RECONSTRUCTIONChapter 3

April 1865•Lincoln is assassinated

John Wilkes Booth• Famous Actor • Most Handsome Man in the

America• Hated Lincoln & worked as a

spy for the south

April 14, 1865• Booth enters box & shoots

Lincoln in the head

Reconstruction was….The federal government’s controversial effort to 1. repair the damage to the South and 2. to restore southern states to the Union

Timing of Reconstruction

Lasted from 1865-1877

That would be 12 years and involved four presidents!

Physical DamageFarmland, machinery, work

animals, livestock, and buildings destroyed

9,000 miles of railroads2/3 of all shipping

Ruined building in the burned district – Richmond, VA

Ruins of a papermill and machinery – Richmond, VA

Ruins of Gallego Flour Mill - Richmond, VA

Ruins of a paper mill w/ waterwheel - Richmond, VA

Charleston, SCApril 1865

Charleston, SCApril 1865

Charleston, SCApril 1865

Atlanta, GAApril 1865

Vicinity of Atlanta, GA - 1864

Physical Damage, cont.Roadways, bridges, tunnels (infrastructure)

Miscellaneous buildings and factories

Civil War Aftermath1.Devastating physical toll to the

South2.Total human casualties- over 1

million3.Southern Hardships affected

a. Black southernersb. Plantation ownersc. Poor white southerners

Death Tolls Northern Death Toll

364,000 deaths

(38,000 were African Americans)

Southern Death Toll

260,000 deaths

1/5th of all adult white males were dead

1 out of 3 males were killed or wounded

Consider This . . . Who are the workers in the economy?

What now happens to the women and children?

Southern HardshipsFreed Slaves (Freedmen)New life in poor economic areaHomelessHungryUnemployed

Stay or Go?

Plantation Life ChangesFreedman now have choice – to

stay or to leave

Plantation owners now have to pay salaries for labor

Southern Hardships, cont.Plantation OwnersLoss of slave laborLand was often seized by the

government

Southern Hardships, cont.Poor White SouthernersCompeting against former slaves

(freedmen) for jobsMany migrated to Mississippi and

Texas for jobs

Changes in Farming Plantations divided up land

& hired people to work it1. Sharecropping – farmer

receives a share of the crop @ harvest time as payment

2. Tenant Farming – farmer rents land from planter/land owner

Effects on the South1. Changes in Labor Force 2. Focus on Cash Crops3. Cycle of Debt4. Rise of Merchants

Reintegrating the South

Problem #1

Determine the role of the freedmen

Problem #2

Define the role and acceptable power of former Confederates within their states and within the nation

Problem #3

Determine which branch of government would be

responsible for overseeing reconstruction

Vocabulary Terms

Pardon – forgiveness of a crime

Amnesty – pardons for a group of people

Two Plans for Reconstruction

Lincoln’s Plan (10% Plan)

Johnson’s Plan (Presidential

Reconstruction)

Lincoln’s Plan

1.10% of white men to swear allegiance to the Union & free slaves were then given a pardon

Lincoln’s Plan2.Former Confederates can

run local governments3.10% agreement allowed

full participation in the Union

Lincoln’s Plan - PROBLEMS

• No role for

freed men

identified

• No guarantee of rights or future

rights

Wade-Davis Bill1. Radical Republicans in Congress

disagreed with Lincoln’s plan and created the Wade-Davis Bill

Primary Concerns with Lincoln’s Plan

HE DID NOT PUNISH THE REBELS!

FELT LINCOLN WAS TOO EASY ON SOUTH

Andrew Johnson, (southern democrat, former slave owner) administered his own new policy

The Johnson Plan

1.Granted amnesty to former Confederates who signed loyalty oath

2.Restored all property, except slaves and confiscated lands

Johnson’s Plan

3. Voided secession laws and ratify the 13th amendment

4. Cancelled war debts

Johnson’s Plan - PROBLEMS

More generous to the south!

