the agony of reconstruction 1863–1877
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16. The Agony of Reconstruction 1863–1877. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
American Stories:American Stories:A History of the United States
Second Edition
Chapter
American Stories: A History of the United States, Second EditionBrands • Breen • Williams • Gross
The Agony of Reconstruction1863–1877
16
Robert Smalls Robert Smalls With the help of several black With the help of several black crewmen, Robert Smalls—then twenty-three years crewmen, Robert Smalls—then twenty-three years
old—commandeered the Planter, a Confederate old—commandeered the Planter, a Confederate steamship used to transport guns and ammunition, steamship used to transport guns and ammunition,
and surrendered it to the Union vessel, USS and surrendered it to the Union vessel, USS Onward. Smalls provided distinguished service to Onward. Smalls provided distinguished service to the Union during the Civil War and after the war the Union during the Civil War and after the war went on to become a successful politician and went on to become a successful politician and
businessman.businessman.
The Agony of ReconstructionThe Agony of Reconstruction1863–1877 1863–1877
• The President Versus Congress• Reconstructing Southern Society• Retreat From Reconstruction• Reunion and the New South
Robert Smalls and Black Politicians Robert Smalls and Black Politicians During ReconstructionDuring Reconstruction
• Robert Smalls of South Carolina took command of vessel and slave crew, surrendered it to Union Army; became hero to antislavery Northerners
• Elected to Congress; made land available for blacks to own
• Defeated by whites falsely claiming he was corrupt
The President Versus CongressThe President Versus Congress
The President Versus CongressThe President Versus Congress
• The North split on reconstructing the South
• White House seeks speedy reconstruction with minimum changes in the South
• Congress seeks slower reconstruction, demands protection for freedmen
Wartime ReconstructionWartime Reconstruction
• Lincoln announces lenient policy in 1863
• Congress resents Lincoln's effort to control
• Congressmen seek to condition readmission to Union on black suffrage
• Congress mistrusts white Southerners
Andrew Johnson at the HelmAndrew Johnson at the Helm
• Republicans initially support Southern Democrat Johnson as enemy of planter class
• Johnson, Republicans split on Reconstruction
Andrew Johnson at the Helm Andrew Johnson at the Helm (cont’d)(cont’d)
• Johnson instructs Southern conventions to: Declare secession illegal Repudiate Confederate debt Ratify the 13th Amendment
Andrew Johnson at the Helm Andrew Johnson at the Helm (cont’d)(cont’d)
• Southern conventions reluctantly carry out Johnson's orders
• Conventions pass “Black Codes”• Johnson approves conventions' actions• Congress condemns conventions
Congress Takes the InitiativeCongress Takes the Initiative
• Republicans had ideological commitment to equal rights, even if some did not believe in racial equality
• Johnson vetoes two bills Extension of Freedmen's Bureau Civil rights bill to overturn Black Codes
Congress Takes the Initiative Congress Takes the Initiative (cont’d)(cont’d)
• Republicans pass 14th Amendment • Johnson's National Union party runs
against Republican congressmen in elections
• Election of 1866 strengthens Republicans
TABLE 16.1 TABLE 16.1 Reconstruction Amendments, 1865–Reconstruction Amendments, 1865–18701870
Congressional Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction Plan EnactedPlan Enacted
• South under military rule until black suffrage fully secured
• Split over duration of federal protection Radicals recognize need for long period Most wish military occupation to be short
Congressional Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction Plan Enacted (cont’d)Plan Enacted (cont’d)
• Assumption: black suffrage sufficient to empower freedmen to protect themselves
Map 16.1 Map 16.1 Reconstruction Reconstruction During the During the Reconstruction era, the southern state Reconstruction era, the southern state
governments passed through three phases: control governments passed through three phases: control by white ex-Confederates; domination by by white ex-Confederates; domination by
Republican legislators, both white and black; and, Republican legislators, both white and black; and, finally, the regaining of control by conservative finally, the regaining of control by conservative
white Democrats.white Democrats.
The Impeachment CrisisThe Impeachment Crisis
• Johnson obstructs Congressional Reconstruction
• Congress limits Presidential power Tenure of Office Act
The Impeachment Crisis (cont’d)The Impeachment Crisis (cont’d)
• February, 1868: Congress impeaches• Senate refuses to convict Johnson• Radical Republicans seen as subversive
of Constitution, lose public support
Impeached Impeached Andrew Johnson’s successful defense Andrew Johnson’s successful defense against conviction in his impeachment case against conviction in his impeachment case
centered on his invocation of the Constitution to centered on his invocation of the Constitution to defend his presidential rights and powers. defend his presidential rights and powers.
Impeached in 1868, Johnson escaped conviction by Impeached in 1868, Johnson escaped conviction by a single vote.a single vote.
