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Reconstruction 1865-1877 Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction • Written in 1863 • Amnesty to all who take an oath of loyalty – Amnesty Pardon – Oath Pledge to accept the Union’s proclamation concerning slavery • When 10% of a states voters took oath, could than organize a new state government – Also known as the Ten Percent Plan • Members of the Federal Government who had left posts to aid Confederacy would not receive amnesty Wade-Davis Bill • Republicans rejected Lincoln’s Bill – Allow for “reconstructed” state governments to be lead by disloyal secessionists – Offer an alternative Wade-Davis Bill • Wade- Davis Bill – Required 50% of the voters in a state to take a loyalty oath – Permitted only non-Confederates to vote for a new state constitution • Lincoln refused to sign it, used a pocket veto Freedmen’s Bureau • March 1865 Congress created the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands – AKA Freedmen’s Bureau • Early welfare agency: – Provided food, shelter, and medical care for those made destitute by the war • Both blacks and whites Freedmen’s Bureau • Started to resettle freed blacks on confiscated Confederate land – Worked until President Johnson pardoned the owners of the confiscated lands – Courts than restored the land back to it’s original owners • Greatest success was in education • Established nearly 3,000 schools for freed blacks including several black colleges • About 200,000 learned how to read Lincoln’s Last Speech • April 11, 1865 gave a speech about accepting Louisiana as a state – Also addresses the question of whether freedmen should be granted the right to vote… – Suggested that, had he lived, he probably would have become more progressive or Radical Republicans Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan • Took over after the assassination of Lincoln – – – – From Tennessee Started off as a tailor Southern Democrat Only senator who remained loyal • Was welcomed by Congress – Thought that he hated the Southern Aristocrats • Rose in politics by championing the interests of poor whites President Andrew Johnson Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan • Johnson’s Plan – Lincoln’s plan +… – Lost the right to vote and hold office if you were: • Former office holder in the CSA • Owned $20,000 in taxable property • President could grant individual pardons to disloyal southerners • Escape clause for the wealthy planters • Johnson used it often • Resulted in many former confederate leaders back in office by fall of 1865 Southern Governments of 1865 • Eight months after Johnson took office all 11 exConfederates were ready to rejoin the Union – All had constitutions that repudiated secession – Negated the debts of the Confederate government – Ratified the 13th Amendment • None extended voting rights to blacks and former leaders of the Confederacy were allowed to sit in Congress as if nothing happened Disillusionment With Johnson • Republicans became further disillusioned with Johnson when he allowed the Southern states to adopt the Black Codes (1865): – Restricted the rights and movements of the newly freed blacks – Prohibited blacks from renting land or borrowing money to buy land – Placed freedmen into a form of semi bondage by forcing them to sign work contracts – Prohibited blacks from testifying against whites in court • Republicans wonder who won the war? Disillusionment With Johnson • Johnson alienated even more Republicans when, in early 1866 he vetoed two important bills: 1. A bill increasing the services and protection offered by the Freedmen’s Bureau • Freedmen’s Bureau Act 2. A civil rights bill that nullified the Black Codes and guaranteed full citizenship and equal rights to blacks • Civil Rights Act The Election of 1866- Congressional • Johnson’s tactics for the election of 1866 was the infamous “swing around the circle,” speaking tour – Went around the United States August – September 1866 trying to gain support for Democrats – Appealed to the racial prejudices of whites by arguing that equal rights for blacks would result in an “Africanized” society The Election of 1866- Congressional • Republicans respond by calling Johnson a drunkard, and a traitor – “Waved the Bloody Shirt” • inflamed the hatreds of northern voters by reminding them of the hardships of war – Branded the Democratic party as a whole rebellious and treasonous • Election gave republicans an overwhelming victory – More than a 2/3rd majority In both house and Senate Congressional Reconstruction • Three rounds of reconstruction 1. 2. 3. • 1863-Sping 1866 Lincoln & Johnson Congressional Reconstruction Reforms under President Grant Two types of Republicans – Moderate • Concerned with economic gains for the white middle class – Radical • Championed civil rights for blacks • Most became Radical Republicans in 1866 mostly out of fear that the Democratic Party might become dominate Radical Reconstruction • With modifications, Republicans were able to override Johnson’s veto of the Freedmen’s Bureau Act & Civil Right’s Act • Civil Rights Act 1866 – All African Americans were citizens • Repudiating Dred Scott decision – Equal protection under the law to African Americans First time legislation was passed over a presidential veto! Radical Reconstruction • Republicans fear it may be repealed if Democrats ever take power • 14th Amendment – Passed in late 1866 and ratified in 1868 – Declared that all persons born or naturalized in the United States were citizens – Obligated the states to respect the rights of U.S. citizens and provide them with “equal protection of the laws” and “due process of law” th 14 Amendment “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Radical Reconstruction • Other parts of the 14th Amendment applied just to Congress’ plan of Reconstruction – Disqualified former Confederate political leaders from holding either state or federal offices – Repudiated the debts of the defeated governments of the Confederacy – Penalized a state if it kept any eligible person from voting by reducing that state’s proportional representation in Congress and the electoral college Reconstruction Acts of 1867 • Congress passed over Johnson’s Veto three reconstruction acts in 1867 1. 