Chapter 22-23RECONSTRUCTION

(The Second Civil War)1865-1877

High-Water Marks and 2 concerns after the Civil War

(1) Ending the war and testing the resilience of the federal government(2) Morality claim to press the 13th amendment / Up until the

ratification of the above, politics played the major role in the decision making of slavery. This is the first time “morals” became the driving force.

(3) International perception of America is positive due to….*Monroe Doctrine’s much needed attention to promoting America’s ability to calm down war in our own hemisphere.PROBLEMS / Challenges:(1) RECONSTRUCTION: Who will control it? (Congress or the President)(2) Integration of 4 million “freedmen” into American society

South (Post War) Economy

– Banks and businesses closed– Runaway inflation– Factories were smokeless, silent and dismantled– Railroads destroyedAgriculture - Hopelessly crippled- Slave labor system collapsed (13th Amendment)General Southern Culture- White Southerners spoke of “your government” not “our

Government.”- Still believed the war was a “just” cause.

After Emancipation- “Emancipation” in practice was confusing (Uneven responses across various parts of the South).(Example: Where free in one town, you may be “re-enslaved” in another.)African American Freedmen: - Some cases highlighted the loyalty prompted to the slave owner and resisted liberation. - Some cases highlighted joining Union troops to pillage the Masters’ homes.- Changed their names- Asked to be referred to as “Mr.” and or “Mrs.”- Took to finding their spouse, children and parents- Formalized “Slave Marriages” to legally make children their heirs (any sharecropping or tenant

farming acreage to be passed down after death – later).- African Americans provided protection and mutual assistance in the “new towns”- *Exodusters – African Americans who would travel to Kansas.- African American churches were formed – bedrock of AA life.- New Educational Opportunities:

- Literacy was denied as a slave- As freedmen , they raised funds for land, building schools and hiring teachers.- *American Missionary Association – provided Northern White women that volunteered for teaching

services

Presidential Reconstruction• The INDIVIDUALS left, not the STATES• Lincoln: *Wanted the return to the South to be

“QUICK”• *Fed. government will PARDON / Forgive everyone (except Conf. generals) of all charges IF they swear allegiance to the Union.Lincoln’s 10 % Plan / Reconstruction and Amnesty Plan(1)10% of the voting population (1864) will swear allegiance to the Union(2) Form a new state government *(with federal

intervention) and support the Union.

Radical Republicans(Congressional Recon.)

• Small subculture of Republicans that HATE Lincoln / Johnson’s plans for Reconstruction

• Led by “Thaddeus Stevens” and Charles Sumner• Original position: (1861) – promoted the “limitation of Presidential

power”• MAIN AGENDA: Fight FOR African American rights! (wants African

Americans to have full citizenship (14th) and voting rights(15th) – • 15th = most radical / creates a scene that America is now a “trailblazing”

country – no other country in the world provided suffrage for freed slaves.*** THE SOUTH SHOULD BE PUNISHED ***

Johnson’s Plan• April 1865 – Lincoln is assassinatedJohnson is a DEMOCRAT (Note: the creation of the National Union Party in 1864) (Republicans nominated Johnson as VP on the note that the Union party was for ALL loyal men)– this Party was created to get Lincoln reelected in 1864)• While Congress is in recess…. President Johnson claims his plan:

(1) Withdraw a Southern State’s title of “secession” - PARDON(2) Swear allegiance to Union

(3) Pay off Confederate Debts (assumption) (4) States need to ratify (and practice) the 13th Amendment (abolition of slavery).*This IS NOT is promotion of the AA culture, its in promotion of a “forced” relationship with the Southern

States /forcing the South to do what the Feds tell them to.Note: Don’t physically practice 13th and, eventually, 14th Amendment, the assumption of debt and pardoning will

be stripped.DIFFERENCE between Lincoln and Johnson’s Plans for Reconstruction: Johnson’s plan did not support freedmen

in areas such as (a) owning land, (b) voting rights and (c) protection under the law (5) Southern Society Revolution: Claimed all land owners with $20,000 value are up for confiscation;

PURPOSE: Shift social/monetary power to the poor. Intensions were proposed and put into place in the Freedmen’s Bureau. The problem is faced when Johnson “promised” AA land grants and took those ideas back and applied them solely to the poor white, Southern culture. This promoted land contacts.

