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RECONSTRUCTION
REUNITING A NATION
IMPACT OF RECONSTRUCTION ON
GEORGIA
• Reconstruction in Georgia was a
time of major change in the state
following the devastation of the Civil
War.
• era lasted for a relatively short period
of time (1865-1872)
• After the Civil War, much of Georgia
was decimated after Sherman’s
March and four years of fighting.
• Over 40,000 Georgians had been
killed or wounded and many had
lost their land entirely.
• Due to the damage inflicted the
United States attempted to
reconstruct the South and used three
different plans from 1865-1871 to do
so.
What is Reconstruction?
- The period of time from the
end of the Civil War until
Southern States rejoined the
Union.
PRESIDENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION
LINCOLN’S PLAN (1865-1866)
• Lincoln’s plan sought to help the South re-enter the Union
quickly to heal the wounds of the war.
• President Lincoln’s plan to allow Southern states back
into the Union was simple:
1. All southerners, except for high-ranking Confederate
civil and military leaders, would be pardoned after
taking an oath of allegiance to the United States
2. His plan allowed the South readmission in into the Union
if 10% of the population swore an oath of allegiance to
the United States.
3. required to ratify the 13th amendment, which officially
ended slavery in the United States.
LINCOLN’S ASSASSINATION
• On April 14, 1865
Lincoln was
assassinated by John
Wilkes Booth, an actor
who was a Southern
sympathizer.
• Lincoln was shot in the
back of the head in his
theater box while
watching a play.
PRESIDENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION
JOHNSON’S PLAN (1865-1866)
• President Johnson, was from the South, therefore he was
extremely lenient with the southern states.
• His plan was very similar to Lincoln’s, except he extended the
group not granted general pardons EXCEPT (add in) to those
who owned property worth more than $20,000.
• LARGE PLANTATION OWNERS ---- add in your notes!!
• Trouble began brewing again between the southern states
and the Republican controlled Congress when several former
confederate leaders were elected back into the fold.
• In Georgia, former Confederate Vice President Alexander
Stephens was elected as a Senator
• “Radical Republicans,” (Northern Senators ) who favored
harsher punishments for the South, refused to seat former
Confederate leaders in the Senate
• Radical Republicans were appalled at the South’s treatment
of the freedmen under laws that were called Black Codes.
Compare and Contrast Lincoln’s
plan for Reconstruction to Johnson’s.
What are the similarities and
differences between the two.
Why do you think Lincoln was so
concerned with healing the wounds
of the war so quickly? Why did he
not seek to punish the South for
seceding and starting the conflict?
Suppose you were fighting on the
side of the Union during the Civil
War. You lost brothers and close
friends to the war. How do you feel
about Lincoln’s plan for
Reconstruction? Is it too soft on the
Southerners? Explain your
reasoning.
Create your own plan for
Reconstruction that the South might
agree to, but is not too lenient (soft)
on the South which would outrage
Northerners.
13TH AMENDMENT (1865)
• A Constitutional
Amendment that
officially ended
slavery
14TH AMENDMENT (1868)
• A Constitutional Amendment that granted
citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in
the United States,” which included former
slaves recently freed.
• Equal protection under the Constitution for all
citizens.
15TH AMENDMENT (1870)
• A Constitutional
Amendment that
prohibits states from
denying voting rights to
citizens based on race,
color or previous
condition of servitude.
• Allowed black males the
right to vote (suffrage)
and to serve in public
offices in government.
(add in notes)
Rec. Amendments Video
Rank the 3 Reconstruction
Amendments in the order of
significance. Defend why you
ranked each Amendment where
you did.
Suppose you were a member of
Congress during the Reconstruction
time period. How would you ensure
that state’s were following federal
law and protecting the rights of
freedmen?
Why do you think that the 14th
Create your own Constitutional
Amendment is arguably the most
Amendment that would ensure that
important Constitutional Amendment Southern states were recognizing the
we have? Defend its significance
rights of freedmen.
and impact in America today.
BLACK CODES
• Laws passed by Southern
states in 1865 and 1866,
after the Civil War; under
these laws, blacks were
disenfranchised (not
allowed to vote), testify
against whites in court, and
could not serve as jurors.
