Chapter 17 Reconstruction 1863 1877 Web Wartime Reconstruction
Chapter 17 Reconstruction 1863 -1877 Web
Wartime Reconstruction Plans n Initially, Lincoln encouraged black emigration n Later adopted Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction Required oath of allegiance and abolition of slavery n Implemented in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee in early 1864 n Reconstruction began in earnest elsewhere in 1865 n n Many Republicans opposed Lincoln’s plans as too lenient n Didn’t seem to provide for black equality n Radical Republicans came up with their own plan Wanted to give freed slaves real economic and political power n Wade-Davis Reconstruction Bill, 1864 n n n Strict requirements for Confederate loyalty oaths Vetoed by Lincoln
Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction Plans n Radical Republicans initially thought he would go along with their plans n Instead Johnson pursued his own policy Blanket amnesty for all but the highest-ranking Confederates n Proclamation for drafting of new state constitutions n Planned to exclude both blacks and upper-class whites from reconstruction n n Congressional Republicans not fond of Johnson’s plans n Wanted blacks to be involved in the political process
Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan in Practice n Few of the new state constitutions enfranchised blacks n Some states even balked at ratifying Thirteenth amendment n Issued pardons to virtually all Southerners n Former Confederates deeply involved in new state governments n Some Southern states passed “Black Codes” in the fall of 1865 Instituted system of quasi-slavery n Designed to codify white-black relations, which were in disarray n
Practical Solutions to Problems Facing Freed Slaves n Freedmen’s Bureau, 1865 n Oversaw relations between former slaves and owners n Viewed with hostility by some Southern whites n Land redistribution n Plans for distributing land to freed people not successful n Education n Freedmen’s Bureau and missionary societies active n Trained teachers and founded black colleges in South
Congressional Reconstruction n By end of 1865, Republicans determined to take control Refused to recognize new state governments or their leaders n Determined to institute stronger federal controls to protect black rights n n Conflict ensued between Congress and the president Extended life of Freedmen’s Bureau n Defined freedmen as citizens with equal legal rights n n Fourteenth Amendment, 1865 n Far-reaching consequences n Debate over Reconstruction carried over into elections of 1866
Congressional Reconstruction (cont. ) Johnson constructed National Union Party to oppose congressional plans n Republicans swept the elections n n Set the stage for stringent reconstruction terms n Reconstruction Acts of 1867 n Instituted military rule of South until procedures for Reconstruction had been completed n Set conditions for full re-entry into the Union n Embodied a true revolution n Generated opposition among Southern Democrats n Johnson worked to thwart congressional plans n Hoped to delay process until election of 1868
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson n President’s determination to block reconstruction stepped up after 1867 n Violated Tenure of Office Act in February 1968 n Ostensible reason for impeachment n Impeachment trial long and complicated n President acquitted n But damage had been done to Johnson’s relationship with Congress
Completion of Formal Reconstruction n New state constitutions in winter and spring of 1867 -68 were very progressive Seven states had been readmitted by the spring of 1868 n Three remaining states readmitted by 1870 n Spawned Ku Klux Klan among opponents n n Fourteenth Amendment incorporated into Constitution in summer of 1868 n Fifteenth Amendment n Protected voting rights n Election of 1868 n Referendum on Republican reconstruction policy n Republicans ran Ulysses S. Grant n Democrats nominated Horatio Seymour n Campaign involved intimidation of black voters n Grant won, due to significant support from black voters
The Grant Administration n Subordinates involved in scandals, but extent probably exaggerated n Success in instituting civil service reform Pendleton Act, 1883 n Abolish much-maligned spoils system n Grant supported reform n Resisted by many legislators who relied on patronage for support n n Mixed record in foreign policy Scandal over treaty with Santa Domingo n Treaty of Washington settled outstanding “Alabama claims” n Normalization of relations with Canada n
The Johnson Administration and the “Southern Question” n Carpetbaggers and Scalawags n Ku Klux Klan and other terror organizations n Aim was to destroy the Republican party n Resort to Federal intervention to stabilize situation in the South Made interference with voting rights a federal offense n Made deprivation of civil or political rights a felony n Suspension of habeas corpus and use of troops to stop resistance to federal law n Succeeded in breaking back of Klan before Election of 1872 n
The Johnson Administration and the “Southern Question” (cont. ) n Election of 1872 n Republicans stuck with Grant n Dissident “Liberal” Republicans went with Horace Greeley n Democrats also nominated Greeley’ n Grant won overwhelming victory n Panic of 1873 n Speculation in railroad industry collapsed, initiating five-year depression
Retreat from Reconstruction n Democratic gains in elections of 18774 n Loss of public support for the Republican policies in the south n Northerners tiring of turmoil of Reconstruction n Only four states still under federal control n South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana n n Democrats took control of Mississippi in 1875 States took control to replace Republican control with Democrats n Grant went along n Congress and the Supreme Court pulling back from federal control Appropriations withheld for measures of control n Court decisions restricted federal action n
Election of 1876 n Reform would be key issue n Democrats nominated Samuel J. Tilden Entered campaign as favorites for first time in twenty years n Bulldozed black voters to keep them from the polls n n Required intervention of federal troops to stop violence n Republicans nominated Rutherford B. Hayes n Initial results were disputed Tilden carried almost all Southern states plus four Northern states, including New York n Outcome unsure in three states still under Republican control n n Seemed that Tilden had probably won at least two of them
Election of 1876 (cont. ) n Official results gave all disputed states, and the presidency, to Hayes n Divided control of Congress made agreement impossible n Special commission created with nominal Republican majority n Compromise of 1877 Hayes declared winner n End of “bayonet” rule in the South n Other concessions to South n n End of Reconstruction after inauguration of Hayes Web
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