Reconstruction Bringing the South back into the Union

Reconstruction • Reconstruction, 1865 -1877, involved the rebuilding of the South after the Civil War and readmitting the Confederate states to the Union. • Legally, Politically, Socially • Lincoln ( 13 th Amendment, deny secession, 10% loyalty oath) • Congress (Republicans) wanted to punish the South and force the South to pay reparations. • Lincoln assassinated and Reconstruction fell on President Andrew Johnson • Conflict between Johnson and Congress- Congress impeached

Johnson vs Congressional Reconstruction • South – 5 military districts with Federal troop occupation • All freed male slave and free black voting rights • Open elections for black and white representatives • New state constitutions accepting 13, 14, 15 Amendments • 13 th- Abolishment of slavery • 14 th- Established citizenship and equal protection of Constitution • 15 th- Voting rights guaranteed (race, color or previous servitude)

Reconstruction • 1870 - all southern states readmitted to Union • Troops occupied to keep order and protect freed slaves • South resented occupation and resented northern interference with southern culture, business, and life in general. • Carpetbaggers- northern businessmen, politicians, and bankers who took advantage of poor southerners • Southerners wanted and end to Reconstruction • Groups developed to help Southerners but other groups developed to terrorize people in the south.

Reconstruction • Freedman's Bureau- help newly freed slaves and help poor whites who were left homeless from war • Food, clothing, shelter, education, marriages, protection of law for freed men/women. • Backlash of these efforts • Black codes: state laws regulating relations between whites and blacks • Jury participation, witnesses in court, voting, and being in militia • Ku Klux Klan-(Reb veterans) terrorized freed slaves, prevent voting rights, targeted all who supported Reconstruction (black and white)

End of Reconstruction • Election of 1876 - Republican Hayes vs Democrat Tilden • Tilden win popular vote but no winner in Electoral College • Special Committee gave election to Hayes- Dems threatened to challenge and filibuster results • Corrupt Bargain : Compromise of 1877 • Internal improvements for the South (infrastructure, etc…) • Southerner in cabinet • End Reconstruction and remove Federal troops • Result: Republicans lost and blacks disenfranchised slowly