Chapter 20 Reconstruction 1865 -1877 Chapter 20

Chapter 20 Reconstruction (1865 -1877)

Chapter 20 Reconstruction (1865 -1877) Section 1 Rebuilding the South

Planning Reconstruction l l l Tired soldiers returned home, world they left = gone Many southerners face starvation – high food prices and crop failures Confederate money = worthless Banks failed, merchants went bankrupt; people could not repay debts U. S. government faced question of how to deal with defeated southern states Reconstruction – 1865 -1877 – process of reuniting the nation and rebuilding southern states without slavery

Planning Reconstruction (continued) Lincoln wanted reunion of states as quickly and painlessly as possible l Ten Percent Plan – plan proposed by Lincoln before war even ended l ¡ ¡ ¡ Offer southerners amnesty, or official pardon, for all illegal acts support the rebellion Southerners had to swear oath of loyalty to U. S. and accept ban on slavery Once 10% of voters in state made pledges, they could form new government – state could be readmitted Louisiana quickly elected a new state legislature under the 10% plan l Some politicians argued that Congress had the power to admit new states l ¡ Congress, not president should control southern states’ return to union

Planning Reconstruction (continued) Many Republican members of Congress disagreed with Lincoln’s 10% Plan l Wade-Davis Bill (Benjamin Wade and Henry Davis) – alternative to Lincoln’s plan l ¡ 2 conditions to rejoin Had to ban slavery l Majority of adult males in the state had to take loyalty oath l ¡ Only southerners who swore that they had never supported the Confederacy could vote or hold office l Made it much harder to rejoin the Union than Lincoln’s plan

The Thirteenth Amendment l One issue Republicans agreed on was abolishing slavery l Emancipation Proclamation had freed slaves only in Confederate states; slavery continued in border states ¡ Many feared federal courts might someday declare it unconstitutional l Congress proposed the 13 th Amendment on January 31, 1865 ¡ Made slavery illegal throughout the U. S. ¡ Ratified and took effect on December 18, 1865

The Thirteenth Amendment (continued) l Freedom brought many changes to lives of former slaves Many held ceremonies to legalize marriages that had not been recognized under slavery ¡ Many searched for relatives who had been sold away from their families ¡ Some began testing their freedom of movement l Across the south, freed people also demanded same economic and political rights as white citizens l Many unsure about future – where would they live, work, what were their rights l

The Freedmen’s Bureau l Freedmen’s Bureau established by Congress in 1865 l Purpose was to provide relief for all poor people – black and white – in the south l Distributed food to the poor and supervised labor contracts between freed people and their employers l Assisted African American war veterans l Helped promote education in the south ¡ Laws against educating slaves had kept most of them from learning to read or write ¡ Bureau established schools and provided books and teachers

The Freedmen’s Bureau (continued) l African Americans opened schools in abandoned buildings ¡ Some attacked by white southerners l Helped establish several colleges for African Americans ¡ Howard University in Washington, DC ¡ Fisk University in Nashville, TN

A New President April 14, 1865 – President Lincoln and his wife attended a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre in Washington l John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln during play l ¡ l Vice President Andrew Johnson sworn in ¡ l Southerner who opposed Lincoln’s policies Reconstruction now his responsibility Republicans liked President Johnson because he seemed to favor tougher approach to Reconstruction than Lincoln ¡ Similar to Lincoln’s except wealthy southerners and former Confederate officials would need a presidential pardon to qualify for amnesty l Ultimately, restriction not as harsh as it seemed – pardoned 7, 000 people

President Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan l Plan established system for setting up new southern state governments Appointed temporary governor for each state ¡ Southerners who had taken loyalty oath elected delegates to convention that would revise state’s constitution ¡ Voters elected new state officials and representatives to Congress ¡ Each new state government required to declare secession illegal ¡ Had to refuse to pay Confederate debts ¡ Governments set up under Lincoln’s 10% plan allowed to remain in place – AR, VA, LA, TN l By end of 1865, all but TX had created new governments l ¡ All approved by Johnson, declared U. S. = restored

President Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan (continued) l Congress refused to allow newly elected representatives to take seats l Representatives complained that many new southern representatives had been military officers and political leaders of the Confederacy ¡ Did not believe they were truly loyal to U. S. l Congress refused to readmit reconstructed southern states into Union

