
- Made the new Constitutions more democratic- No property qualifications, provided for
schools, took care of the elderly
C. Broadened women’s rights in property holding and divorce
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Gave women legal control over their own property to protect their families
Triumph of Republican Governments & Industrialization:
A. Ranks of elected officials started to include some blacksRepublican state gvts didn’t
disfranchise ex-Confederates
B. Biracial regimes appreciated the power and depth of racial enmityBelieved in the
principle of universal suffrage and reconciliation
Wanted whites to adopt a spirit of fairness and cooperation
- White voters had to cooperate for the Southern Republican party to succeed
C. Reconstruction governments promoted industrySaw how it helped the North in war
- Rebuilt the Southern railroad system, made steel plants
D. Emphasis on big business made more debt and taxesLocked Republicans into a
conservative strategy- had to get white support
Republican Policies on Racial Equality and The Myth of “Negro Rule”:
A. Whites that controlled southern Republican party were reluctant to allow blacks a share of
officesBlack leaders didn’t push very far for revolutionary change
- Wanted public schools, didn’t worry about making them integrated
B. Some black politicians did fight for civil rights and integrationMulattos
- They were sensitive about status issues, spoke out for what they wanted
C. Economic progress was essential for allMuch land was hard for blacks to get easily
- Didn’t have enough money to buy the land; SC made a land commission
- Lack of real land distribution was a major setback of Reconstruction
D. White hostility to congressional Reconstruction started to dominatePressure,
propagandaPut more pressure on blacks for everything
E. “Negro Rule”- myth that spread that made it seem like blacks were dominating
- This was truly not the case; but they did have rich activism in civic duties
Carpetbaggers and Scalawags:
A. Conservatives called whites from the North “carpetbaggers”- wanted to take stolen tax
revenues into their luggage that was made from carpet
B. Most Northerners in the South came for business opportunitiesSome wanted to
democratize the South and promote northern ways
C. Conservatives made the term “scalawags”- discredit any native white southerner who
cooperated with the Republicans
- Most were yeoman farmers; saw that they could benefit from the education and
opportunity that was becoming existent
Tax Policy and Corruption as Political Wedges & the KKK:
A. Republicans wanted to maintain prewar services, repair the destruction, stimulate industry,
and support new ventures
B. Corruption was another major charge against RepublicansThere was much fraud
- Democrats successfully pinned the blame on unqualified blacks
C. Hurt the RepublicansLeaders allowed factionalism along racial lines
D. Ku Klux Klan: Secret veterans’ club that started in TN in 1866
- Evolved into a terrorist organizationViolence towards African Americans
E. Main purpose of the KKK was politicalTargeted Republicans- killed leaders
F. KKK violence was very specific and directedTargeted specific areas
- Deliberate campaigns of terror- whipped up racism and intimidated Republicans
G. Republicans were hurt across the South1/10 of Black leaders were killed
Failure of Reconstruction:
A. The Republican regimes were brought downRadical Reconstruction was short
- Failed to alter the social structure or distribution of wealth and power in South
B. Freedmen were dependent on white landownersAll they had was the vote
C. Congress couldn’t really do much without making much chaos
Reconstruction depended upon the North’s interest in doing it
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VI. Reconstruction Reversed:
A. North had wanted to suppress rebellion, not really help the blacks
Commitment was weakening with time in the 1870s
- Criticism grew
Political Implications of Klan Terrorism & The Liberal Republican Revolt:
A. Violent campaigns of the KKK forced Congress to pass 2 Enforcement acts and Anti-Klan
lawsMade actions against blacks a federal criminal offence and permitted suspension of
habeas corpus to combat murders
- Wasn’t really enforced in most cities; Some juries refused to convict Klan members
B. Klan terrorism openly defied CongressNorth’s commitment to racial justice was fading
Echoed an old Democratic charge that Congress was interfering with states’ rights
C. Liberal Republicans bolted the party in 1872 and nominated Horace Greeley for pres.
- Included civil service reformers, foes of corruption, advocates of low tariffs
- Shared distaste for federal intervention, elitist desire to let market forces work
D. Democrats nominated Greeley tooStill didn’t defeat Grant
E. Organized Blue Gray fraternalism (Union and Confederate veterans)- began as early as
1874Refused request for troops from governor of MS to put down racial arguments
F. More dissatisfaction with Grant during his 2nd termDefended some corrupt people
A General Amnesty & Reconciliation and Industrial Expansion:
A. 1872: Congress adopted a sweeping Amnesty Act- pardoned most remaning rebels
B. 1875: Civil Rights Act- purporting to guarantee black people equal accommodations
C. Democrats regained the SouthStressed failure of Reconstruction gvts in North
D. Industrialization and immigration were surging75% industrial production growth
- Gvt policies helped bring this growth aboutUsed tax revenue to pay off debt
- Low taxes on investment, high tariffs on manufactured goods
E. 1865-1873: 3 million new immigrants- revival of suspicion and hostility
F. Panic of 1873: 3 million people lost jobs, diverging class attitudes, concerns among
business leaders all over the place
Greenbacks versus Sound Money & Foreign Expansion:
A. Didn’t know whether to allow Civil War greenbacks to be in circulation
B. 1874: Congress voted to increase number of greenbacks in circulation
Changed mind and passed law making them be changed to gold by 1878
C. Renewed pressure about expansion
- 1867: Sec of State William H. Seward purchased Alaska from Russia
He was ridiculed, but tried to show how it was necessary and good
- 1867: JUS took control of Midway Islands, close to Hawaii
Judicial Retreat from Reconstruction:
A. Lambdin P. Milligan of InChallenged authority of military tribunal
Supreme court decalred military trials illegal, wanted to reassert authority
B. Narrowed the meaning of the 14th Amendment
- Slaughterhouse cases (1873)- LA legislature granted 1 company a monopoly on
slaughtering livestock in New Orleans
Campbell articulated an original goal of Republicans- nationalize civil rights
- Supreme court had a blow to the scope of the 14th Amendment- interpreted the rights of
citizens very narrowly
- Concluded that butchers that sued weren’t deprived of their rights
C. Bradwell v IL: Female attorney was denied right to pracice law in IL b/c she was female
Supreme Court rejected her claim, alluded to the traditional role of women in the Home
Disputed Election of 1876 and the Compromise of 1877:
A. Samuel J. Tilden (governor of NY) ran strongly in the South and only needed 1 vote to beat
Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican)
- Both Democrats and Republicans claimed to win in LA, SC, FL; OR was undecided
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B. Congress established a 15 man electoral commissionBalanced b/w D and R
- Republican party prevailed on every attempt to count the returns 8 to 7
C. Democrats controlled the House and could block action on the vots
- Democrats acquiesced in the election of Hayes based on a deal
D. Northern and Southern democrats realized they couldn’t win
Hayes became President- inaugurated privately inside the White House
Betrayal of Black Rights and the Exodusters:
A. African Americans grieved over the betrayal of their hopes for equality
B. Exodusters: Disappointed people still searching for their share in the American dream
C. Blacks had to weigh their options
America’s opportunities were forboding
- Didn’t know what to do exactly, and what the best way was
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