Download File - DeLude EDT 315

Reconstruction
With Malice Towards
None....
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"With malice toward none; with charity for all;
with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see
the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are
in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him
who shall have borne the battle, and for his
widow, and his orphan—to do all which may
achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace,
among ourselves, and with all nations."
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-Exert from Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural
What was Reconstruction?
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The Reintegration of the Southern Confederate States into the Union.
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Two types of Reconstruction: Presidential and Congressional.
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Presidential Reconstruction was enacted by Andrew Johnson.
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Congressional Reconstruction was formulated by Northern Radical Republicans.
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Johnson proposed a quick reintegration with minimal punishment for Southern States while the Radical
Republicans sought to punish the Southern States for causing the American Civil War.
The State of the South
After the Civil War
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“Southern planters emerged from the Civil War in a state of shock. Their class had been devastated-physically, economically, and psychologically. Thousands of wealthy young men had heeded the
Confederacy’s call only to die in battle. The loss of the planters’ slaves and life saving (to the extent
that they had invested in Confederate bonds) wiped out the inheritance of generations. William Gilmore
Simms, the South Carolina poet and novelist who had married a planter’s daughter, lost “slaves, stock,
furniture, books, pictures, horses...a properly worth $150,000 in gold.” In Dallas County, in the heart of
Alabama’s plantation belt, whites’ per capita wealth fell from $19,000 in 1860 to one sixth that amount
ten years later. Many slaveholding families faced the added indignity of the departure of their labor
force. A Maryland Unionist described the plight of Gen. Tench Tilghman and his family: This family, one
of our oldest and most respectable, once very wealthy, are now reduced to that state which is even
worse in my estimation than actual poverty, large debts, large pride, large wants: small income, and
small helpfulness. They are now without servants...The young ladies on Wednesday and Thursday
milked the cows, while their father the General held the umbrella over them to keep off the rain...The
general has to harness his own carriage horses and probably black his own boots”
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Source-Reconstruction by Eric Foner
Presidential
Reconstruction
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Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency following the
assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
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Lincoln’s second inaugural called for a “soft”
reconstruction of the South. Lincoln wanted to
reintegrate the South back into the Union swiftly.
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Johnson was the only Southern member of Congress
following the secession of the Southern states. He
originally called for a radical reconstruction of the South
but changed his views after becoming president.
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One reason that Johnson may have changed his views
is that he accepted bribes from Southern aristocrats for
pardons.
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The 10% rule. If 10% of legal voters in a particular
Southern state swore an allegiance to the Union, then
that state would be welcomed back.
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Southern states quickly seized this opportunity and
began to form their own governments. These state
governments were not representative of Northern
interests and it infuriated Congress.
Presidential
Reconstruction
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Southern governments resembled pre-civil war
Southern state governments. African Americans
were subjected to harsh treatment. Although
they were now free from slavery, they were
required to live by a set of “black codes” akin to
slavery.
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Former slaveowners also gained a form of
freedom: “The Law which freed the negro at the
same time freed the master, all obligations
springing out of the relations of master and slave,
except those of kindness, cease mutually to
exist.”
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Former slaveowners still held dominance over
their now freed slaves. But they were not
required to house them, feed them, or provide
them with healthcare.
Black Codes
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Established to regulate the affairs of Southern
blacks.
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Although they were now free, former slaves had to
abide by these laws or face arrest.
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Southern plantation owners needed a stable labor
force and this way the way in which they assured
they would have one.
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Former slave owners also wanted to reestablish
their pre-Civil War status.
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Blacks were subjected to restrictive labor contractsthey worked for their employer at a minuscule wag
and were required to work for at least one year.
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Minor offenses, such as vagrancy, resulted in harsh
penalties such as manual labor. Form of slavery?
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“Our negroes have a fall, a tall fall ahead of them, in
my humble opinion. They will learn that freedom
and independence are different things. A man may
be free and yet not independent.”
rent, or give the use of any house to any negro, in violation of this section, shall pay a fine of five dollars
for each offence.
Black Codes
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Sec. 4. . . . Every negro is required to be in the regular service of some white person, or former owner,
who shall be held responsible for the conduct of said negro. But said employer or former owner may
permit said negro to hire his own time by special permission in writing, which permission shall not extend
over seven days at any one time. . . .
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Sec. 5. . . . No public meetings or congregations of negroes shall be allowed within said parish after
sunset; but such public meetings and congregations may be held between the hours of sunrise and
sunset, by the special permission in writing of the captain of patrol, within whose beat such meetings
shall take place. . . .
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Sec. 6. . . . No negro shall be permitted to preach, exhort, or otherwise declaim to congregations of
colored people, without a special permission in writing from the president of the police jury. . . .
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Sec. 7. . . . No negro who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry fire-arms, or any kind of
weapons, within the parish, without the special written permission of his employers, approved and
indorsed by the nearest and most convenient chief of patrol. . . .
