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Chapter 19 Notes: Reconstruction
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The period after the Civil War is known as Reconstruction. It lasted from 1865-1877
Two huge questions faced the nation during this time period:
How should southern states be admitted back into the Union?
What should be done with the now freed slaves?
Freedman
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Near the end of the Civil War, Congress passed the 13th Amendment. This change of the constitution
outlawed slavery in the United States.
A freedman or freeman is a person who has been freed from slavery. All former slaves were now
freedman.
Freedman Problems
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Many didn’t have jobs, homes or money
Some looked for long-lost relatives.
Most remained on the plantation they worked on as a slave for wages or a portion of the crop –
sharecropping
Presidential Reconstruction
Andrew Johnson, as the President after Lincoln, set up four requirements for southern states to return to the
union.
1. States had to accept the 13th amendment that ended slavery
2. States had to declare that their secession had been illegal
3. States had to cancel all war debts
4. To receive the right to vote, all adult white males had to take a loyalty oath to the United States.
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Andrew Johnson wanted to be lenient (take it easy) on the south. He didn’t want to punish them for
secession or the Civil War.
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He wanted to support poor southern whites and by doing so help heal the nation.
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Most southern states including Texas, did not accept the 13th Amendment but instead outlawed
slavery in their state constitutions.
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This example of “States Rights” made many in the North angry but President Johnson accepted the
former Confederate states back into the Union anyway.
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Once Southern states were let back into the Union they reformed their state governments and the
former Confederates retook power.
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They immediately passed laws to limit the rights of the Freedman.
“Black Codes”
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Southern states passed laws called “Black Codes” that made African Americans 2nd class citizens.
Freedman were forced to work or they could be sent to jail and needed permission to leave the
plantation where they worked
The object of the Black codes was to get Freedman back working on the cotton plantations and other
work they did when they were slaves
Freedmen’s Bureau
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The Freedmen’s Bureau was created by Congress to help freeman by supplying food, shelter, medicine,
and in many cases, jobs.
Freedmen’s Bureau workers had the power to settle disputes and issues between Freedman and
whites.
Because of this the freedmen’s bureau faced many challenges from southerners who would attempt to
intimidate and in some cases kill freedmen’s bureau workers.
Was Presidential Reconstruction successful?
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No!!
By passing the “Black Codes” southern states had basically forced Freedman back into
slavery.
By not punishing Confederate leaders they could run for office in their state governments and in the
U.S. Congress. These people would never agree to give Freedman rights.
The Radical Republicans
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Northerners are Angry!!!!!
Why did the Union fight the Civil War if the South refused to actually free their former slaves?
The “Radical” Republicans in Congress used their version of Reconstruction as a way to punish the
Southerners and gain fair treatment for freedman.
Congressional Reconstruction
1) Congress rejected the new Southern Governments and refused to admit the southern Congressmen
into Congress.
2) They passed the 14th Amendment which made all Freedman citizens of the United States. This did
away with the Black Codes and gave Freedman the same civil rights as whites under the Constitution.
3) Republicans passed the Reconstruction Act of 1867. This act put the southern states under military
Control. 10 southern states were now 5 military districts controlled by the Federal Government and the
U.S. army.
4) Radical Republicans impeached Andrew Johnson. Johnson survived his trial in the Senate by only one
vote.
5) The 15th Amendment was passed. This gave the right to all men, regardless of race or color the right to
vote.
6) The “Iron Clad Oath.” Former Confederates were barred from voting. The Southern Democrats lost all
their power to the Republicans
Republicans supporters in the South
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The South called Northerners who came to the south after the war “Carpetbaggers” because they
believed these people were trying to ruin the south for their personal gain. Carpetbaggers were also
Republicans.
Scalawags were southerners who supported the North during the Civil War and Republicans after it.
How will the South React to Congressional Reconstruction?
The Ku Klux Klan
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Many plantation owners and former Confederate soldiers did not want African Americans to have
rights.
A secret group called the Ku Klux Klan was formed.
The goal of this group was to:
– restore Democratic control of the South
– keep former slaves from voting and so they will be powerless
Jim Crow Laws
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Under the motto “Separate But Equal” southern states passed racist “Jim Crow” laws that segregated
(separated) the races.
This segregation would last for over 80 years. Almost every part of life was separate for Whites and
“Colored people” from schools to restrooms.
Was Congressional Reconstruction Successful?
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Sort of…
African Americans gained the right to vote and citizenship, but after Reconstruction ended Southern
States found new ways to limit their rights like Jim Crow Laws and Poll Taxes (Fees to vote which poor
blacks could not pay)
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People like Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first black citizen to be elected to the U.S. Senate during
Reconstruction.
Southern reaction to Reconstruction was very strong and bad feelings lasted for decades and still linger till
this day…
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Congressional Changes during Reconstruction to encourage Population Growth and
Educational Opportunities
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Homestead Act of 1862 – allowed individuals to claim up to 160 acres on the Great Plains. The
homesteader could receive title to the land after living and making improvements on for 5 years.
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Morrill Act of 1862– huge land grants were given to states to establish colleges
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Dawes Act of 1887 – tribal land was divided into small farms. The government was trying to destroy
the tribal system and have them assimilate into white society.