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ReconstructionReconstruction

TAH 2008 SumterRichard Jensen

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What was “reconstruction”What was “reconstruction”

• Rebuilding the USA• Strict adherence to republican

values• Rebel states readmitted only if

proven to be true to republicanism• Until then, ruled by US Army

– = the antithesis of democracy

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Three war goalsThree war goals

• 1. Restore Union; destroy Confederacy– Surrender of all Confederate forces

• 2. Complete abolition of slavery– Emancipation Proclamation (Jan 1, 1863)

• 1/3 slaves freed by advancing armies

– 13th Amendment (Feb - Dec 1865)

• 3. Never again = new birth of strong nation; modernization of America

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EmancipationEmancipation

• Lincoln plan: buy the slaves; refused

• Emancipation Proclamation (Jan 1863)– Enforced by US Army

as it moved South

– 1/3 freed by Army; 2/3 by surrender in 1865

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Cost of FreedomCost of Freedom

• Freedom = poverty & unemployment– and massive death toll from disease, hunger

• Freedman Bureau = solve these– also special courts for Freedmen

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Racial Equality a Goal?Racial Equality a Goal?

• Racial equality goal?– Promoted by abolitionists

• Democrats denounce this goal– oppose Lincoln’s war effort– demand Peace & old Constitution As It Was

• Lincoln denies equality as war goal

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RepublicanismRepublicanism

• Constitution “guarantees a republican form of government” to states– Main justification for Reconstruction– i.e. truly republican citizens– loyal to USA , and not to Confederacy

• ALERT: do not confuse with Republican Party. (The Democrats were just as “republican”)

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Who was “republican” in Who was “republican” in South? South?

• Radicals: Freedmen as more loyal to USA than ex-Rebs, and they need vote to protect themselves

• Conservatives: rebels have learned their lesson

• Northern Democrats: the Radicals are violating republicanism

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Lincoln AssassinatedLincoln Assassinated

• His plan to win back white southerners

• His plan for blacks: – recommend vote for veterans & educated

• Strongly opposed by Radicals• Assassination stuns the nations

– calls for vengeance; hang the conspirators– “Hang all traitors!” say Radicals– Lincoln’s coalition leaderless

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Who Was President Who Was President Johnson?Johnson?

• Personality: secretive, incompetent– Hates rich slaveowners

– His were seized by Confederacy

– Very poor coalition builder

• Early 1865: seen as ultra radical

• Southerns beg for pardons & get them

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Johnson’s policyJohnson’s policy

• Criteria:for Victory– Surrender & no guerrilla war– accept 13th Amendment & abolish slavery– repeal secession laws– take oath for future allegiance

• Completed: summer 1865– accepted by southerners & northern Democrats– War’s over! They say. But GOP disagrees

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Johnson proclaims victory re Johnson proclaims victory re 3 war goals3 war goals

• 1. Restore Union; destroy Confederacy– No attacks on US troops or courts

• 2. Complete abolition of slavery– 13th Amendment ratified– Black codes passed to regulate new status

• 3. Never again– Confederate leaders seek and get presidential

pardons

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Radicals: NO! war goals Radicals: NO! war goals unmetunmet

• 1. Restore Union; destroy Confederacy– Still rebels at heart; hate the Yankees

• 2. Complete abolition of slavery– Black codes = a sort of slavery– Freedman’s Bureau needed for transition– Civil Rights bill needed

• 3. Never again– US Soldiers must occupy south– Long term: Blacks must share power

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RadicalsRadicals• Dominant in GOP

– Strong religious element– Dominate Congress (but not Army )

• Abolish all forms of slavery– Riots & Black codes = violate this provision

• loyal to USA– repeal secession laws not enough– Rebels will never be true Americans– take “iron-clad” oath of past allegiance

• Control by true “republicans”

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Who Decides?Who Decides?

