Reconstruction With Malice Towards None With malice toward

Reconstruction

With Malice Towards None. . • "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. " • -Exert from Lincoln’s 2 nd Inaugural

What was Reconstruction? • The Reintegration of the Southern Confederate States into the Union. • Two types of Reconstruction: Presidential and Congressional. • Presidential Reconstruction was enacted by Andrew Johnson. • Congressional Reconstruction was formulated by Northern Radical Republicans. • 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 • “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” • Source-Reconstruction by Eric Foner

Presidential Reconstruction • Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. • Lincoln’s second inaugural called for a “soft” reconstruction of the South. Lincoln wanted to reintegrate the South back into the Union swiftly. • 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. • One reason that Johnson may have changed his views is that he accepted bribes from Southern aristocrats for pardons. • 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. • 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 • 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. • 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. ” • 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 • Established to regulate the affairs of Southern blacks. • Although they were now free, former slaves had to abide by these laws or face arrest. • Southern plantation owners needed a stable labor force and this way the way in which they assured they would have one. • Former slave owners also wanted to reestablish their pre-Civil War status. • 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. • Minor offenses, such as vagrancy, resulted in harsh penalties such as manual labor. Form of slavery? • “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 • 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. . • 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. . • 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. . • 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. . • 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.

Black Codes • 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. . • 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. . • 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. . • 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. • 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 • Rebirth of Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens. • Northern Republicans were fearful of a return of a strong South. • Wanted to punish the South for causing the Civil War. • Northern Republicans rallied under the cry “Who won the war? ” as Southern states were not subjected to a harsh punishment. • 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. • 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 • Civil Rights Bill of 1866: vetoed by Andrew Johnson but overruled by Congress. Johnson became a symbolic president and had no real power. • The Civil Rights Bill was integrated into the 14 th Amendment. • Civil rights and citizenship to all freedmen. • Reduced representation in Congress if Southern states did not allow freedmen to vote. • Forbade former Confederate leaders from holding office. • Guaranteed federal debt and repudiated Confederate debts.

Thaddeus Stevens • “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. ” • Thaddeus Stevens supporting the Reconstruction Bill. • Thaddeus Stevens-U. S. House of Representatives on January 3, 1867 supporting the Reconstruction bill.

Reconstruction Act of 1867 • Divided the Southern States into five military districts. • Disenfranchised former Confederates. • Southern States must ratify the 14 th Amendment to gain readmission into the Union. • All former male slaves have universal male suffrage. • Slates were prevented from barring universal suffrage because of the 15 th Amendment. • Martial law assured that their were no violent acts against African Americans and Northern sympathizers. • However, once Reconstruction ended, Southern States returned to home rule.

The Rise of the KKK • Ku Klux Klan • Established to intimidate Northern sympathizers and African Americans. • Perpetuated acts of violence against those that they deemed “enemies. ” • Dressed up in white robes and hoods. Symbolized the ghosts of the Confederacy. • Intimidated voters.

Were They Really Free? • Were former slaves really free or just free in name only? • 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. • 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.