Chapter 20 Reconstruction (1865 -1877) Section 2 The Fight over Reconstruction

The Black Codes New state legislatures approved by Johnson had already begun passing new laws denying African American’s civil rights l Black Codes = laws that greatly limited the freedom of African Americans l Required them to sign work contracts – created conditions similar to those under slavery l In most southern states, any A. A. who could not prove he/she had a job could be arrested l ¡ l Punishment might be one year of forced labor without pay Could not own guns; rent property in cities

The Radical Republicans Black Codes angered many Republicans who felt southerners had returned to their old ways l Most Republicans were moderates who wanted southerners to have loyal state governments l ¡ ¡ l Believed African Americans should have rights as citizens Hoped the national government would not have to force southerners to follow federal laws Radical Republicans wanted southern states to change much more than they already had before they could return to the Union ¡ ¡ Thought black codes were cruel and unjust Wanted federal government to be much more involved in Reconstruction – feared too many southern leaders were still loyal to former Confederacy

The Radical Republicans (continued) l l l Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner were the leaders of the Radical Republicans Stevens wanted economic and political justice for both A. A. and poor white southerners Sumner argued for A. A. civil rights – including right to vote and right to fair treatment under the law Stevens and Sumner believed Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan was a failure Radicals did not control Congress, but gained support from moderates when President Johnson ignored criticism of the Black Codes

Johnson vs. Congress l Congress passed a bill giving Freedmen’s Bureau more power (1866) ¡ l Johnson vetoed the bill ¡ l Provided A. A. with same rights as whites Johnson used veto power ¡ ¡ l A. A. did not need special assistance Republicans responded with Civil Rights Act of 1866 ¡ l Insisted new laws could not be passed until southern states representatives Johnson argued the Freedmen’s Bureau was unconstitutional ¡ l Would be allowed to use military courts to try people accused of violating A. A. rights – hoped would be more fair than local courts Law would give too much power to the federal government Rejected principal of equal rights for A. A. Congress overrode veto

The Fourteenth Amendment To protect civil rights laws from hostile presidents, courts or future legislators Republicans proposed the 14 th Amendment l Provisions: l ¡ ¡ ¡ l All people born or naturalized within the U. S. are citizens (except American Indians) Guaranteed to citizens equal protection of the laws States could not “deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law” Banned many Confederate officials from holding state or federal offices Made state laws subject to review by federal courts Gave Congress the power to pass any laws needed to enforce any part of the amendment President Johnson and most Democrats opposed

The Fourteenth Amendment (continued) l Civil rights for A. A. became a key issue in 1866 congressional elections Republican candidates asked Americans to support civil rights by voting for Republican Party ¡ Johnson traveled, campaigning for Democrats – defending reconstruction plan (did not help) ¡ l 2 major riots in South hurt Johnson’s campaign Memphis (May 1, 1866) – local police vs. black Union soldiers; 3 day wave of violence against A. A. (46 died) ¡ New Orleans – AA attempted to hold peaceful demonstrations 34 AA, 3 white Republicans killed ¡

Congress Takes Charge l 1866 elections gave the Republican party 2/3 majority in both House and Senate Gave Republicans power to override any presidential veto ¡ Republicans became united as moderates joined with Radicals ¡ l l Republicans called for new form of Reconstruction Acts (passed starting Mar. 1867) Divided south into 5 districts with U. S. military commander in control of each district ¡ Military would remain until southern states rejoined Union ¡ To be readmitted, state had to write new state constitution supporting the 14 th amendment ¡ State had to give AA men right to vote ¡

Congress Takes Charge (continued) l President Johnson strongly disagreed with the Reconstruction Acts ¡ ¡ l Argued AA did not deserve same treatment as white people Said Reconstruction Acts used powers not granted to federal government or any one of its branches Republicans knew Johnson did not support policies so they passed law limiting his power ¡ Prevented President from removing cabinet officials without Senate’s approval l l House of Representatives responded by voting to impeach Johnson ¡ ¡ l First time in U. S. history a president had been impeached Next step = trial by Senate; if 2/3 majority finds him guilty – removed from office Johnson was unpopular with Republicans but some believed he was being judged unfairly ¡ l Johnson broke the law by firing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton Others did not trust president pro tempore of Senate, Benjamin Wade (would become president if Johnson removed) Republicans failed to convict by single vote

