reconstruction. how to put the union back together?

Reconstruction

How to put the Union back together?

Reconstruction

• 1865 - 1877

• The period of rebuilding the South and restoring the Southern states to the Union after the Civil War

1

Andrew Johnson• Lincoln’s Vice-

President• Became 17th

President when Lincoln was killed

• Favored a generous plan to re-admit Southern states

• Personally pardoned over 13,000 former Confederates

2

• Believed that the main goal of Reconstruction should be the total restructuring of society to guarantee black people true equality

• Opposed Lincoln’s plan and Johnson’s plan

Radical Republicans 3

Freedmen’s Bureau Created by Congress in 1865 (after vetoed by

President Andrew Johnson) Functioned as a division of the War Dept Supplied clothing, food, and medical supplies to

war refugees Redistributed land abandoned or seized during

the war Educated more than 250,000 freed slaves Discontinued in 1872 with pressure from white

southerners

4

A Freedmen’s Bureau School

A Freedmen’s Bureau School

Black Codes• Laws in Southern states that restricted

the rights of freed blacks– Curfews (in doors by sunset)– Vagrancy laws (fined or whipped for not

working)– Labor contracts (must sign and work for a

year or lose all wages)– Land restrictions (could not rent or own

house in town)

5

1313thth Amendment Amendment

18651865Abolishes slaveryAbolishes slavery

6

1414thth Amendment Amendment18681868Defines citizenship to include Defines citizenship to include

African Americans African Americans Guarantees equal protection Guarantees equal protection

under the law for all citizensunder the law for all citizens

7

1515thth Amendment Amendment

18701870 Citizens can not be denied the Citizens can not be denied the

right to vote based on race, right to vote based on race, religion, color, or previous religion, color, or previous condition of servitudecondition of servitude

8

Reconstruction Act

1867 - Passed by Radical Republicans in Congress

Put the South under military ruleOrdered states to create new constitutionsAll states had to allow black males to voteRequired southern states to ratify 14th

Amendment and to guarantee equal rights to all citizens

9

Johnson’s Impeachment

• Johnson opposed equal rights for African Americans

• He fired his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, who was a friend of the Radicals

• May 1868, Johnson was acquitted in the Senate by only one vote

10

Carpetbaggers

Northern Republicans who moved to the South during Reconstruction

Sometimes carried cheap suitcases made of scraps of carpet

Insulting nickname used by Southerners who resented Northerners coming to profit on their misery

11

Carpetbag – a travel bag made

from a scrap of carpet

“Carpetbagger” coming

from the North to

profit from conditions in

the South

Scalawags

Insulting name used by Southerners to refer to southern white Republicans whom they thought were traitors to the South

12

SharecroppersSharecroppers Workers who lived on land owned by Workers who lived on land owned by

others and farmed it for a share of the others and farmed it for a share of the crops at harvest time.crops at harvest time.

Many had to pay a planter for Many had to pay a planter for housing or food, which usually left housing or food, which usually left them in debt every year.them in debt every year.

13

Tenant Tenant FarmersFarmers

Rented land Rented land Grew and sold their own crops.Grew and sold their own crops. Had a higher social status than Had a higher social status than

sharecroppers.sharecroppers. Sometimes saved enough Sometimes saved enough

money to buy their own land.money to buy their own land.

14

Ku Klux Klan

Secret society of former Confederate leaders and plantation owners.

Goal was to keep Blacks from gaining equality.

Used terror and violence.

15

Solid SouthSolid South Political changes after 1872Political changes after 1872 Ex-Confederates and other white Ex-Confederates and other white

Southern Democrats form a political Southern Democrats form a political force which blocks Republican force which blocks Republican Reconstruction policies and reforms.Reconstruction policies and reforms.

Marks the end of Republican control Marks the end of Republican control of the South.of the South.

16

Compromise of Compromise of 18771877

The election of 1876 was nearly a tie in the The election of 1876 was nearly a tie in the popular and electoral votes.popular and electoral votes.

Southern Democrats agreed to give the Southern Democrats agreed to give the election to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes election to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes if he agreed toif he agreed to Remove all remaining federal troops from Remove all remaining federal troops from

the South.the South. Give huge amounts of federal funding to Give huge amounts of federal funding to

build southern railroabuild southern railroads.ds.

17

Rutherford B. Hayes Samuel Tilden

Electoral Vote (185) (184)Sates Won (20) (18)Popular Vote (4,034,311)

(4,288,546)Percentage (47.9%) (51%)