2. Placed the South under military control Former Confederate states were split into 5 military districts each under the control of the Union Army 3. Increased requirements for gaining readmission to the Union • Had to ratify the 14th Amendment and place guarantees in its Constitution for granting the right to vote to all adult males, regardless of race Tenure of Office Act • Passed over Johnson’s veto • Tenure of Office Act – Prohibited the president from removing a federal official or military commander without the approval the Senate – Purpose was to protect Radical Republicans in his cabinet (from Lincoln) such as Sectary of War Edwin Stanton • Johnson believed this to be unconstitutional so he challenged it by dismissing Stanton Impeaching Johnson • Congress refuses to approve the suspension, Johnson removed him from office • House of Representatives voted to Impeach President Johnson – Formally charging the President with wrongdoing – Charged him with 11 “high crimes and misdemeanors” – 1st time a president was impeached!! Impeaching Johnson • Began in March 1868 and lasted 3 months • Johnson Says: – Was exercising his right to challenge laws he considered unconstitutional – Impeachment is politically motivated and thus not in spirit of the Constitution • Congress Says: – Should retain the Supreme Power of making the laws – Johnson was using the Veto as a remedy to fix policies that he didn’t like Impeaching Johnson Impeaching Johnson • The Senate voted 35-19 to convict the president – One vote shy of the 2/3rds required by the Constitution • Moderate Republicans voted not guilty – Didn’t think a president should be removed from office because of political differences • Remains in office for the rest of the term 1869 Election of 1868 • Democrats nominated Horatio Seymour – Wanted Johnson’s presidency to end with or without impeachment – War time governor of New York Horatio Seymour • Republicans nominated Ulysses S. Grant – War hero – No political experience Ulysses S. Grant Election 1868 • Votes of 500,000 blacks gave the victory to the Republicans 15th Amendment • Election proved to Republicans that they needed to protect the vote for African Americans • Work quickly to pass the 15th Amendment – Prohibited any state from denying or abridging a citizen’s right to vote, “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” – Added to the Constitution March 1870 Civil Rights Act of 1875 • Civil Rights act of 1875 – Last of the acts in the Reconstruction Era – Guaranteed equal accommodations in public places – Prohibited courts from excluding African American from Juries • Was poorly enforced because Republicans became frustrated with trying to reform an unwilling South • Didn’t want to loose votes in the North Composition of Republican Governments • In every Southern state government, whites and Republican were the majority of both houses – Except for South Carolina • Freedmen controlled the Lower House • Members of the White Republican governments consisted of : native-born white southerners, and recently arrived northerners Composition of Republican Governments • Southerners had special names for people in these new “Southern” governments • White Southern Republicans Scalawags • An old Scotch- Irish term for weak, underfed, worthless animals • Some were former Whigs • Some were small farmers who didn’t want wealthy planters in charge • Some were business men who favored Republican plans for developing the South’s economy Composition of Republican Governments • Northerners who moved to the South were called Carpetbaggers – Arrived with suitcases made of carpet fabric – Believed to be exploiting the war torn South for their own personal gain – Had mixed motives: • Some were members of the Freedmen’s Bureau • Some wanted to buy cheap land and start a new industries • Some were dishonest business people Carpetbagger Political Cartoons Editorial cartoon by James Albert Wales African Americans in Government • Most blacks who held elective office in the reconstructed state governments were – Well educated – Property holders – Moderates Hiram Revels • South sent two black senators to Washington – Hiram Revels Mississippi, seat was once held by Jefferson Davis – Blanche K. Bruce Mississippi Blanche K. Bruce African Americans Adjusting to Freedom • South’s agricultural economy was in shambles – Work force was gone • Landowners tried to force freed blacks into signing contracts – Basically bound the signer to permanent and unrestricted labor • Blacks pushed for more autonomy, South adopted a systems of tenancy and sharecropping African Americans Adjusting to Freedom • African Americans had two options when it came to work: • Sharecropping – Landowners divided their land and gave each worker, a few acres, along with seeds and tools – At harvest each worker gave a share of his crop to their landowner (usually half) – Workers could save money, buy own tools make money • Tenant Farming – Rent land from farmers, keep harvest and profit. – Usually remained in debt to land owner or merchants Ku Klux Klan • Started in Tennessee in 1866 (Nathaniel Bedford Forrest) • Social club for Confederate Veterans • Dressed up Ghosts of Confederate soldiers – "The kind of thing that men are afraid or ashamed to do openly by day, they accomplish secretly, masked, and at night.