Reconstructing Southern SocietyReconstructing Southern Society
Reconstructing Southern SocietyReconstructing Southern Society
• Three contending interests in South Southern whites seek to keep newly freed
blacks inferior Northern whites seek to make money or to
"civilize" the region Blacks seek equality
Reconstructing Southern Society Reconstructing Southern Society (cont’d)(cont’d)
• Decline of federal interest in Reconstruction permits triumph of reaction and racism
Reorganizing Land and LaborReorganizing Land and Labor
• Ex-slaves wish to work their own land• Federal government sometimes grants
land• Land reverts to white owners under
Johnson
Reorganizing Land and Labor Reorganizing Land and Labor (cont’d)(cont’d)
• Slaveowners try to impose contract labor
• Blacks insist on sharecropping• Sharecropping soon becomes peonage
Sharecropping Sharecropping The Civil War brought The Civil War brought emancipation to slaves, but the sharecropping emancipation to slaves, but the sharecropping
system kept many of them economically bound to system kept many of them economically bound to their employers. At the end of a year the their employers. At the end of a year the
sharecropper tenants might owe most—or all—of sharecropper tenants might owe most—or all—of what they had made to their landlord. Here, a what they had made to their landlord. Here, a
sharecropping family poses in front of their cabin. sharecropping family poses in front of their cabin. Ex-slaves often built their living quarters near Ex-slaves often built their living quarters near
woods in order to have a ready supply of fuel for woods in order to have a ready supply of fuel for heating and cooking. The cabin’s chimney lists heating and cooking. The cabin’s chimney lists away from the house so that it can be easily away from the house so that it can be easily
pushed away from the living quarters should it pushed away from the living quarters should it catch fire.catch fire.
Black Codes:Black Codes:A New Name for Slavery?A New Name for Slavery?
• South increasingly segregated after War
• Black Codes designed to return blacks to quasi-slavery Codes overturned by Congress
• Violence and discrimination continued on a large scale
Republican Rule in the SouthRepublican Rule in the South
• 1867: Southern Republican party organized Businesspeople want government aid White farmers want protection from
creditors Blacks form majority of party, want social
and political equality
• Republicans improve public education, welfare, and transportation
Republican Rule in the South Republican Rule in the South (cont’d)(cont’d)
• Republican state legislatures corrupt• Whites control most radical state
governments• African Americans given blame for
corruption
Claiming Public and Private RightsClaiming Public and Private Rights
• Freed slaves viewed legalized marriage as an important step in claiming political rights
• They also formed churches, fraternal and benevolent associations, political organizations, and schools
• Education for children was a top priority
Freedmen’s Schools Freedmen’s Schools A Freedmen’s school, one A Freedmen’s school, one of the more successful endeavors the Freedmen’s of the more successful endeavors the Freedmen’s
Bureau supported. The bureau, working with Bureau supported. The bureau, working with teachers from northern abolitionist and missionary teachers from northern abolitionist and missionary societies, founded thousands of schools for freed societies, founded thousands of schools for freed
slaves and poor whites.slaves and poor whites.
Retreat From ReconstructionRetreat From Reconstruction
Retreat from ReconstructionRetreat from Reconstruction
• Enormous problems 1868–1876• Grant's weak principles contribute to
failure
Final Efforts of ReconstructionFinal Efforts of Reconstruction
• 1869: 15th Amendment passed Also enfranchised Northern blacks
• Women's rights group was upset that they were not granted the vote
• Northern support for black citizenship waned
Black Voting Black Voting The First VoteThe First Vote, drawn by A. H. Ward , drawn by A. H. Ward for for Harper’s WeeklyHarper’s Weekly, November 16, 1867., November 16, 1867.
A Reign of Terror Against BlacksA Reign of Terror Against Blacks
• Secret societies used terror tactics to keep blacks out of the political process and near insurrections against state governments
• 1870s: Congress tries to suppress Ku Klux Klan, other Southern terrorist groups
A Reign of Terror Against Blacks A Reign of Terror Against Blacks (cont’d)(cont’d)
• By 1876 Republicans control only South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida
• Northern support for military action wanes
Ku Klux Klan Ku Klux Klan This 1868 photograph This 1868 photograph shows typical regalia of members of the Ku shows typical regalia of members of the Ku
Klux Klan, a secret white supremacist Klux Klan, a secret white supremacist organization. Before elections, hooded organization. Before elections, hooded
Klansmen terrorized African Americans to Klansmen terrorized African Americans to discourage them from voting.discourage them from voting.
Reunion and the New SouthReunion and the New South
Reunion and the New SouthReunion and the New South
• North and South reconcile after 1877• Terms of reconciliation
African Americans stripped of political gains
Big business interests favored over small farmer
The Compromise of 1877The Compromise of 1877
• Election of 1876 disputed • Special Congressional commission gives
disputed vote to Rutherford B. Hayes
The Compromise of 1877The Compromise of 1877
• Southern Democrats accept on two conditions Guarantee of federal aid to the South Removal of all remaining federal troops
• Hayes' agreement ends Reconstruction
Map 16.2Map 16.2
““RedeemingRedeeming”” a New South a New South
• Southern "Redeemers" not ideologically coherent, more power brokers between major interest groups commerce, manufacturing, and agriculture
• Gain power by doctrine of white supremacy
• Neglect problems of small farmers
The Rise of Jim CrowThe Rise of Jim Crow
• Redeemer Democrats systematically exclude black voters
• Jim Crow laws legalize segregation and restrict black civil rights
• By 1910 the process was complete• The North and the federal government
did little or nothing to prevent it
Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner and the “Unfinished Revolution”and the “Unfinished Revolution”
Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner and the and the ““Unfinished RevolutionUnfinished Revolution””
• Henry McNeal Turner's career summarized the Southern black experience during and after Reconstruction
• He supported the Union during the war and was elected to GA legislature in Reconstruction
Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner and Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner and the the ““Unfinished RevolutionUnfinished Revolution”” (cont’d) (cont’d)
• “Redeemed” GA legislature expels him, exemplifying Northerners tacit approval of oppression of Southern blacks
• Turner becomes A.M.E. bishop and major proponent of black emigration to Africa
Henry McNeal TurnerHenry McNeal Turner, who was born in freedom, , who was born in freedom, became a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal became a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was elected to the Georgia legislature.Church and was elected to the Georgia legislature.
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