Reconstruction Presidents 1865 1877 Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson
Reconstruction Presidents 1865 -1877 • Abraham Lincoln • Andrew Johnson • Ulysses Grant • Rutherford Hayes
AFTERMATH OF THE CIVIL WAR Physical Toll in the South: • Amazingly destructive on human lives, property and infrastructure – Southerners lives were now changed forever – Trains & crops destroyed – Plantation owners upset loss of land slaves – Social & Economic order turned upside down
Key Questions 1. How do we bring the South back into the Union? 2. How do we rebuild the South after its destruction during the war? 4. What branch of government should control the process of Reconstruction? 3. How do we integrate and protect newlyemancipated black freedmen?
Key Questions The Constitution had no answers to these questions, in other words, there was no prior precedent on how to resolve these questions
President Lincoln’s 10% Plan 1. Based on forgiveness, pardons the confederates states Amnesty 2. 10% of voters in the election had to take an “Oath” of allegiance they could organize a new state government 3. Former Confederate government members and Confederate Army officers in the army wouldn’t receive amnesty or NO PARDONS FOR THEM
Andrew Johnson
President Andrew Johnson « V. P under Lincoln « Southern Democrat « Anti-Aristocrat « White Supremacist « Doesn’t really want blacks to have equal rights « Disagrees with Radical Republicans
President Johnson’s Plan (Presidential Reconstruction Plan 1. Offered amnesty upon simple oath to all except Confederate civil and military officers and those with property over $20, 000 (they could apply directly to Johnson) 2. In new constitutions, they must accept minimum conditions repudiating slavery, secession and state debts. 3. Named provisional governors in Confederate states and called them to oversee elections for constitutional conventions.
Growing Northern Alarm! Ø Many Southern state constitutions fell short of minimum requirements. Ø Andrew Johnson granted 13, 500 special pardons to former Confederate officers and government officials Ø Southern States began to write BLACK CODES in their new state constitutions
Radical Republicans: Thaddeus Stevens, Charles Sumner, Ben Wade
Radical Republicans • Outlaw slavery • Pass amendments to grant African Americans citizenship and voting rights • Divide the south into five military districts and keep troops in the south • Each state must pass African American voting rights which would be protected by the military • Empower African Americans in government and education
Wade-Davis Bill (1864)*radical 1. Required 50% of the number of 1860 voters to take an “iron clad” oath of allegiance (swearing they had never voluntarily aided the rebellion ). Senator Benjamin Wade (R-OH) Congr. Henry W. Davis (R-MD)
Wade-Davis Bill (1864) President Lincoln Po c k et Veto Wade-Davis Bill « Pocket veto means – to let the session of Congress expire ”end” without signing the bill into law…. essentially destroys the bill
13 th Amendment • Supported: Radical Republicans • Outlawed slavery in the United States
Debate • Which of the three plans do you agree with most? WHY?
Freedmen's Bureau • Supported: Radical Republicans • Run by the War Dept. • Provided food, clothing a jobs to war refugees • Built schools and provided teachers and education to former slaves
Civil Rights Act 1866 • Supported: Radical Republicans • Goal to override black codes in the south • Stated - states could not deprive African Americans of constitutional rights.
14 th Amendment • Supported: Radical Republicans • Provided African Americans citizenship rights
Reconstruction Act 1867 • Supported: Radical Republicans • Called Military Reconstruction • Divided south into 5 military districts
Military Reconstruction Act
Reconstruction Acts of 1867 Ø Military Reconstruction Act Ø Command of the Army Act Ø Tenure of Office Act
15 th Amendment • Supported: Radical Republicans • Provided voting rights to African Americans
General Amnesty Act of 1872 • Supported: White Southern Democrats and Andrew Johnson • Removed voting and office holding restriction on former Confederates
Civil Rights Act of 1875 • Supported: Radical Republicans • Gave African Americans equal protection in court • Prohibited stacked jury
Compromise of 1877 • Supported: Compromise between Southern white Democrats and Radical Republicans • Rep: Rutherford B. Hayes • Dem: Samuel Tilden • Outcome: Tilden wins popular vote but not an electoral majority • 15 member committee created (8 Republicans, 7 Democrats decides election • Committee Selected Rutherford B. Hayes as president in exchange for ending Reconstruction and removing troops from the South.
THE TASTE OF FREEDOM! 4 million • Freedmen = Freed Black Slaves • Freedom to: Own Land, Movement, Learn & Worship • The Freedmen’s Bureau: Created by the US Government to help freedmen adjust to freedom in 1865 • Gave food and medical aid to former slaves • Established schools for black children • Tried to get former slaves jobs in the workplace and fair wages
Freedmen’s Bureau School
Black Codes • As the Southern states came back into the Union they passed laws that restricted Freedmen, called Black Codes: – Curfews - blacks couldn’t gather after sunset – Vagrancy - hanging out or wondering around , “not working” – one could be fined – Labor contracts - freedmen signed agreements for a year to work – Land restrictions - freedmen could rent land or homes in rural areas Ø These Black Codes upset the Radical Republicans
The “Invisible Empire of the South”
Ø Southern whites were violently opposed to Freedmen’s rights Ø As a result, it led to the rise of secret society called the Ku Klux Klan …. (KKK) Ø Violently targeted and terrorized: Freedmen, Scalawags and Carpetbaggers Ø In opposition, the Radical Republicans passed the Enforcement Acts of 1870 & 1871, (also know as the KKK Act) Ø Where army was present, KKK leaders were apprehended and imprisoned
WHITE SUPREMACY • The Klan used various means of terrorism including: – – – Intimidation Kidnapping Torturing Harassment Hangings
Congress Breaks with the President Ø These Black Codes enraged the Radical Republicans in Congress as a result they began to try change the Constitution Ø In 1866, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 which outlawed Black Codes - President Johnsonvetoed the Act Congress passed it anyway over-ride veto st 1 in US history Ø Ø Radical Republicans helped pass three Amendments stitution, these amendments are called the Civil War Amendments
Command of the Army Act • Required all orders from the President to go through the headquarters of the General’s army
The Tenure of Office Act Ø The Senate must approve any presidential dismissal of a cabinet official or general of the army. Edwin Stanton
President Johnson’s Impeachment « Johnson removed Stanton in February, 1868. « Johnson replaced generals in the field who were more sympathetic to Radical Reconstruction. « The House impeached him on February 24 before even drawing up the charges by a vote of 126 – 47!
