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Chapter 15 Rebuilding the Union Deep Divisions The Civil War left deep divisions in the United States, some of which – for some people – never healed. Deep Divisions "The Gettysburg speech was at once the shortest and the most famous oration in American history... the highest emotion reduced to a few poetical phrases. Lincoln himself never even remotely approached it. It is genuinely stupendous. But let us not forget that it is poetry, not logic; beauty, not sense. Think of the argument in it. Put it into the cold words of everyday. The doctrine is simply this: that the Union soldiers who died at Gettysburg sacrificed their lives to the cause of self-determination -- that government of the people, by the people, for the people, should not perish from the earth. It is difficult to imagine anything more untrue. The Union soldiers in the battle actually fought against selfdetermination; it was the Confederates who fought for the right of their people to govern themselves." -- H.L. Mencken Reconstruction What was supposed to be reconstructed, during Reconstruction? Common misconception: “Reconstruction” was about rebuilding the damaged South FALSE! Congress dealt with rebuilding the broken bonds of Union among the states “Readmitting” the seceded states to a Union they never really left in the first place Reconstruction Not a time of reconciliation, not a time of pity and forgiveness to the South, as far as most Americans (North and South) were concerned Lincoln’s idea: we are family, forgive their error and welcome them home (“Prodigal Son” image) Their statehood not dead during war, was merely “asleep.” We never acknowledged they were legally out of the Union. Reconstruction Lincoln’s plan: “Ten Per Cent” plan – once 10% of ordinary Southerners in a state (not CSA office holders) had taken an oath to end slavery and be loyal to Union, the state could be re-admitted. Only oath-takers would be eligible for office in new state government Reconstruction Lincoln’s plan was not popular in Congress Radicals in the Republican Party wanted retribution and punishment for CSA Radical Plan: Wade-Davis Bill – a majority (not 10%) must take an “ironclad oath” that they had never supported the Confederacy Lincoln killed Wade-Davis via pocket veto Reconstruction Shortly after veto, Lincoln was assassinated Vice President Andrew Johnson became President Radicals were glad Lincoln was dead, but used his murder as a “Public Relations project” to blame Southerners for his death, promote Wade-Davis plan Reconstruction Johnson instead favored the old Lincoln plan Made only slight changes: States must ratify 13th amendment (formally, legally abolishing slavery) States must not attempt to collect any war damage payments from Union (repudiation of war debt) States must issue formal statement apologizing for secession Reconstruction At time of Lincoln’s death, 3 states (Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana) had completed steps for Lincoln plan and applied for re-admission But Congress refused to “re-admit” them Now all states must comply with somewhat harsher rules of Johnson 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865 Reconstruction Johnson also hoped each state would allow freed slaves to vote, but did not require it Bear in mind that black people could not vote in most Northern states either Reconstruction Meanwhile, in other news . . . Johnson’s Secretary of State, William Seward, negotiated a treaty to buy Alaska from Russia for just over $7 million in 1867 Seen as waste of money at the time Until gold was discovered in Alaska in the late 19th century Then, later, of course – oil Reconstruction Radicals in Congress hated Johnson’s lax attitude to former Confederate states Publicly questioned his patriotism 1866 mid-terms Congressional elections a victory for more radical Republicans Radicals forced a harsh new set of demands on Southern states Reconstruction This marked the end of “Presidential Reconstruction” (according to a president’s plan) . . . And the beginning of “Congressional Reconstruction” (according to Congress’ plan) Radicals were now poised to mete out punishments they felt the former Confederate states deserved Reconstruction First, the newly-freed slaves must be dealt with They were often homeless, jobless, and without any independent survival skills Congress created Freedman’s Bureau to deal with the issues of education, jobtraining, health care, etc. Also passed Civil Rights Act of 1866, giving Congress wide police powers to enforce Reconstruction Johnson vetoed both measures Congress overrode both vetoes Congress also passed the 14th amendment, giving citizenship to freed slaves Made ratifying the amendment a new condition of readmission for former Confederate states 14th Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868 Reconstruction Congress passed Military Reconstruction Act in 1866 (again, over Johnson’s veto) Divided entire South into 5 military districts, each under martial law controlled by the US Army Only Tennessee was excused from this, having already been re-admitted Passed Army Act, reducing Johnson’s power as Commander-in-Chief Reconstruction Were these acts unconstitutional? Probably, but the Supreme Court