Reconstruction 1865 1877 Now that the Civil War

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Reconstruction 1865 -1877 Now that the Civil War is over, how are we going

Reconstruction 1865 -1877 Now that the Civil War is over, how are we going to bring the country back together? Statistics https: //www. facinghistory. org/resourcelibrary/statistics-civil-war

Why did the Southern States leave? • Using arguments and language related to “States

Why did the Southern States leave? • Using arguments and language related to “States Rights”, 11 US States decide that their right to choose for themselves if they allow slavery is more important than staying in the United States. They leave the Union and form a new government called the Confederacy. • Now that the Confederacy has lost the Civil War and Slavery has been abolished, there are two major questions: • 1) How do we incorporate newly freed ex-slaves into society? • 2) How do we bring the 11 States back into the Union?

Lincoln’s 10 Percent Plan • Before Lincoln is killed in 1865, he proposes a

Lincoln’s 10 Percent Plan • Before Lincoln is killed in 1865, he proposes a plan to address the question about readmitting the Southern States back into the United States. • In order to come back into the Union, the Southern States would simply need to agree that Slavery is now prohibited (13 th Amendment) and 10% of the registered voters take an oath of loyalty to the United States Government. • Lincoln is a member of the Republican Party and many of the people in his own party think that this is not enough of a punishment. They want to punish the Southern States in a way and make the terms for coming back into the United States more strict. They are called the Radical Republicans.

Black Codes • Local and State laws meant to keep African Americans in a

Black Codes • Local and State laws meant to keep African Americans in a state of near slavery. • Each State will have different Black Codes and they will be created as soon as the war is over. • They restrict the movement and traveling of African Americans. • They require all African Americans to be employed by a white person and have a year-long contract proving it. If you don’t have that contract, you are arrested for “Vagrancy” and your labor is auctioned off for a period of months. • African American children could be taken from their parents and given to white employers as “apprentices”

Freedmen’s Bureau • In order to bring newly freed slaves into American society, a

Freedmen’s Bureau • In order to bring newly freed slaves into American society, a government agency is set up to assist them. • One of the main goals of this agency is help African Americans acquire land that has been abandoned or seized by ex-Confederates. • Schools are set up and thousands of teachers are recruited from Northern States to try to increase literacy rates among newly freed slaves. • It was supposed to oversee local justice systems and courts to ensure that laws were carried out fairly. • Southerners really hate this organization. • The Federal Government has never attempted to do anything like this before.

Andrew Johnson • US President after Abe Lincoln. He is originally from Tennessee and

Andrew Johnson • US President after Abe Lincoln. He is originally from Tennessee and belongs to the social class of poor southern whites who did not own any slaves. He did not support leaving the Union. • Andrew Johnson believes in ending slavery and that is basically all. He does not really believe in extending political or social equality to African Americans. • Radical Republicans really do not like Johnson because he vetos and opposes many Reconstruction policies.

 • What is going on in this cartoon? • What is a Bureau?

• What is going on in this cartoon? • What is a Bureau? • What does it mean to Veto something? • What does it say about Andrew Johnson?

14 th Amendment • Slavery has been abolished, but none of the Southern State

14 th Amendment • Slavery has been abolished, but none of the Southern State Governments are willing to call the newly freed ex-slaves citizens or grant them the rights and privileges of a citizen. • By using laws like the Black Codes and terror group like the Ku Klux Klan, Southerners will continue to violate the rights of African Americans. • In response to this, Radical Republicans are able to pass the 14 th Amendment. • This Amendment says that anyone born in this country is a citizen of the United States, and as a citizen of the United State, is entitled to have their rights protected by the federal government. • This allows the federal government to go after Black Codes and protect Freedmen from unjust State laws. • But in order for this law to take effect, Southern State need to ratify it which they will not.

Reconstruction Act • Radical Republicans are in control of the US Congress and their

Reconstruction Act • Radical Republicans are in control of the US Congress and their goal is to be hard on the Southern States and make re-admission to the Union more difficult. • This Reconstruction Act divides the South into 5 military districts and places US Army troops in many Southern cities to maintain order and peace. • The law temporarily abolishes the new governments in the Southern Sates. • Under this law, to get back into the United States, the Southern States need to disenfranchise (lose the right vote) ex-Confederate leaders, register as many African American voters as possible, and change their State Constitutions to guarantee African American suffrage (right to vote) • Southerners absolutely despise this law and feel like they are being occupied by a tyrannical military force.

 • Pardon: Shall I Trust These Men? Franchise: And Not This Man?

• Pardon: Shall I Trust These Men? Franchise: And Not This Man?

Poll Taxes and Literacy Tests • The 15 th Amendment to the Constitution makes

Poll Taxes and Literacy Tests • The 15 th Amendment to the Constitution makes it illegal to prevent someone from voting based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. • In theory, this will give all freedmen the right to vote. • However the States still get to set the standards and other conditions for voting and they still do today. • They can still prevent you from voting based on a number of factors, including your gender and your ability to pay a poll tax or pass a literacy test. • These tests and taxes will be major tools used by Southern States to keeps African Americans from voting.

 • What does the cartoon tell you about the 15 th Amendment?

• What does the cartoon tell you about the 15 th Amendment?

Minor v. Happersett • Supreme Court case regarding voting rights around the 15 th

Minor v. Happersett • Supreme Court case regarding voting rights around the 15 th Amendment • The case rules that voting is not one of the rights included with citizenship. • Women are citizens, yet do not have the right to vote. • Felons cannot vote. • States get to decide who gets to vote, not the federal government. This allows States to continue to disenfranchise African Americans until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. • States can decide to allow people to vote early, by mail, with or without ID, with extended hours, or really limited hours.

How it worked in Alabama • https: //www. crmvet. org/info/alvrhow. htm

How it worked in Alabama • https: //www. crmvet. org/info/alvrhow. htm

Civil Rights Act of 1875 • This law gets passed by Radical Republicans in

Civil Rights Act of 1875 • This law gets passed by Radical Republicans in Congress • It requires full and equal access to jury services, transportation, and public accommodations, irrespective of race. • This is a major step towards creating a mixed race society of free people. • The Civil Rights Act will be struck down by the Supreme Court in the 1880’s paving the way for “Separate But Equal Laws”