• When: when to declare war over?• Who: who would decide, President

or Congress?• Answer: the voters of the North

decided through elections, 1866 through 1876– 1866, 1868 and 1872: not over yet– 1874, 1876: yes it’s all over

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Ex-Confederate ViewpointEx-Confederate Viewpoint

• Strong sense of defeatism– No taste whatever for secession

– Extremists dead or in exile

– Thousands choose exile (most return)

• Eager to return to normalcy• Massive devastation; all poor now• 100% agreement that slavery is dead• Need Freedmen’s labor…but what legal

status

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Myth of Lost CauseMyth of Lost Cause• Confederate Nationalism vanishes• becomes Myth of Lost Cause

– Myth of Antebellum happy utopia– (True) tales of battlefield heroics– Lee as great hero; Stonewall Jackson as martyr– They fought in defense of their rights and exemplified

republican virtues

• Add: new religiosity (Baptist)• Add: hatred of “damnyankee”• Add: fear of blacks as non-republican• Did it reject American nationalism???

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Confederate Flag IssueConfederate Flag Issue

• Unimportant until 1960• New symbol of defiance of liberals

in Washington• Blacks: symbol of anti-civil rights

– Blacks demand removal

• Business afraid of boycotts• Compromises and debate to 2005

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1865: Northern 1865: Northern VengeanceVengeance

• Treason trial for Jeff Davis? No• Wartime hatreds, caused by casualties

– But Union soldiers admire Rebs’ courage

• Assassination of Lincoln– hang Booth’s conspirators

• Atrocities, Prisoners– Hang commandant of Andersonville Prison

• Bloody Shirt campaign issue for 20 yrs

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Radical Leaders: Sumner, Radical Leaders: Sumner, StevensStevens

radical rhetoric

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Redistribution of wealthRedistribution of wealth

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Moderate Rule in South, Moderate Rule in South, 1865-661865-66

• Terrible devastation• High level local violence• Ruined Economy; loss of banks,

railroads, businesses, plantations• Cotton prices down, but only option

– sharecropping system

• Leaders = prewar modernizing Whigs

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Congress versus PresidentCongress versus President

• Johnson breaks with Radicals (led by Charles Sumner & Thaddeus Stevens)

• AJ Vetoes Freedman Bureau Bill• AJ Vetoes Civil Rights Bill• Prevents passage of 14th Amendment• Critical Election of 1866: Congress wins,

Johnson powerless; almost impeached

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Radical PlanRadical Plan

• Radical Reconstruction begins in 1867• Close down civilian government

– US Army rules throughout South

• New Elections, new electorate: Black vote; disfranchise Confederate leaders

• Radical GOP wins power, 14th Amdt ratified; states readmitted

• Leaders: Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (Pennsy) & Senator Charles Sumner (of Mass.)

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Radicals pass Civil Rights Radicals pass Civil Rights BillBill

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Marriage LegalizedMarriage Legalized

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ImpeachmentImpeachment

• Political reasons: Johnson was frustrating will of Radicals in Congress

• Legal reasons: he violated “Tenure of Office” Act (re Secty of War Stanton)

• Fails: some Republicans vote to acquit• Johnson helpless anyway, as Congress

rules over his veto

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Republican Rule in SouthRepublican Rule in South

• Based on 4-way coalition– African Americans– Carpetbaggers (Yankees who moved South)– Scalawags (Southern white Republicans)– Support of US Government: especially Army,

Courts, Congress, & presidential patronage

• Every state had different pattern– Longest in SC, Louisiana, Florida

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Grant Elected President Grant Elected President 1868 and 18721868 and 1872

Democratic songs, 1868

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Radical Rule in SouthRadical Rule in South

• Republican “radical” Coalition = Black voters led by southern Unionists (“scalawags”) & newly arrived Yankees (“Carpetbaggers”)– Timing varies state by state

• Blacks demand more and more power inside bitterly divided GOP

• Quality of government: hotly debated; very high levels taxes & corruption; Railroad deals; public school system

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Francis Cardozo, Black leader Francis Cardozo, Black leader in SC demands land reformin SC demands land reform

• “One of the greatest of slavery bulwarks was the infernal plantation system, one man owning his thousand, another his twenty, another fifty thousands acres of land. This is the only way by which we will break up that system, and I maintain that our freedom will be of no effect if we allow it to continue. What is the main cause of the prosperity of the North? It is because every man has his own farm and is free and independent. Let the lands of the South be similarly divided.”