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Sec. 8. . . . No negro shall sell, barter, or exchange any articles of merchandise or traffic within said
parish without the special written permission of his employer, specifying the article of sale, barter or
Black Codes
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Sec. 6. . . . No negro shall be permitted to preach, exhort, or otherwise declaim to congregations of
colored people, without a special permission in writing from the president of the police jury. . . .
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Sec. 7. . . . No negro who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry fire-arms, or any kind of
weapons, within the parish, without the special written permission of his employers, approved and
indorsed by the nearest and most convenient chief of patrol. . . .
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Sec. 8. . . . No negro shall sell, barter, or exchange any articles of merchandise or traffic within said
parish without the special written permission of his employer, specifying the article of sale, barter or
traffic. . . .
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Sec. 9. . . . Any negro found drunk, within the said parish shall pay a fine of five dollars, or in default
thereof work five days on the public road, or suffer corporeal punishment as hereinafter provided.
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Sec. 11. . . . It shall be the duty of every citizen to act as a police officer for the detection of offences
and the apprehension of offenders, who shall be immediately handed over to the proper captain or chief
of patrol. . . .
Congressional
Reconstruction
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Rebirth of Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens.
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Northern Republicans were fearful of a return of a
strong South.
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Wanted to punish the South for causing the Civil War.
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Northern Republicans rallied under the cry “Who won
the war?” as Southern states were not subjected to a
harsh punishment.
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Northern Republicans were fearful that the black codes
would perpetuate throughout the Union. They were
also afraid that Southern congressmen would lower
tariffs, reroute the transcontinental railroad and repeal
the homestead act.
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Southern congressman were blocked from returning to
their seats in congress by Northern Republicans as a
way in which to prevent Southern influence.
Congressional
Reconstruction
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Civil Rights Bill of 1866: vetoed by Andrew Johnson
but overruled by Congress. Johnson became a
symbolic president and had no real power.
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The Civil Rights Bill was integrated into the 14th
Amendment.
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Civil rights and citizenship to all freedmen.
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Reduced representation in Congress if
Southern states did not allow freedmen to
vote.
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Forbade former Confederate leaders from
holding office.
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Guaranteed federal debt and repudiated
Confederate debts.
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“Since the surrender of the armies of the confederate States of America a little has been done
toward establishing this Government upon the true principles of liberty and justice; and but a little if
we stop here. We have broken the material shackles of four million slaves. We have unchained
them from the stake so as to allow them locomotion, provided they do not walk in paths which are
trod by white men. We have allowed them the unwonted privilege of attending church, if they can
do so without offending the sight of their former masters. We have even given them that highest
and most agreeable evidence of liberty as defined by the "great plebeian" the "right to work." But in
what have we enlarged their liberty of thought? In what have we taught them the science and
granted them the privilege of self-government? We have imposed upon them the privilege of
fighting our battles, of dying in defense of freedom, and of bearing their equal portion of taxes; but
where have we given them the privilege of ever participating in the formation of the laws for the
government of their native land? By what civil weapon have we enabled them to defend
themselves against oppression and injustice? Call you this liberty? Call you this a free Republic
where four millions are subjects but not citizens? Then Persia, with her kings and satraps, was
free; then Turkey is free! Their subjects had liberty of motion and of labor, but the laws were made
without and against their will; but I must declare that, in my judgment, they were as really free
governments as ours is to-day. I know they had fewer rulers and more subjects, but those rulers
were no more despotic than ours, and their subjects had just as large privileges in governing the
country as ours have. Think not I would slander my native land; I would reform it. Twenty years ago
I denounced it as a despotism. Then, twenty million white men enchained four million black men. I
pronounce it no nearer to a true Republic now when twenty-five million of a privileged class
exclude five million from all participation in the rights of government.”
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Thaddeus Stevens supporting the Reconstruction Bill.
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Thaddeus Stevens-U.S. House of Representatives on January 3, 1867 supporting the
Reconstruction bill.
Thaddeus Stevens
Reconstruction Act of
1867
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Divided the Southern States into five military districts.
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Disenfranchised former Confederates.
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Southern States must ratify the 14th Amendment to gain readmission into the Union.
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All former male slaves have universal male suffrage.
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Slates were prevented from barring universal suffrage because of the 15th Amendment.
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Martial law assured that their were no violent acts against African Americans and Northern
sympathizers.
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However, once Reconstruction ended, Southern States returned to home rule.
The Rise of the KKK
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Ku Klux Klan
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Established to intimidate Northern sympathizers
and African Americans.
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Perpetuated acts of violence against those that
they deemed “enemies.”
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Dressed up in white robes and hoods.
Symbolized the ghosts of the Confederacy.
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Intimidated voters.
Were They Really Free?
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Were former slaves really free or just free in name only?
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Although they were not slaves, many of them faced hardships. They were still tied to the land, unable
to leave their employer, housing, food and shelter were no longer provided and they worked for very low
wages.
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African Americans would have to deal with these issues until the 1960’s!! As recently as the 2000’s,
segregated proms were still common in the South.