The Election of 1868 Democratic Party did not nominate Johnson for another term in 1868 – chose former governor of New York Horatio Seymour l Republicans selected Ulysses S. Grant l Appealed to many northern voters ¡ No political experience but supported the congressional Reconstruction plan ¡ l After Grant’s nomination Congress readmitted 7 states – AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, NC, SC (TN admitted in 1866) Under terms of readmission, these states approved the 14 th amendment; agreed to let AA men have the vote ¡ White southerners used violence to keep AA away from the polls during the presidential election ¡

The Fifteenth Amendment Radical Republicans argued that it was not fair that many southern states had laws that prevented AA from voting l 15 th Amendment (proposed 1869) – gave AA men throughout U. S. the right to vote l Went into effect in 1870 ¡ One of the last important Reconstruction measures passed at the federal level ¡ l 15 th Amendment did not make every reformer happy Did not guarantee AA the right to hold public office ¡ Did not extend right to vote to all Americans ¡

Chapter 20 Reconstruction (1865 -1877) Section 3 Reconstruction in the South

Reconstruction Governments Republican party controlled most southern governments, partly because 14 th amendment banned many former Confederates (Democrats) from holding office l Most Republicans unpopular with majority of white southerners l Northern-born Republicans moved South after war l Called carpetbaggers ¡ Southerners resented them – believed they had moved to profit from Reconstruction ¡ Some wanted to help former slaves; others wanted to make money while rebuilding the southern economy ¡

Reconstruction Governments (continued) l Southern Democrats cared for white southern Republicans less ¡ ¡ Scalawags (“mean fellows”) Betrayed south by voting for Republicans Many southern Republicans (scalawags) were small farmers who had supported the Union l African Americans were the largest group of southern Republican voters l ¡ ¡ During Reconstruction more than 600 AA elected as representatives to state legislatures 16 elected to US Congress AA politicians helped enforce laws white officials ignored Hiram Revels – first AA in US Senate – took over seat previously held by Jefferson Davis (MS) l Blanche K. Bruce – first AA to serve full term in Senate l l

Reconstruction Governments (continued) l Reconstruction governments provided money for many new programs and organizations ¡ ¡ l Established some of the first state-funded public school systems in the South Built new hospitals, prisons, orphanages Southern states under Republican control spent lots of money ¡ ¡ ¡ Intended to help southern economy recover Aided construction or repair of railroads, bridges and public buildings To get the money they raised taxes, issued bonds

Opposition to Reconstruction Despite efforts to rebuild, most white southerners opposed Reconstruction l Democrats claimed Reconstruction governments were corrupt and illegal l ¡ ¡ l Ku Klux Klan created by white southerners in TN in 1866 ¡ ¡ ¡ l Disliked having federal soldiers stationed in their states Many disapproved of AA officeholders Opposed civil rights, particularly suffrage for AA Wore robes and disguises to hide their identities Used terror and violence against AA, white Republican voters, and public officials Congress passed laws that made it a federal crime to interfere with elections or to deny citizens equal protection under the law

The End of Reconstruction l General Amnesty Act of 1872 – allowed former Confederates (except those who had held high ranks) to hold public office ¡ l Many soon elected to Southern government – most Democrats who opposed Reconstruction Republican Party also began losing power in the North ¡ ¡ Grant re-elected in 1872 but scandals in administration upset voters Poor economy Panic of 1873 marked beginning of severe economic downturn that put estimated 2 million people out of work l Democrats gained control of the House in 1874 l Civil Rights Act of 1875 – guaranteed AA equal rights in public places such as theaters and public transportation l Republicans began to abandon Reconstruction because more Americans were worried with economic problems and government corruption l