The Senate Trial « 11 week trial. « Johnson acquitted 35 to 19 (one short of required 2/3 s vote).
13 th Amendment Ø Slavery is Illegal Ø Ratified in December, 1865
th 14 Amendment Ø All people born or naturalized in the US are Citizens Ø The states may not deny anyone the equal protection of the laws Ø Ratified in July, 1868
th 15 Amendment Ø The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied on acount of race, color or previous condition of servitude. Ø Women’s rights groups were furious that they were not granted the vote!
Carpetbaggers « Many former northern abolitionists and Union soldiers risked their lives to help freedmen « The southerners called these people “carpetbaggers” « They were seen as intruders seeking to make $ from the South’s poor condition
Scalawags « Native white Southerners who joined the Republican party after the Civil War and advocated the acceptance of the congressional Reconstruction were called scalawags « They were seen by many in the South as traitors who deserted their countrymen
Blacks in Southern Politics « Blacks were politically unprepared « Blacks could register and vote in states since 1867. « The 15 th Amendment guaranteed federal voting for Freedmen (not black women)
Black Senate & House Delegates
First African-American Senator • Hiram Revels • Elected as a Senator in 1870 Representing the state of Mississippi
The 1868 Republican Ticket
The 1868 Democratic Ticket
1868 Presidential Election
Grant Presidency- Scandals and Crisis « Grant presided over an era of unprecedented growth and corruption. * “Indian Ring” * Whiskey Ring * Panic of 1873
Indian Ring « In 1876, Grant’s Secretary of War, William Belknap had accepted bribes from merchants at Indian posts in the West « Belknap was impeached but resigned before the Senate could convict
Whiskey Ring « A group of government officials cheated the government out of millions of dollars by filing false tax reports « Orville E. Babcock, Grant’s private secretary was allegedly involved
The Panic of 1873 Ø Many banks declared bankruptcy from bad railroad investments Ø A wave of fear spread throughout the financial community sent the economy in a downward spiral for over 6 years Ø Sound familiar- ?
The Election of 1872 Ø Rumors of corruption during Grant’s first term discredited the Republicans. Ø Horace Greeley runs as a Democrat/Liberal Republican candidate. Ø Greeley was attacked as a fool and a crank Ø Grant won the Election of 1872 Ø Greeley died on November 29, 1872!
1872 Presidential Election
And They Say He Wants a Third Term
Reconstruction Ends Election of 1876: Republicans nominated – Rutherford B. Hayes Democrats nominated – Samuel Tilden Hot topics of the election: Ø “Grantisms” & corruption Ø Panic of 1873 [6 -year depression] Ø Concern over Westward expansion and Indian wars Ø What to do with Reconstruction? ? ?
1876 Presidential Tickets
1876 Presidential Election
A Political Crisis: The “Compromise” of 1877
The New South The collapse of Reconstruction ended African Americans’ hopes of being granted their own land…. . Add on their lack of money and Freedmen returned to plantations owned by whites to work: * Tenant Farming - Freedmen paid rent for the land they farmed * Sharecroppers - Freedmen didn’t pay rent in cash but were given land to harvest but they had to share a portion of their crops with the plantation owners
Sharecropping
Tenancy & the Crop Lien System Furnishing Merchant § Loan tools and seed up to 60% interest to tenant farmer to plant spring crop. § Farmer also secures food, clothing, and other necessities on credit from merchant until the harvest. § Merchant holds “lien” {mortgage} on part of tenant’s future crops as repayment of debt. Tenant Farmer Landowner § Plants crop, harvests § Rents land to tenant in autumn. in exchange for ¼ to ½ of tenant farmer’s future crop. § Turns over up to ½ of crop to land owner as payment of rent. § Tenant gives remainder of crop to merchant in payment of debt.
Effects of Reconstruction Successes of Reconstruction 1. Republicans carried out their two main goals A. Rebuild the Union & B. Repair wartorn South 2. The 13 th, 14 th and 15 th Amendments: abolished slavery, guaranteed Freedmen the rights of citizenship and right to vote 3. The Freedmen’s Bureau helped many black families obtain jobs, housing and EDUCATION!!!
Effects of Reconstruction Failures of Reconstruction 1. As Reconstruction ended most Freedmen remained in a cycle of poverty, Freedmen still lacked property, economic opportunity and political power. 2. Racists attitudes towards African Americans continued as a result of hate groups like the KKK 3. Reconstruction left a lasting bitterness among many white southerners toward the federal government and the Republican Party.
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