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Votes for Votes for Black Men:Black Men:

by Law 1867;by Law 1867;by 15by 15thth

Amendment: Amendment:

18701870

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Heroic Heroic image ofimage of

Black Black Voters:Voters:Farmer,Farmer,

BusinessmanBusinessmanSoldierSoldier

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Status of FreedmenStatus of Freedmen• Freedman Bureau in control

– promise of 40 acres & a mule?• Tense relations with whites; separation

– Major political violence in New Orleans, Memphis, etc.

• Labor force behavior– withdraw women & children; reject gang labor– Freedman’s Bureau: must have contracts– not given 40 acres & a mule– Freedman’s Bank -- $$ all lost

• Set up churches; dominant ministers • Status: income higher than in slavery

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Radical Goal: Modernize Radical Goal: Modernize SouthSouth

• Forget past, look to future• Education for all

– Publics schools• Separate for blacks and whites• Create black colleges

• Build railroads• Spend $$$; heavy debts & taxes

– Politicians keep the $$$ for themselves

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Corruption IssueCorruption Issue

• Republicanism violated by high levels of corruption under Grant– very bad in most southern states (GOP)

• 1872: Liberal Republicans reject Grant– half the Radicals decide the war is over

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Redemption, 1870-76: return Redemption, 1870-76: return of conservative white of conservative white

DemocratsDemocrats• Ku Klux Klan tries to stop Black

voting– battles US Army, black state militia– Klan defeated by Grant administration

• Conservatives rally all white voters– and purchase 20-50% of black vote– violence in some cases (Mississippi)– state after state captured by Redeemers

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KKK Murder and threatsKKK Murder and threats

New Orleans Riot 1874

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Compromise: troops leaveCompromise: troops leave

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Compromise of 1877 Ends Compromise of 1877 Ends ReconstructionReconstruction

• Tilden (D) wins more popular votes than Hayes (R)– but Electoral College in doubt

• Compromise commission selects Hayes• He removes all federal troops (they

violate republicanism)– GOP toppled in last three states (LA, SC, FL)

• Bitterness lasts 100 years; “damnyankees”

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Long Term Results: Long Term Results: War goals achievedWar goals achieved

• Slavery ended but blacks become 2nd class citizens; lose the vote after 1890

• Confederacy dead; Rebs = Americans• Modernization speeds up in North

– Business booms; era of Free Enterprise – South becomes poor “Third World” backwater– Texas best off in South, but still poor

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Southern Image of Southern Image of ResonstructionResonstruction

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Economic InterpretationEconomic Interpretationdiscredited theory of Beale, discredited theory of Beale,

BeardBeard• GOP goal was really economic• “Hard Money” (gold)• High Tariff to protect factories• $$$ Land Grants to Railroads• actually: both parties split on all

these issues. Did not determine Reconstruction policies

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Dunning SchoolDunning School• Reconstruction a catastrophe for both

whites and blacks Bowers,Tragic Era

• Main mistake: radical extremism in violation of republicanism– caused by: vengeance & hatred

– need for GOP dominance

– misunderstanding Southern Blacks

– misunderstanding Southern whites

• Lincoln would have done it better

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Neo-Abolitionist HistoriansNeo-Abolitionist Historians

• Main Mistake: white racism in violation of republicanism & rights of Blacks

• Reconstruction was unfinished & full of promises not kept– Civil War goals not yet achieved

• Second Reconstruction of 1960s-today is needed– Eric Foner

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What about three war What about three war goals?goals?

• 1. Restore Union; destroy Confederacy– Accomplished –even die hards agreed

• 2. Complete abolition of slavery– Accomplished. No efforts to turn back– But Blacks got 2nd class citizenship

• 3. Never again = new birth of strong nation; modernization of America– Accomplished, but came slowly to South

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Online ResourcesOnline Resources

• Jensen's Guide to Reconstruction

• visual timeline• Encyclopedia of Georgia

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More online resourcesMore online resources

• oral history white Southerner• scholarly book by Professor Richar

d Zuczek

• primary documents & photos on African Americans