ReconstructionReconstructionU. S. HistoryFall 2006Paul Dunn

The Old South DestroyedThe Old South DestroyedThe Civil War shattered the

South’s economyTens of thousands of the

confederate veterans returned home without jobs

Millions of the newly freed slaves also found themselves homeless and broke

The Old South DestroyedThe Old South DestroyedThe former slaves had aspirations

of starting their own schools and churches

They also took this time to try and find lost loved ones who had been sold off as slaves

Most of all they wanted to own their own land◦Rumors spread that each freedman

would get 40 acres and a mule

Presidential Presidential ReconstructionReconstructionLincoln’s Goal – “With malice

towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to bind up the nation’s wounds….to do all which may achieve a just and lasting peace.”◦Lincoln was clearly not interested in

punishing the south◦Focus on healing and re-uniting

Presidential PlanPresidential Plan Reconstruction – rebuilding the former confederate states and reuniting the nation◦ Grant amnesty to all

southerners – except high-ranking Confederate leaders – if they would swear allegiance to the US Constitution and accept federal laws ending slavery

◦ Permitted states to re-enter union after 10% of its residents who voted in 1860 swore their loyalty to the nation Wade-Davis Bill – Congress

wanted 50% of citizens of a state to swear allegiance to be re-admitted to the Union

Lincoln vetoed

Lincoln’s AssassinationLincoln’s AssassinationApril 14th, 1865 –

Ford’s theater◦ Play – “My American

Cousin”◦ John Wilkes Booth

Shot at point blank range

Confederate sympathizer

◦ Hundreds of thousands of people stood and watched funeral train as it passed by on the trip from Washington to the burial site in Illinois

◦ Eliminates Lincoln’s calming influence and compassion from the reconstruction debate

Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson

DemocratFormer Slave

HolderFavored

government run by “white” citizens

Lacked political skill

Refused to compromise

The Question of The Question of ReconstructionReconstruction Should the President or

Congress be in charge of reconstruction?

Following the assassination of Lincoln, Andrew Johnson took over as president◦ Stubborn◦ Lacked social skills◦ Refused to compromise◦ Took debate and criticism

personally◦ Also lacked the personal

“clout” to force hard proposals through congress

Presidential Reconstruction Presidential Reconstruction under Johnsonunder Johnson1865 – Pardoned all rebels except

former confederate officeholders and the richest planters◦These he pardoned on an individual

basisRe-admission to the Union

◦Nullify acts of secession◦Abolish slavery◦Refuse to pay confederate gov’t.

debts

Southern Attempts to keep slaves Southern Attempts to keep slaves in slaveryin slaverySharecropping – practice

of borrowing money to former slaves in return for a portion of their crop◦ Sharecroppers were

constantly in debt◦ Sharecroppers were often

confined to one plantation to prevent financial “penalties”

◦ Sharecroppers never made enough to payoff loans and have financial freedom

Black CodesBlack CodesLaws passed by white southerners intended to keep

former slaves as close to slavery as possible. Reestablished white control over black laborVaried from state to state (recycled “slave” codes)

◦ Curfews◦ No travel without permits◦ Pass system – blacks could only enter “white towns” with a

special pass issued by the plantation owners◦ Could not hold meetings unless whites were present◦ Could not own guns◦ Could not attend schools with whites◦ Long term labor contracts◦ Allowed judges to decide if black parents could support

their children – used this as leverage to get blacks to work in certain jobs

◦ Could not rent or own land in some areas

The elections of 1866 and The elections of 1866 and the Reconstruction Actsthe Reconstruction ActsViolence in the south made

President Johnson’s call for leniency toward the southern rebels seem particularly absurd

In 1866 northerners overwhelmingly vote Republican

With the Radicals at the helm the Republicans seize control of the Reconstruction process

Congress Versus JohnsonCongress Versus JohnsonThe moderate Republicans and

Radical Republicans joined forces against Johnson◦Witnesses were coming forward with

stories of murder and lynching◦ schools, churches, and homes being

burnt down to intimidate blacks and their supporters

◦stories of death threats to those that were viewed as southern unionists

ContinuedContinuedRepublicans quickly decided that

African Americans would need the right to vote◦The Reconstruction Acts of 1867:

Divide the former confederacy into five military districts

◦To gain readmission to the Union States would have to ratify the 14th amendment as well as letting all men vote

Constitutional RemediesConstitutional Remedies13th Amendment –

Outlawed Slavery

- Ratified December 1865

14th Amendment –

1. Defined citizenship

2. Established Due Process

3. Equal Protection of the Law

4. Declared Confederate Debt from war null and void

1. Ratified July 1868

15th Amendment - gave freedmen the right to vote

- Ratified 1870

Martial Law – Reconstruction Act of Martial Law – Reconstruction Act of 18671867

Rule by the military3 conditions to

stop martial law◦ Hold constitutional

conventions to adopt new constitutions

◦ Ratify the 14th Amend

◦ Guarantee freedmen the right to vote

Southern AidSouthern AidFreedman’s Bureau

◦ Set up schools for both blacks and poor whites Segregated Hired teachers from

the North Opposed by wealthy

southerners Suffered intimidation

from groups like the KKK

Southern ProgressSouthern Progress1869 Hiram Revels

◦ 1st black man elected to congress

◦ 22 blacks eventually were elected

New State Constitutions◦ Were written between 1866 –

1870 Black Republicans Carpetbaggers –

northerners who came to south to help write constitutions

Scalawags – southerners who supported the north

Economic recoveryEconomic recovery

Northern Capital ($) was quickly invested in the south to rebuild◦ Rebuilt Railroads,

Factories, Cotton Mills, etc.

◦ Widespread fraud and corruption

Presidential ImpeachmentPresidential ImpeachmentRepublicans knew that the success of

the Reconstruction act depended on enforcement◦They were equally sure that President

Johnson would not cooperate◦ Johnson challenged the Tenure of Office

Act this act required the firing of federal officials be

approved by Congress first this was a clear challenge to the power of the

president Johnson proceeded to fire numerous officials

Congress responded by voting to impeach him

ContinuedContinuedThey charged him with violating

the Tenure of Office Act, making scandalous speeches, and bringing Congress into disgrace

◦Many thought that a Congress this aggressive threatened the checks and balances of the Constitution

ContinuedContinuedThe case against Johnson was weak

from the start◦Many members of the Congress were

concerned that President Johnson would lead the country into another Civil War

◦The Trial lasted 8 weeks◦The final tally fell one vote short of the

two thirds necessary to remove him from office He remained in office to fill out his term but

was largely ineffective. (Lame Duck)

Further Political DifficultiesFurther Political DifficultiesRadical Republicans

sensed trouble To retain voters they

nominated General Ulysses S. Grant◦ Lacked Political

experience but was a popular war hero

◦ Grant defeated Seymour in a close race

Radicals continued to lose influence as society moves on to other issues

The End of ReconstructionThe End of Reconstruction

Disputed election in 1877◦ South agreed to let

Rutherford B. Hayes to become President if all federal troops were withdrawn from the south

◦ This effectively ended reconstruction