Download Recontruction and the “Wild” West 1865-1890

Reconstruction:
Remaking the South
1865-1877
Goals:
(1) What did Reconstruction mean?
(2) Was the South really reconstructed?
Problems of Reconstruction
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Social: How do we
help/protect freedmen
and their rights?
Economic: How do we
rebuild the South? How
do we pay for it?
Political: What do we do
with/to the Southern
states? How do we bring
them back into the
Union?
Presidential Reconstruction
(Two possible plans)
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Lincoln’s Plan
10% of voters swear
oath of loyalty
States must draft new
constitutions that
abolish slavery
Forgiving and nonpunitive
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Johnson’s Plan
50% of voters must
swear oath of loyalty
States must draft new
constitutions that
abolish slavery
Radical Reconstruction
(Wade-Davis Bill [1864] and Reconstruction
Acts of 1867-1868)
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South divided into 5 military districts not including Tennessee,
which had ratified the Fourteenth Amendment to the United
States Constitution and was readmitted to the Union
Required Congressional approval for new state constitutions,
which had to include a provision to allow all men, including African
Americans, the right to vote
Prohibited any former Confederate officials from holding office
“Ironclad Oath”: required every white male to swear he had never
borne arms against the Union or supported the Confederacy
Required all states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment
President Johnson impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act
- found not guilty by one vote but…Congress now controlled the
federal government
Why did Congress go after President Johnson? He vetoed both the
Freedman’s Bureau bill and the Civil Rights Act (both in 1866) and
for the first time Congress overrode a president’s vetoes.
The North During Reconstruction
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Thriving industry
Increased use and
development of
technology
Trade markets
expanded
Labor needs continue
to grow
The “New South”
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Sharecropping & Tenant
Farming emerge
Freedmen face many
obstacles
Segregation becomes an
acceptable part of society
Struggles for political
control
President Grant
• Willingness to cooperate with Radical Republicans
though he wasn’t one of them.
• As general and as president, quiet and
unassuming but determined.
• Military experience in some ways proved a
handicap in public office, as he was used to being
obeyed and not having to negotiate.
Grant’s Imperfections
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Grant expected his political appointees to carry out
orders as his military subordinates had done, but his
trust proved misplaced.
His lack of experience in public affairs often led to the
appointment of poorly-qualified persons. Military
experience led him to place too much trust in people, a
mistake in the political arena.
His trust in the spoils system badly damaged his
presidency and political reputation.
Grant Administration Scandals
 Grant presided over an era of
unprecedented
economic growth and
political corruption.
*
Fiske/Gould
gold scandal.
*
Credit Mobilier
scandal.
The Gold Thing
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Jim Fiske and Jay Gould attempted to
corner gold market in 1869
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Persuaded Grant to order federal Treasury to
stop selling gold.
Fiske and Gould then bid price of gold
upward.
Treasury finally released gold and the bubble
burst in 1869 (b/c of over-speculated/inflated
value of gold; similar to 1929 Stock Market
Crash); caused a financial panic, stock market
depression, bankruptcies of Wall Street firms
Congressional probe found Grant did nothing
illegal but acted recklessly.
Credit Mobilier Scandal
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Insiders of the Union Pacific Railway formed
Credit Mobilier --a railroad construction company.
 Hired themselves to build the railroad and paid
themselves huge fees (paid dividends of 348% to
stockholders)
 Distributed shares of stock to members of Congress
to avoid interference.
In 1872 the charges confirmed by a Congressional
investigation that censured two members & the vice
president
 Grant’s reputation tarnished although most
corruption occurred before his presidency.
Successes of Reconstruction
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New Constitutional
Amendments- 13, 14,
15…Free, Citizens,
Vote!!
Southern economy
diversified
African-Americans
elected to all levels of
government
Failures of Reconstruction
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Political corruption at all levels of
government
Black codes and Jim Crow laws
put in place throughout the
country
Sharecropping and tenant
farming created economic
inferiority for African-Americans
White supremacy groups (KKK)
form and are opposed (Force Act
1870 and Civil Rights Act 1871)
Former Confederate leaders
return to power after 1877
Poll taxes, literacy tests,
grandfather clauses prevent
African-Americans from voting
Impacts of Reconstruction
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Republicans dominate the government
Solid South (“Redeemers”) emerges
(Democrat bloc)
Civil rights are given, but not guaranteed
Federal government is SUPREME over states
Racial tensions surge as the nation SLOWLY
rebuilds
Corruption of the Grant administration filters
throughout government