“ • Restore white Supremacy Ku Klux Klan • Membership in the group grew, new chapters turned from fun to violence • 1868 Klan existed in every southern state • 1868 - 1871 burned schools, churches and property • Targeted: – African Americans – Whites who supported blacks – Republicans Legislative Response to the KKK • Enforcement Acts in 1870 and 1871 – Federal crime to interfere with a citizen’s right to vote – Federal elections were put under the supervision of federal marshals – Gave president to use federal troops in areas where the Klan was active and outlawed their activities • Under this act, 3,000 Klan members throughout the South were arrested – Only 600 were convicted Problems With Grant’s Administration • Grant was an honest but inexperienced man • Didn’t think that people would use him • Appointed friends to important positions – Not qualified for positions – Spoils System returns in all branches of the government • Grant didn’t profit from the scandal, but it tarnished his reputation Problems With Grant’s Administration • While the South is struggling to reorganize the North’s concern is for railroads, steel, and money – Political power in the Republican party changes to political manipulators – Corruption took hold in politics in the North as well as in Grant’s Administration • Material interests took the place of Lincoln’s idealism and crusade for civil rights Credit Mobilier Scandal • Credit Mobilier was a construction company working for the Union Pacific Railroad – Gave stock to influential members of Congress to avoid an investigation into their profits • High ranking Republicans as well as the VicePresident (Schuyler Colfax) – Getting subsidies as high as 348% for building the transcontinental Railroad • 72 million was given for a railroad that cost 53 million to build Downfall of the Republicans • Amnesty Act 1872 – Returned the right to vote and hold federal office to former Confederates • Would vote for Democrats • Congress also allowed the Freedmen’s bureau to expire – Fulfilled its purpose • Shift in power from Republicans to Southern Conservative Democrats Election of 1872 • Scandals of the Grant Administration caused a lot of Republicans to leave the party to form the Liberal Republicans – Nominated Horace Greeley Editor of the New York Times – Advocated civil service reform, end of rail road subsidies, withdrawal of troops from the South, reduced tariffs, and free trade – Joined by the Democrats who also nominated two other candidates Horace Greely Election of 1872 • The “Regular Republicans,” just “waived the bloody shirt,” again – Nominated Grant again Economic Turmoil • Panic of 1873 – Series financial failures that triggered a five-year depression in the U.S. – Too many people borrowed too much money to invest in the economy of the South as well as new businesses – Over spending on projects such as the railroad • Triggered a depression – A period of reduced business activity and high unemployment Currency Dispute • Greenbacks (paper money) during the civil war were issued without gold backing – When war ended, financial experts wanted to withdraw the greenbacks and return the nation to the gold standard – Reduce number of dollars in circulation • Southern and Western farmers and manufacturers wanted to print MORE – Reduce debt, give them more money • Congress decided to go back on the gold standard 1874 Whiskey Ring • Whiskey Ring 1875 – IRS collectors accepted bribes from whiskey distillers who wanted to avoid paying taxes on their product – Ripped the government off by millions of dollars • Sectary of War, Navy and Grant’s personal sectary were all convicted Supreme Court Decisions Under Grant • 1870’s Supreme Court – Undermine 14th and 15th Amendments – User in time period known as “Jim Crow South” • Slaughterhouse Cases – 1873 – Federal government only protected citizens rights that had to do with traveling on high seas or interstate travel – Basic civil rights come from the state – Goes against 14th Amendment Supreme Court Decisions • U.S. v. Cruikshank – 1876 – 14th Amendment did not give the federal government the right to punish individual whites who oppressed blacks • U.S. v. Reed – Ruled in favor of officials who had barred Blacks from voting – 15th Amendment did not give the right to suffrage to anyone – Only lists grounds on which you can not deny it. Election of 1876 • Republicans – Rutherford B. Hayes – Governor of Ohio – Untouched by Grant’s fraudulent Administration Rutherford B. Hayes • Democrat – Samuel J. Tilden – Governor of New York • Took on the Boss Tweed Ring Samuel Tilden Election 1876 Election 1876 • Tilden won the popular vote • Hayes Lost the electoral vote he was one vote short – 20 are disputed – Congress appoints commission to deal with issue • Mostly Republicans • Presidency goes to Hayes Compromise of 1877 • BUT… the nomination has to be approved by the House of Representatives – Mostly Democrats • Willing to accept him… if they could get something in return 1. Withdraw Union troops from Louisiana and South Carolina 2. Federal money to rebuild Southern railroads, bridges, harbors etc. 3. Hayes must appoint a Southern conservative to his cabinet • Was approved and called the Compromise of 1877 Home Rule in the South • Compromise 1877 ended Reconstruction – Upon inauguration, he withdrew the rest of the troops from the South • South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida • Democrats achieved their goal of home rule – Ability to run state governments without federal intervention • Passed laws that restricted the rights of blacks, social programs gone, slashed taxes, and dismantled public schools – Return to the “Old South” Legacy of Reconstruction Mistakes by Radical Republicans – Assumed that giving civil rights to freed persons enabled them to protect themselves – Didn’t fully understand the racism in the South Successes – Passed 14th and 15th Amendment – African Americans were able to participate in the government – African Americans founded many black colleges – Percentage of literate blacks had increase – State Constitutions provided universal male suffrage