Black Codes• Cultural laws passed in the South to hinder the lives of freedmen (not federally

funded but is a precursor to the Jim Crow era).

• Established codes to regulate the affairs of emancipated African Americans.

• Southerners were trying to bring back pre-Civil War times (unequal rights)

• Mississippi was the first to start the laws and other states followed after (Mississippi was the harshest and Georgia was the most lenient)

• People went to work on farms and were required to sign work contracts and were getting paid very little (like $15/yr) . (Sharecropping and Tenant farming)

Congressional Response to Lincoln’s 10% Plan (Presidential Recon.)

• Wade-Davis Bill:• Passed by the Radical Republicans in 1864(1) Congress should control Recon.(2) Not 10% (as in Lincoln and Johnson)...

a majority (at least 50%) needs to pledge allegiance to the Constitution (not Union) to be readmitted.

*****Lincoln’s reaction to the Wade-Davis Bill “Pocket Veto” killed the bill– Pocket Veto: when the President fails to sign a bill within

the 10 days allowed by the Constitution. (ignoring it)

Freedmen’s Bureau1865-1872

• Abolitionists’ Harsh/Brutal Reality – freedmen were largely illiterate, without property and unskilled at knowing how to survive as a free culture.

• To combat this: The Freedmen’s Bureau was created in 1865.• Congressional assistance to former slaves (provides housing, food, clothing, education,

money….)• 2 cultures involved: poor whites and freedmenPOINT: to ease the transition from slavery to freedom(Johnson Vetoes this) but Congress overrides his vetoMost significant success: teaching literacy to African Americans (roughly 200,000) - Exciting for majority of AA due to the chance to read the Bible.*At times, seen as misleading / Dysfunction: -Reason: Federal government would provide land to the Southern elite, not the freedmen. This

allowed the promotion of land contracts. (REMEMBER: Southern Society Revolution by A. Johnson)

*Southern Response:- Hatred toward the meddlesome Federal Government; white Southern dominance in politics will now be altered.

Came to an end in 1872 due to funding and the scandalous actions of Grant (later)

**Civil Rights Act 1866***Remember: the Dred Scott Decision stripped AA of their citizenship rights in 1857.So…….The Civil Rights Act on 1866 provided:(1) Gave African Americans “Citizenship” Rights back(2) Ends the ability for states to pass….

“BLACK CODES” (no more black codes)- severe restrictions on African American lives from 1800 to 1865

Examples: carrying weapons, serving in juries, testifying against whites, marrying whites

(Johnson Vetoes this) but Congress overridesMOST SIGNIFICANT PART: For the awareness the South would NOT enforce the

claims of the CRA ‘66, provides strength intoAmending the Constitution (14th Amendment) would apply moreDamaging and stringent punishment from the Feds to the States.

1866 Midterm elections(Turning Point in Reconstruction)

Radical Republicans took over majority of Congress for the first time in American history!• Outcome: 2/3 majority went to Republicans

(Radical and Moderate Republicans.)• Therefore: Overriding presidential vetoes are

easy.

14th Amendment1868 (introduced during AJ’s term but ratified later)

• 14th Amendment: passed because the South wouldn’t likely enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

Provided :(1) all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens (2) Equal protection (due process) under the law(3) Denied representation as a state in Congress if African Americans are denied the right to vote.

– Proves the federal government is getting stronger!***If the Southern States practice the 14th Amendment – they will be

readmitted and martial law WILL NOT be used!Martial Law: the imposition of direct military control of normal civilian

functions of government, especially in response to a temporary emergency such as invasion or major disaster.