The End of Reconstruction (continued) l Election of 1876 – Rutherford B. Hayes (R) vs. Samuel J. Tilden (D) ¡ ¡ l Compromise of 1877 – Democrats agreed to accept Hayes’s victory ¡ ¡ l Democrats in South used violence to keep Republican voters away Election close; appeared Tilden won Republicans challenged electoral votes in Oregon and 3 southern states Special election commission of 10 members of Congress and 5 Supreme Court justices narrowly decided to give all disputed votes to Hayes who won by one electoral vote In return wanted all federal troops removed from South Asked for funding for internal improvements in south and appointment of Democrats to president’s cabinet Hayes removed last of troops from South in 1877 – end of Reconstruction

Jim Crow and Plessy v. Ferguson l Democrats gradually regained control in South – called Redeemers ¡ ¡ ¡ Variety of backgrounds Wanted to reduce size of state government and limit the rights of AA Lowered state budgets, got rid of social programs, cut property taxes, reduced public funding for schools Redeemers set up poll tax in effort to deny vote to AA l Some states targeted AA by requiring a literacy test l Redeemer governments introduced legal segregation – forced separation of whites & AA in public places l Jim Crow laws – required segregation – common in southern states l ¡ Had to stay in separate hotels, separate theater sections, railcars

Jim Crow and Plessy v. Ferguson l Supreme Court ruled the Civil Rights Act of 1875 = unconstitutional (1883) ¡ ¡ l Plessy v. Ferguson ¡ ¡ ¡ l Ruled the 14 th amendment only applied to actions of state governments Allowed private industries and businesses to practice segregation Homer Plessy – AA purchased ticket on Louisiana train, refused to leave whites only section – arrested Plessy’s lawyers argued that the law violated his right to equal treatment under the 14 th amendment Court ruled segregation was allowed if “separate-but-equal” facilities were provided for AA As a result, segregation became widespread across the country ¡ ¡ ¡ Forced to use separate public schools, libraries, parks Usually poorer quality facilities In practice, separate-but-equal = separate and unequal

Chapter 20 Reconstruction (1865 -1877) Section 4 The New South

Sharecropping Few AA could afford to buy or even rent farms, moving west was costly; many remained on plantations l AA who stayed on plantations became part of sharecropping system (sharing the crop) l Landowners provided land, tools, and supplies ¡ Harvest time, sharecropper often had to give most of the crop to owner ¡ Many hoped to save enough money from selling their share to one day be able to buy a farm l Most lived in cycle of debt l Had to buy goods on credit – food, clothing supplies ¡ Hoped to pay off when crops sold ¡ Bad weather, poor harvests, low crop prices made this impossible ¡

Sharecropping (continued) l Merchants sometimes cheated sharecroppers by charging them for items they did not buy ¡ Some landowners also cheated by taking more than fair share of crops l Most grew cotton – important cash crop ¡ Too many farmers planted cotton after the war – supply became too great, prices dropped

Southern Industry Economy suffered through cycles of good and bad years as cotton prices went up and down l Some business leaders hoped industry would strengthen the southern economy l “New South” movement – take advantage of south’s resources l ¡ l With cotton production and cheap, abundant labor, south could build textile mills and other factories Most successful industrial development in South involved textile production ¡ Built mills in small towns to produce cotton fabric

Southern Industry (continued) l Work in cotton mills appealed to families who had trouble making ends meet Recruiters promised goods wages and steady work ¡ Entire family often worked in same mill – employed large numbers of women and children – white women did most of the spinning ¡ l Mill work often unpleasant 12 hours a day, 6 days a week ¡ Cotton dust/lint filled the air, caused asthma, brown lung disease ¡ Fast-moving machinery caused injury, even death ¡ Wages low ¡

Southern Literature Many southerners looked to arts to keep longstanding traditions alive l Southern literature gained popularity in late 1800 s l ¡ Involved people and places that seemed exciting and exotic to northerners Mark Twain – most famous writer about South at end of Reconstruction l Mary Murfree – mountain people of eastern Tennessee l George Washington Cable – AA community in New Orleans; used writings to protest racial prejudice l Joel Chandler Harris – fictional plantation life; main character = slave named Uncle Remus l ¡ l Based work on stories he was first told by AA Charles W. Chesnutt – plantation stories showed greed and cruelty of slaveholders

Southern Music l Fiddle, banjo, and guitar – popular instruments in southern music l Spirituals – based on Christian hymns and African music sung in days of slavery – one of the most important types of songs ¡ One of best-known “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”