Chapter 18: ReconstructionChapter 18: ReconstructionSection 2: Reconstruction and Daily LifeSection 2: Reconstruction and Daily Life

Section 3: End of Reconstruction Section 3: End of Reconstruction

One of the first things many did was to try One of the first things many did was to try and find a way to get an education (read and find a way to get an education (read

and write)and write)

But there will still But there will still some Southerners some Southerners who tried to who tried to prevent this by prevent this by burning down burning down schools and schools and threatening/killing threatening/killing teachers of African teachers of African Americans.Americans.

Most of all people wanted to own Most of all people wanted to own landland

There was even a There was even a thought to try and thought to try and give each ex-slave give each ex-slave 40 acres of land 40 acres of land (and a mule).(and a mule).

That plan didnThat plan didn’’t t work out.work out.

Since most ex-slaves didnSince most ex-slaves didn’’t have their t have their own property, many only had one own property, many only had one

place to go:place to go: Back to their old Back to their old

plantation.plantation. They knew the people They knew the people

in the area – and there in the area – and there were farms their just were farms their just sitting empty (without sitting empty (without anyone to work them).anyone to work them).

They did work for They did work for money this time money this time (even though it wasn(even though it wasn’’t t much).much).

Many Southerners ended up living Many Southerners ended up living under a system called under a system called sharecroppingsharecropping

African Americans African Americans needed a place to live needed a place to live and work.and work.

Plantation owners Plantation owners needed people to work needed people to work their farms.their farms.

Ex-slaves would work Ex-slaves would work the farms and instead of the farms and instead of paying rent, would give paying rent, would give the owner a the owner a shareshare of of the the cropcrop they grew. they grew.

TheyThey’’d even live in the d even live in the ““homeshomes”” of the ex- of the ex-slaves.slaves.

These workers never These workers never ended up getting ahead.ended up getting ahead.

There were specific groups which used There were specific groups which used terror and violence to keep African terror and violence to keep African

Americans Americans and their supporters and their supporters ““in their placein their place””

The Ku Klux Klan is the The Ku Klux Klan is the most famous and long most famous and long lasting.lasting.

Others: The Knights of Others: The Knights of the Rising Sun, The White the Rising Sun, The White Line, and many without Line, and many without historical names.historical names.

Eventually, when General Eventually, when General Grant was elected, he did Grant was elected, he did some things to slow that some things to slow that down, but it never down, but it never stopped – and later on stopped – and later on even got a lot worse for a even got a lot worse for a while.while.

In 1868 General Grant In 1868 General Grant became Presidentbecame President

There were worries that There were worries that Southern states might try Southern states might try to keep African Americans to keep African Americans from voting.from voting.

So, the So, the 1515thth Amendment Amendment was passed – and was passed – and everyone could now vote.everyone could now vote.

Wait – everyone? Wait – everyone? Not women yet – and they Not women yet – and they

were mad that ex-slaves were mad that ex-slaves could now vote on could now vote on decisions that affected decisions that affected themthem

So here are some slaves before So here are some slaves before the civil War and before the civil War and before

ReconstructionReconstruction

And here are some And here are some ex-slaves and sharecroppersex-slaves and sharecroppers

The nationThe nation

Did rebuild and re-unite.Did rebuild and re-unite. Did not yet have true Did not yet have true

equality for African equality for African Americans – most still Americans – most still lived in poverty and lived in poverty and didndidn’’t participate too t participate too much in politics.much in politics.

African Americans still African Americans still faced widespread faced widespread violence and prejudice.violence and prejudice.

But there were positivesBut there were positives

African Americans African Americans made lasting gains.made lasting gains.

Protection of civil Protection of civil rights became part of rights became part of the Constitution.the Constitution.

The 13The 13thth, 14, 14thth, and 15, and 15thth Amendments were Amendments were passed.passed.

Black schools and Black schools and churches were built.churches were built.

The first steps towards The first steps towards equality were taken.equality were taken.