Example: Tennessee agrees to practice the 14th Amendment

*Reconstruction Act of 1867*(1) Abolished governments formed by the Confederacy during the Civil

War (R. Republicans stole this idea from Presidential Recon.)(2) This act created “MARTIAL LAW” (just like borders states during the Civil War) / Military Districts in these southern states(Johnson Vetoed this (unconstitutional?) but Congress overrides his veto– It divided the South into 5 military districts. U.S. soldiers

would be stationed in each to make sure things stayed under FEDERAL control.

Military Districts

15th Amendment & Enforcement Acts

• No one should be kept from voting due to “race, color or previous amount of servitude”

• Problem: South didn’t care • Result: Congress passes theENFORCEMENT ACTS of 1870 and 1871 - gave more power to the federal government to punish those who kept African Americans from voting. 3 reasons it was repealed:(1) Grant’s maneuvering of funds (scandals)(2) Super expensive(3) 1st Amendment violation of Peaceful assembly

No Women Voters

The 3 Reconstruction Amendments – 13, 14 and 15 delighted abolitionists but deeply disappointed advocates for Women’s Rights.- Past Women's’ rights activists would get involved in the abolitionists’

movement to promote the African American culture to prove the likelihood of bridging into Women’s rights (One in the same).

- Example: Elizabeth Cady Staton and Susan B. Anthony worked wholeheartedly in The Woman’s Loyal League to gather over 400,000 petitioned signatures for African American emancipation.

- Connection to the 14th Amendment: it included the word “male” – upset Women’s Rights leaders.

- Connection to the 15th Amendments: they wanted the word “sex” to be included; they lost this battle as well.

- 50 years would pass until the 19th Amendment was ratified.

Congress Reacts to Johnson• What has Johnson vetoed?Plot / Plan: put president Johnson in a “lose-lose” situation

TENURE OF OFFICE ACT• which said the president needed Congressional “okay” to fire anyone who was previously

Presidentially appointed and approved by the Senate.Purpose: Congressional protection of Edwin Stanton (Radical Republican spy and Secretary of War under president Johnson)• Johnson’s options:(1) Keep Stanton – Congress is happy(2) Fire Stanton – Congress can impeach, bring up formal charges, against JohnsonOUTCOME: Johnson fires Stanton Presidential Defense: Stanton was appointed during Lincoln’s presidency.*Thought the entire issue was unconstitutional; wanting to test the Supreme Court.

JOHNSON’S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL• Senate trial• Needs a 2/3 vote to remove him from office• NOT REMOVED: one single vote kept in office

The Purchase of Alaska(1867)

Most successful international issue under President JohnsonReason Russia sold: Location…thinking if they sold the land to America, outside forces would have to fight the new owner and not the Russians William Seward: “Seward’s Folly or Seward’s Icebox”

Price: $7.2 Million

U.S. Hesitation:(1) focused on Reconstruction (monetary issues)(2) Awareness of Natural resources became questionableU.S. Eagerness(3) Honor a reinforcement to the Monroe Doctrine(2) Honor the Russians for being allies to the Union during the civil War.

1868 Presidential Election

• Ulysses S. Grant (Republican)• 1868-1876Campaign: “Wave the Bloody Shirt” – reminding

Americans of his war hero persona in the Civil War.

Radical Republican Reaction: The South would try to limit black suffrage rights and other political opportunities, so they introduced the 15th Amendment

Grant’s Scandals

• Credit Mobilier Affair (1872)A construction company building Union-Pacific R.R. and

effectively sub-hired itself to get paid double. • Whiskey Ring Scandal (1875)– Internal-revenue collectors accepted bribes from whiskey

distillers (so they wouldn’t have to pay taxes)– Federal government lost millions!Scandals impact on Grant: DID NOT RUN IN 1876