• These laws had the intent
and the effect of restricting
African Americans'
freedom, and of compelling
ADD IN YOUR NOTES:
them to work in a labor
- Limited the types of jobs newly freed
economy based on low
slaves could have
wages or debt.
- Could be put into prison if they
didn’t have jobs
AFRICAN AMERICANS IN POLITICS
• In 1867, Henry McNeal
Turner and a few other
black men were elected
to the Georgia House of
Representatives (fix this)
representing Macon.
• They were kicked out in
1868 on the grounds that
the Constitution gave
blacks the right to vote,
but not hold office.
KU KLUX KLAN (KKK)
• An organization designed
to limit African Americans
from exercising their rights.
• Members dressed in white
robes and hoods so no
one would recognize
them.
• Terrorized and intimidated
blacks from voting
• Several reports of
beatings, whippings and
murders that often went
unpunished.
CONGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION
(1866-1867)
• Congress passed the Reconstruction Act of 1867. This act lumped the
South into five military districts with Georgia, Alabama, and Florida
making up the third district. Under Military Reconstruction General
John Pope served as the third district’s 1st military governor.
• During this period, Georgia held another constitutional convention,
this time in Atlanta. During this convention, Georgia created a new
constitution that included a provision for black voting, public schools,
and moving the capital to Atlanta.
• After this convention, Republican Rufus Bullock was elected Governor
and the Republican controlled General Assembly began its session.
However, the military continued to be a presence in the state due to
the continued actions of the KKK and Georgia’s refusal to pass the
15th amendment which gave African-American men the right to vote.
• Georgia was finally readmitted into the Union in 1870 when reinstated
Republican and black legislators voted for the passage of the 15th
amendment. However, by 1872 southern Democrats called the
“redeemers” were voted back into office and took control of the
Governorship and General Assembly.
SHARECROPPER VS TENANT FARMER
• Most African Americans in the South were forced to
work as sharecroppers or laborers, for jobs were not
all open to them.
• Tenant Farmer: Brought “something to the table” ie,
tools, plow, mules, seed, fertilizer and, of course, his
labor (could sell all of their crops for a profit)
• Sharecropper: Brought only his labor to the “table”
• Land-owners always had the upper hand. Perhaps
for the first time since colonization, there was a lot of
labor for the land as opposed to a shortage of
labor (had to give % of crops to landowner)
TYPICAL SHARECROPPING
“CONTRACT”
• After the harvest,
sharecropper would go to the
land-owner to settle debt
• Land owners charged
sharecroppers for “furnish”, ie,
food, clothes, seed, etc.
• Given the social structure,
black (and poor white)
sharecroppers were in no
position to challenge the
while land-owners record
keeping or figures
• Blacks were taken advantage
of by the white land owners
who could barely read or
write
Land is rented by farmer who
pledges a certain % of the crops
to the landowner at harvest.
Compare and Contrast the life of a
sharecropper to that of a tenant
farmer. Who had more advantages
to be successful? Why?
Why did little change for African
Americans under the sharecropping
system compared to the life they
lived as slaves? What do you think
would have been a fair settlement
for you and your family as
repayment for having your rights
denied to you as a slave?
Remember it has to be reasonable
that Southern plantation owners
might accept your proposition.
Suppose you were a recently
freedmen. What would you do for
you and your family to try and better
your life and provide for your family?
Be specific and include a detailed
plan on how you would overcome
the disadvantages of being a slave
to rise to prosperity.
Describe what a typical
sharecropper life might have looked
like. Sketch it!
FREEDMAN’S BUREAU
• Federal program
established to help BOTH
former slaves and poor
whites
• Initially helped with the
basics: provided education,
training, and social services
for newly freed slaves
• Over time, focus shifted to:
education
• 4,000 primary schools
• 64 industrial schools (work skills)
• 74 teacher training schools
WHAT THE FREEDMEN’S BUREAU
PROVIDED…
1. Food and medical supplies to newly freed slaves
2. Establishment of African American schools with
Northern teachers
3. Transportation services to help African Americans
travel to and from work