ReconstructionChange in the South:Chapter 14, Section 4

Economic, social, and political changes create new traditions, values, and beliefs. As Reconstruction

ended, white Southerners attempted to make economic changes in the South, while restricting the

rights of African Americans.

Reconstruction Ends● Main idea: Democrats steadily regained control of

Southern governments as support for Radical Reconstruction policies decreased.○ Before and after Reconstruction, African Americans moved

North in hopes of a better life and less hostility○ Reasons for leaving an area for another are called push-

pull factors■ Things like Jim Crow laws push people away■ Opportunity to own land pulls them in

Loss of Support● During Grant administration

Northerners began losing interest in Reconstruction, believing it was time for South to solve its own problems○ Radical leaders began to disappear from political scene

■ Death/retired/lost elections○ Racial prejudice in the North, exploited by opponents of

Reconstruction...argued that only Southerners really knew how to deal with African Americans, and their fate should be left to the South■ Southerners protested “bayonet rule” (use of federal

troops to support Reconstruction and to stop violence and enforce laws)

Republicans Revolt● Reports of corruption in Grant’s

administration and Reconstruction governments spread throughout the nation○ Some Republicans split with the party over the issue○ Another group of Republicans broke with the party over

Reconstruction, proposing peaceful reconciliation with Southern whites■ Called themselves Liberal Republicans and nominated

Horace Greeley to run against Grant in 1872 election○ Democrats also supported Greeley because he offered a

chance to defeat Republicans■ Grant still reelected despite Republican divisions

The Amnesty Act● During 1872 election campaign, Liberal

Republicans called for expanded amnesty for white Southerners, and passed Amnesty Act pardoning most former Confederates○ Nearly all white Southerners could vote and hold office○ Amnesty changed political balance in South by restoring full

rights to people who supported Democratic party

Democrats Regain Power● In Southern states where majority of voters were white,

Democrats regained control of state governments● In states where African Americans held majority or where

populations were equal, KKK helped Democrats take power by terrorizing Republican voters○ Election of 1875, Republican power in MS was quickly

eroding and African American leaders urged voters to go to polls on election day in spite of violent threats

● Republicans held majority in Congress in only 3 states (FL, SC, LA), but...investigation uncovered government officials making unfair business deals, scheming to withhold tax money, accepting bribes AND other scandals involved VP and sec. of war○ All event damaged Grant administration and Republicans

● Nation was also suffering economic depression and blame fell to Republicans and by congressional election they were in trouble○ Democrats gained seats in Senate and won control of

House, for the first time since Civil War Democrats controlled part of federal government and further weakened Congress’s commitment to Reconstruction and protecting rights of newly freedmen

1. How would you describe the overall changes taking place as Reconstruction winds down?

2. How did the Amnesty Act change the balance of politics in the South?

3. Why did voters blame the Republicans for the country’s economic problems in the 1870s?

4. Why did both parties nominate candidates for president in 1876 who had reputations of being against corruption?

The Election of 1876● President Grant considered running for a third term, but

most Republicans preferred a new candidate...who could win back the Liberal Republicans and unite party○ Nominated Rutherford B. Hayes, a champion of political

reform and reputation of honesty, with moderate views on Reconstruction

○ Democrats nominated Samuel Tilden who had gained national fame for fighting political corruption in NYC■ After election, Tilden appeared to be winner, but after

disputed returns from FL, LA, SC, OR (a total of 20 electoral votes)

■ Tilden was one vote short, with 184, and if Hayes received all of the disputed votes he would have enough to win, with 185

● Congress created a special commission of 7 Republicans, 7 Democrats, and 1 independent to review election results○ Independent resigned, and a Republican took his place

● After examining reports of state review boards, commission voted along party lines, 8 to 7, to award all 20 votes to Hayes○ Democrats threatened to fight decision

● Inauguration Day approached and country still didn’t have a president, until a secret agreement was worked out by Republicans and Southern Democrats

Compromise of 1877● So. Dem. leaders agreed to accept Hayes as president

○ Four months after election, Congress confirmed verdict of commission and declared Hayes president■ Inaugurated two days later and in his address he

declared that South needed was restoration of wise, honest, peaceful government and his intention to allow South to handle racial issues...government was NOT going to help reshape South or help African Americans

● Deal made included various favors to the South○ New government would give more aid to region, withdraw

all remaining troops from Southern states○ Democrats, in return, promised to maintain African

Americans’ rights● Reconstruction over

1. Why was the outcome of the 1876 election in dispute?2. What was the agreement to settle the 1876 election?3. What effect did the Compromise of 1877 have on

Reconstruction?4. Do you think Southern whites kept this promise? Why or

why not?