Ku Klux Klan“Invisible Empire of the South” started in

Pulaski, Tennessee in 1866• Worked off a “fear factor”• Main Agenda: Keep African Americans from making political, social and economic advances in America.Ways to hinder A.A. advancements and to promote the white man in the SOUTH: (State funded / a way to

disenfranchise the African American culture.)1 - Literacy Test: Pass the test = voteDiscrimination: African Americans are asked more difficult questionsProblem: some whites can’t read*Voting Rights Act in 1965 got rid of this test.2 - Poll Tax: pay the tax = voteDiscrimination: Poor whites and African Americans can’t afford to voteProblem: poor whites were weeded out too*24th Amendment (1964) got rid of this tax.3- GRANDFATHER CLAUSE (this will completely eliminate the chance of the African American voter) - if your father or grandfather could vote before Jan 1, 1867, then you, as a white man, did not have to pass the

literacy test or pay to vote Issue: 15th Amendment was not passed before the above date.15th Amendment’s ratification on Feb. 3, 1870 will exhaust the Grandfather Clause.

Politics of Postwar SouthScalawags VS. Carpetbaggers

Scalawag (R) – White Southerners that supported the Radical Republican’s plan for Recon. (support for African American rights) and joined the Rep. Party *Southern version of a Carpetbagger– Small farmers who wanted to improve the conditions of the South

Goals: Mixed - some wanted to truly help A.A / others wanted

to get the A.A vote and then use politics to enrich themselves Carpetbaggers (D) “Redeemers”– Northerners that move to the South.Goals: Mixed: Either make a profit(take advantage of War-torn South) or truly help the South / A.A.

Democrats “REDEEM” the South (NEW SOUTH) / REDEMPTION

Redemption: Democrat’s “return” to power in the South after the Civil War – claims the Republicans have mismanaged the South for too long…• 1869-1875…the Democrats (CARPETBAGGERS) “REDEEM” the

South (Democratic “return” to power in the South) Redeemers want the following: (1) SOLID SOUTH – anti-Republican Reconstruction / pro - White supremacy (KKK) / Return to “black codes” (2) HOME RULE – the ability to run a region WITHOUT federal

intervention (nullification action)

Underlying Goal: Set out to rescue the South from “mismanagement” from Republicans and African Americans

Sharecropping v. Tenant Farming *Slavery warmed overLIFE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE SOUTH AFTER CIVIL WAR (1) Sharecropping: economic necessity forced freed slaves into “contracts”

with land owners.– Landowners would divide their land and gave each freed African

American…some land, seed, and tools– Harvest / Crops come in: a “SHARE” of the crops go to the landowner!(2) Tenant Farming: another bad system for African Americans (you own

your tools and seed, but you RENT the land!– OVERALL: A.A. were “locked in” or “trapped” in a style of slavery /

lacked capital = no money to buy their own goods! – ONLY POSITIVE: TF teaches business structure

“The slave went free; stood a brief moment in the sun; then moved back again toward slavery.” – W.E.B Dubois

Collapse of Reconstruction in 1877• Grant does not run for a third term in 1876 due to issues with the previous scandals mentioned. Presidential Election of 1876Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican)VS.Sam Tilden (Democrat) / wins the popular vote.Problem: Tilden got 184 electoral votes; he needed 185 to win.*20 votes hung in the balance due to questionable returns.The Election deadlock was broken up by the Electoral Count Act - set up an electoral commission consisting of 15 men selected by theSenate, the House and the Supreme Court(8 Republicans and 7 Democrats) - Republican majority = this will be a one-sided response! - Democratic response: Filibuster*COMPROMISE OF 1877*End issue: Hayes is the new President in 1876 (office in 1877)The North (Republicans) received….. (1) Rutherford B. Hayes elected as president. The South (Redeeming Democrats) received… *(1) Got a pledge that Hayes would removal of military occupation in the South. (THIS REPEALS THE EFFORTS OF

THE RECONSTRUCTION ACT OF 1867)and effectively ENDS Reconstruction. (2) Money would be spent on a railroad in Texas. (3) A Southern sympathizer must be appointed to Hayes's Cabinet.*Please make sure you understand how the Democrats would benefit if no martial law existed. When they are able

to take over the South, a new era (The Gilded Age of Politics) begins = corruption!