declined to intervene Johnson was seen as obstructing what Congress intended to do Congress sought a way to get rid of Johnson Reconstruction Johnson was making moves to remove some cabinet members he inherited from Lincoln Congress quickly passed Tenure of Office Act Made it illegal for the President to remove an official that Congress had approved, without Congress’ permission Johnson fired the Secretary of War anyway Congress voted to impeach him 1867 Impeachment “Impeachment” is a Constitutional procedure for removing a federal official (not just the President) from office This may be done for “high crimes and misdemeanors” Article Two, Section 4: “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Impeachment The House of Representatives votes to impeach (passes “Articles of Impeachment”) NOTE: “impeachment” does NOT equal “removal from office” It’s sort of like an indictment by a Grand Jury The actual trial is held in the Senate The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides Members of the Senate function as the jury Impeachment In Johnson’s case, the Senate narrowly voted “not guilty” But Johnson was greatly intimidated, and never crossed Congress again Since 1789, 19 federal officials have been impeached Two Presidents, one Senator, one cabinet member, and 15 judges Impeachment Some were convicted and removed from office Some were also disqualified from serving in federal office again (the Senate can also do this, but does not always do so) Some were acquitted (including both Presidents who were impeached) Some resigned before being put on trial Reconstruction At the 1868 Convention, Republicans decided to select a candidate who would endorse every Radical plan for Reconstruction Chose war hero Ulysses S. Grant Reconstruction Most Democrats were still in the South Democrats had little chance of winning this election Grant won, but not by the expected landslide Reconstruction Grant was a good military leader, but a poor politician Saw his role as “assisting Congress” Congress quickly passed 15th Amendment, a vague outline for granting the right to vote to newly freed slaves Congress made ratification of the 15th Amendment a new condition for re-admission to Union 15th Amendment ratified February 3, 1870 Reconstruction Dictatorial Union rule, martial law in South, and Grant’s disinterested style of management in North, made this a time of corruption Great corruption in the South, advantage taken of inexperienced black-led governments Many Northern entrepreneurs came South to take advantage (“Carpetbaggers”) Reconstruction Great economic distress, even starvation among whites and blacks alike in South Ku Klux Klan militias formed to restore order; spread race fears and hatred of Republican Party Goal of Klan and other militias: “redeem” Southern states from Republican (black) rule Reconstruction By 1876, all but 3 states had been “redeemed” (South Carolina, Louisiana, Florida) Congress tried to control Klan with two KKK Acts (1870, 1871) Applied most severely in South Carolina. KKK violence died down Enthusiasm for radical ideas was dying down also Reconstruction Grant was an ineffective president Many financial scandals during his time: “Salary grab” by Congress Credit Mobilier Corporation cheated government out of funds to build railroads Grant’s Secretary of Treasury stole funds from the whiskey tax Still, Grant was re-elected in 1872 Reconstruction Grant was dying of cancer by the time his term ended in 1876 Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes, Democrat Candidate Samuel Tilden 3 Southern states still “out of union,” but sent election returns anyway. Much corruption alleged in vote-counting process; no clear winner Decision sent to House of Representatives Reconstruction Hayes offered a deal to any southern state that would direct its Congressmen to vote for him: In exchange, he would end military rule South quickly accepted (“Compromise of 1877”) Reconstruction officially ended; Union troops withdrawn. Very bad news for freed slaves. Reconstruction Began new era of “virtual slavery” in Southern farming: sharecropping Many Southern states enacted “black codes,” similar to old slave codes Many tactics to keep black citizens from voting (poll tax, literacy test, grandfather clause) President Hayes did not stop any of this Reconstruction But gradually South also began to industrialize, lessen dependence on agriculture New industries Textiles (North Carolina, South Carolina) Steel (Alabama) Reconstruction Now that all states were “redeemed,” segregation became official policy Segregation system nicknamed “Jim Crow,” after a Southern euphemism for black folk. US Supreme Court upheld legality of segregation (Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896) Doctrine of “separate but equal” = segregation is OK as long as “equal facilities” were provided Preview of Chapter 16 Conquest of the American West: Impetus for continuing westward expansion of both the nation and the economy: mining, ranching, homesteading The Dawes Severalty Act and government dealings with the American First Nations There will be an analytical essay on US relations with Native Americans; students will be expected to identify lands lost by indigenous peoples via classroom and desktop maps.