Download Reconstruction Era Ch 23 - Rosedale Union School District

23.2 Presidential Reconstruction
President Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan
stated former Confederate states could rejoin the
Union once it had written a new state constitution,
Elected a new state government, and repealed its
act of secession, canceled war debts and ratified the
thirteenth amendment (abolished slavery). By Fall of
1865 every southern state met the requirements and
the thirteenth amendment became part of the
Constitution. The Freedman’s Bureau was
established as a result of the passage of the
thirteenth amendment and assisted former slaves by
providing food, medical care, education and
bargained for better wages and better working
conditions. Soon black codes were enacted to
counteract such organizations that helped African
Americans. These black codes were created to
keep African Americans from full citizenship by
limiting rights, required freedmen to work
(limited to farm labor), and kept freedmen at
the bottom of the social order.
23.2 Presidential Reconstruction
1. Thirteenth Amendment- Abolished slavery.
Johnson’s Reconstruction required former
Confederate states to ratify before rejoining the
Union.
2. Freedman’s Bureau- Provided food, medical
care, education and helped bargain for wages
and good working conditions for African
Americans.
3. Black Codes- Kept African Americans from full
citizenship by limiting rights, required freedmen
to work (limited to farm labor), and kept
freedmen at the bottom of the social order.
23.3 Congressional
Reconstruction
President Johnson thought that Reconstruction was
finished when the Confederate states agreed to
rejoin the Union. Congress was not satisfied with just
allowing the southern states to rejoin the Union,
these lawmakers believed that Reconstruction was
not finished until freedman were granted full rights
of citizenship. Congress passed the fourteenth
amendment to protect the rights of African
Americans, and enacted the Military Reconstruction
Act. When Johnson refused to cooperate with
Congress on various issues and violated the Tenure
of Office Act he was impeached by Congress, but
was not removed from office because Congress did
not get a 2/3 majority vote it needed. Sharecropping
became widely practiced throughout the South due
to planters need of laborers and African Americans
need of land. Sharecropping looked promising at first
but lead to poverty and debt.
23.3 Congressional Reconstruction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Civil Rights Act of 1866- Granted Freedmen full
citizenship with the same rights as white citizens.
Fourteenth Amendment- Declared former slaves to
be citizens with full civil rights. President Johnson
opposed this amendment, Congress passed it with 2/3
majority.
Military Reconstruction Act- Divided the South into 5
military districts governed by a general. Southerners
who supported the Confederacy could not vote.
Johnson’s Impeachment- Johnson was charged with
violating the Tenure of Office Act. A 2/3 majority was
needed to remove him, he escaped impeachment by 1
vote.
Sharecropping- Former plantation owners rented land
to freedmen. The freedman paid for the land with either
cash or crops, led to a life of debt and poverty.
23.4 Southern Reconstruction
The south was made up of three groups
That could vote freedman, white
southerners who opposed the war, and
northerners who moved to the South after
the war. Former Confederate supporters
Were not allowed to vote. With the help of
the new voters in the South U.S.Grant won the
election of 1868. Grant convinced
Congress to pass the 15th Amendment.
States that rejoined the Union created new
state constitutions that allowed every adult
male to vote. African Americans began to
hold high offices. State governments
passed taxes and used the money
to start to rebuilding damaged roads,
railways and bridges. Schools and
hospitals were built. Between 1860 and
1870 taxes were raised 400%.
23.4 Southern Reconstruction
1. Fifteenth Amendment- Stated that a
citizen’s right to vote could not “be
denied on account of race, color or
previous condition of servitude”.
23.5 End of Reconstruction
Most whites in the South resented southern
Reconstruction. Many blamed the South’s
problems( high taxes,& misuse of public offices )
on corrupt leaders. Southerners also resented
seeing former slaves holding public office. As a
result terrorism groups such as the Ku Klux Klan
emerged and threatened African American
voters and officeholders. Congress passed laws
such as the Enforcement Acts(1870 and1871) to
combat such terrorist groups. The Amnesty Act
of 1872 forgave former Confederates and
allowed them to vote again. The election of 1876
was deadlocked with no deciding outcome for
the President, the Compromise of 1877 occurred
When the two parties agreed to allow Rutherford
Hayes (Republican) to become President in
return, Rutherford allowed southern states “the
right to control their own affairs.
23.5 End of Reconstruction
1. Ku Klux Klan- Threatened African American
voters and officeholders, those who did not heed
their threats were beaten or murdered.
2. Enforcement Acts- Three laws that made it illegal
to prevent another person from voting by bribery,
force or scare tactics.
3. Amnesty Act of 1872- (Means forgiveness)
Allowed most former Confederates to vote again.
4. Compromise of 1877- Rutherford B. Hayes
became President and agreed to allow southern
states “the right to control their own affairs”.
23.6 Reconstruction Reversed
After Reconstruction, many of the schools that
Freedman received education stopped receiving
Funding, and many school closed. By the 1880’s
Only half of all African American children
Attended schools. In addition to losing education,
Southern Democrats reversed the political gains
made by freedmen after the war. Poll taxes and
literacy tests were enacted that stopped many
from voting. The South began to enact Jim Crow
laws that enforced segregation of whites and
blacks in the South. The tensions in the South
moved to the Supreme Court in 1896 with the
Plessy vs. Ferguson case. In this landmark case,
Homer Plessy was arrested for refusing to obey
Jim Crow laws. He took his case to the Supreme
Court on the premise that such laws violated the
fourteenth amendment. The Supreme Court
stated “Separate But Equal” did not violate the
Constitution. This decision led the way for the
segregation of schools, parks, theaters,
restaurants and many other facilities.
23.6 Reconstruction Reversed
1. Poll Tax- A high tax that most African
Americans could not afford that had to be paid
before a person could vote.
2. Literacy Tests- Showed a person could read
before they could vote. It was created to
prevent African Americans from voting.
3. Jim Crow Laws- Laws that enforced
segregation of whites and blacks in the South.
4. Plessy vs. Ferguson- The Supreme Court
stated “Separate But Equal” which led to
segregation of schools, parks, theaters,
restaurants and many other facilities.