Download Goal 3 - Reconstruction

WARM UP
The year is 1865, and at last the Civil War is over. The South’s
primary labor system, slavery, has been abolished. About 4.5
million African Americans now have their freedom but lack
money, property, education, and opportunity. Southern states
are beginning the process of readmission to the Union, but
the effects of war continue to be felt throughout the South.
Rail lines are unusable. Farms, plantations, and factories lie
in ruins.
What goals should the government set to
reconstruct the South?
• How can Northern resources help the South?
• In what ways can the South rebuild its economy?
• What can the government do to assist African
Americans?
Political Turmoil
• Andrew Johnson becomes President in April, 1865 when
Lincoln is assassinated
– Only senator from a Confederate state to remain loyal to Union
– Lincoln chose Johnson as VP to help w/ reunite Nation after war
• Lincoln had devised a plan for “Reconstruction” of the
US after the war
• Some Republicans were angry with Lincoln’s plan
– These become known as Radical Republicans
– Radicals Republicans wanted to punish the south & give full
rights to African Americans
– Thaddeus Stevens is leader of Radical Republicans
• Johnson takes office with Republicans thinking he would
submit to their ideas for Reconstruction
President Andrew Johnson
Radical Republican Leader
Thaddeus Stevens
Lincoln’s Plan
• Known as 10% Plan
– Wanted to be lenient on the South
– Included pardon of most Confederates (excluded high ranking
officials) if they would swear loyalty to Union
– After 10% of those on the 1860 voting list swore loyalty, a state
could form a new gov’t and gain representation in Congress
– States must ratify 13th Amendment (freed ALL slaves)
– Lincoln also set up the Freedmen’s Bureau to help freed slaves
& poor whites
– 4 states return under Lincoln’s plan: Ark, Tenn, Virg, Louis.
• Radical Republicans didn’t like Lincoln’s plan
– RR argue that it’s too weak; also thought Congress should
determine Reconstruction
– They pass the Wade-Davis Bill, saying a majority (not 10% would
have to swear loyalty)
– Lincoln vetoed the bill
Johnson’s Plan
• Known as Presidential Reconstruction
– Very similar to Lincoln’s plan
– Remaining Southern states would have to withdraw secession, swear
loyalty to union, annul war debts, ratify 13th Amendment
– Didn’t want high ranking Confederates & wealthy to be allowed to swear
loyalty (regain rights)
– Plan didn’t address needs of former slaves
– South will enact Black Codes to keep former slaves from gaining
rights/power
• Southern states quickly comply & elect congressmen
• When Congress started in Dec.1865, Radical Republicans
refuse to admit new Southern Reps.
– Thought Johnson’s plan wasn’t enough
– Congress enlarges Freedmen’s Bureau in 1866
– Congress passes Civil Rights Act of 1866 – gives citizenship to blacks
Johnson’s Response & Congressional Plan
• Johnson vetoed both Freedmen’s Bureau Act & Civil
Rights Act
• Republicans banded together to override Johnson’s veto
• Congress also adds 14th Amendment to give
Constitutional basis for Civil Rights Act
– Amendment guarantees “equal protection under the law”
– Johnson advises South to reject amendment
– All southern states but Tennessee reject it
• In 1867 Congress passes Reconstruction Act of 1867
– Didn’t recognize state gov’ts under Lincoln or Johnson’s plan
– Southern states divided into 5 military districts
– To re-enter union, states had to accept 14th Amend & allow black
males the right to vote
• Johnson vetoes; Congress overrides the veto
RECONSTRUCTION ACT – MILITARY DISTRICTS
Impeachment
• President Johnson was impeached for violating the
Tenure of Office Act
– Congress had passed TOA to protect Sec. of War Edwin Stanton
– Johnson fired Stanton to protest TOA; Congress impeaches
Johnson on 11 counts
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Trial took place in the Senate between Mar-May, 1868
Senate needed 2/3 majority to remove Johnson
Final vote was 35 to 19 (1 short of 2/3 majority needed)
Johnson finished his term with no legitimate power
After the election, Congress passed the 15th
Amendment which gave African Americans males the
right to vote
Southern Society
• New Southern Politics
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Dominated by 3 groups
Scalawags – Southerners who sided w/ Northern Republicans
Carpetbaggers – Northerners who came south for profit
“Black Republicans” – newly freed African Americans who got
involved in politics (usually on the local or state levels)
– Hiram Revels – 1st African American congressman
• Economy
– Much of the land had been damaged or neglected during the war
– Also, plantation system collapsed once slaves were freed
– Most farmers (both former slaves & poor whites) resorted to
sharecropping or tenant farming
– Cotton was also no longer profitable; farmers turn to a variety of
crops
Above: Southern view of a carpetbagger
1st African American Congressman
Hiram Revels
Freed Slaves
• Former slaves were exposed to many new opportunities
after the war (politics, education, land ownership, etc.)
• Many moved away from plantations into cities
• Family reunification was common, due to many families
being split during slavery
• Many former slaves learned to read and write
– Even a few colleges begin for blacks (Hampton Institute &
Howard University)
• African Americans fought black codes early during
Reconstruction & still faced persecution later on
– The Ku Klux Klan began to terrorize blacks
• Most African Americans continued farming as
sharecroppers or tenant farmers
Different Views of Reconstruction:
Left: early KKK members circa 1871
Top Right: Graduating law class of
Howard University
Bottom Right: sharecropper
End to Reconstruction
• Ulysses S. Grant won election in 1868 & again in 1872
– He served 2 terms with little accomplishment/lots of scandal
• Election of 1876 was closely contested between Rutherford
B. Hayes (R) & Samuel Tilden (D)
• Tilden won the popular vote, but was 1 electoral vote short
of a majority (20 electoral votes disputed)
– Election was given to Hayes, but the House of Reps had to approve
– Dems would approve IF military reconstruction was ended & a
Southerner was appointed to the cabinet
– Compromise of 1877
• The South finally achieved “home rule” – no federal
interference in state affairs
Election of 1876 Results