The South After Reconstruction ● Main idea: When Reconstruction ended, many

changed took place in the South including a political shift and growth in industry. ○ At the end of Reconstruction, many African Americans

faced lives of poverty, indignity, and despair

A New Ruling Party● Many Southern whites hated Republicans

because of their role in Civil War and Reconstruction, and when it was all over the power went back to the Democrats○ In some regions, ruling Democrats were large landowners

and others that held power before war○ In most, a new ruling class took charge...merchants,

industrialists, business owners who supported economic development and opposed Northern interference■ Democrats called themselves the “Redeemers” as they

saved the South from Republican rule, and adopted conservative policies (lower taxes, less public spending, cut social services like public education) that dominated Southern politics into the 1900s

Rise of the “New South”● By 1880s, forward-looking Southerners were

convinced of need to develop strong industrial economy and argued that South had lost Civil War because of lack of industry/manufacturing

● Editor of Atlanta Constitution, Henry Grady, headed group that urged Southerners to “out- Yankee the Yankees” and build “new South”○ Industries based on coal, iron, tobacco, cotton, lumber, etc.

would be created by embracing spirit of hard work and regional pride■ New South could match North in peaceful competition

Southern Industries● Industry in South made dramatic gains

after Reconstruction, especially in textiles○ Before Civil War, planters shipped

cotton to textile mills in North or Europe○ After, textile mills sprang up throughout

South, resulting in the closing of many Northern companies

● Lumbering and tobacco processing also grew○ Tobacco due to efforts of

James Duke & the American Tobacco Company, which grew to control almost all tobacco manufacturing

Rural Economy● New South supporters hoped to

change agriculture into small, profitable farms rather than plantations devoted to cotton○ Some plantations broken up, but large

landowners held land, and large estates were divided for sharecropping and tenant farming (neither profitable)

● Debt created problems, as poor farmers used credit to get food/supplies○ Merchants who sold on credit charged high prices, so

farmer debt GREW○ To repay debt, farmers grew cash crops like cotton, but

that forced prices DOWN■ More cotton to cover debt, lower prices, vicious circle

● More poverty, more debt for South

1. What happened to prices when too much cotton was produced?

2. What happened to farmers when cotton prices fell? What effect would that have on future prices?

A Divided Society● Main idea: As Reconstruction ended, true freedom

for African Americans became a distant dream.○ Their dream for justice faded, and racism became firmly

entrenched, as steps were taken to keep African Americans separated from white and to deny them basic rights.

Voting Restrictions● Fifteenth Amendment prohibited any state from

denying an individual the right to vote due to race, but Southern leaders found ways around that○ Many required a poll tax, and since many African

Americans could not afford the tax, they couldn’t vote■ Also prevented poor whites

Literacy Test

● Other than poll taxes, some prospective voters were subjected to a literacy test to prove they could read and explain difficult parts of constitutions○ With little/no education, these tests prevented many African

Americans, and some whites, from voting● In response, some states passed grandfather clauses,

allowing individuals who didn’t pass to vote if their grand/fathers voted before Reconstruction○ This excluded African Americans

● Not all restrictions were in place right away, African Americans continued voting in some states until the late 1800s, before threats cause drastic decline

1. How were poll taxes and literacy tests different? How were they similar?

2. What did Southern white intend to achieve by limiting the rights of African Americans?

3. Why did white governments in the South need to pass laws with grandfather clauses?

4. Why did these barriers to voting not appear in most Southern states until after 1889?

Jim Crow Laws● By 1890s, segregation was a prominent feature

in Southern life. States passed Jim Crow laws, requiring African Americans and whites to be separated in every public place○ Supreme Court upheld these laws in Plessy v. Ferguson,

involving LA trains, ruling that it separation was legal as long as no one was denied access to facilities or accommodations...Problem? Separate, but NOT equal■ White schools received more money

● Violence also increased in terrible forms such as lynching, sometimes for no reason other than suspicion or differences in behavior

Reconstruction’s Impact● Reconstruction was both a success and failure…

○ Helped South recover from war and rebuilding economy○ BUT○ Economy still poor due to changes in agriculture○ AND○ African Americans gained greater equality and created their

own institutions, joining in government○ BUT○ Improvements didn’t last long and violence/discrimination

reigned; promises not made good, gains soon lost■ Slavery over, but left African Americans trapped in poor

economic, political, social circumstances

1. What is segregation? How was segregation carried out?2. Why was the presidential election of 1876 controversial?3. Who was reelected president in 1872?4. Explain how the Amnesty Act helped the Democratic

party regain its strength.