1. Amnesty awarded to “certain” southerners

2. Flawed election process (blacks excluded from voting)

Consider This . . . Who are not considered in the

two plans?

What will the freedmen do?

How did the freedmen’s lives change?

Rise of KKK – violent response to Radical Reconstruction

The goal of denying African-Americans their rights and keep them in the role of submissive

laborers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Misissippi_ku_klux.jpg

Ku Klux KlanStarted in 1866 by 6 former

Confederate soldiersMembers wore robes and masks to

look like the ghosts of dead Confederate soldiers who returned for revenge against enemies of the South.

Ku Klux KlanGradually absorbed other smaller

organizations over timeName from the Greek word kuklos, meaning “circle”

A cartoon threatening that the KKK would lynch carpetbaggers, Tuscaloosa, AL, Independent Monitor (1868) 

FreedomThe joys of freedom…

Freedom of movement, land ownership, education, etc.

The realities of life…

Food, Clothing and Shelter?

Freedmen’s BureauDeveloped to help former slavesProvided food, schools, legal help, etcUnpopular with many white southerners

Vetoed by Johnson

Anger at being forced to submit to the acts of Reconstruction leads to defiance

Fear of loss of power leads to…

Here is an edited example of one of the Black Codes:

The Black CodesNow that the slaves have become emancipated, it is necessary to pass regulations that preserve public order. These regulations must also preserve the comfort and correct behavior of the former slaves. Therefore, the following rules have been adopted with the approval of the United States military authorities who have commanded this area.1) Every Negro is required to be in the regular service of some white person or former owner, who shall be held responsible for the conduct of that Negro.2) No public meetings or congregations of Negroes shall be allowed after sunset. Such public meetings may be held during the day with the permission of the local captain in charge of the area.3) No Negro shall be permitted to preach or otherwise speak out to congregations of colored people without special permission in writing from the government.4) Negroes may legally marry, own property and sue and be sued in a court of law.5) Negroes may not serve on juries.6) A Negro may not testify against a white person in a Court of Law.7) It shall be illegal for a Negro or a person of Negro descent to marry a white person.8) No Negro shall be permitted outside in public after sundown without permission in writing from the government. A Negro conducting business for a white person may do so but only under the direct supervision of his employer.9) No Negro shall sell, trade, or exchange merchandise within this area without the special written permission of his employer.10) No Negro who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry firearms or any kind or weapons of any type without the special written permission of his employers.

Black Code Sample

BLACK CODESset limits on the rights and

opportunities of African Americanshelped planters find workers to replace

freed slavesbarred freedmen from any job but farm

work and unskilled laborSet curfews Punishments for vagrancy (not

working)Radical Republicans in congress see the codes as a way for white southerners to get around the efforts of congress so…

Radical Reconstruction

Reconstruction Act of 1867-passed by radical republicans-state governments declared illegal

-south divided into 5 military districts except Tenn.

Radical Reconstruction

To rejoin the Union:1. Adopt a constitution guaranteeing all male citizens the right to vote

2. Elect a new government3. No white southern who served as conf.

soldier/official could vote on new constitution

4. Ratify the 14th Amendment

Radical Reconstruction

Civil Rights Act of 1866 – outlawed Black Codes

Johnson vetoed bill BUT…

Congress overrode the veto!

15th Amendment Grants African Am.

Right to vote Election of 1870 –

many angry white southerners refused to vote

More than 600 African Americans were elected to southern legislatures and 16 black men were elected to congress

Radical Reconstruction Radical Republicans passed two

laws to reduce Presidential Power

1. The Command of the Army Act (limits presidential power over the army)

2. The Tenure of Office Act (removes presidential power to fire without Senate approval)

Impeachment!- Congressional power growing

- Johnson fires Sec. of War

-The House votes to “impeach” Johnson(to accuse of

wrongdoing and bring to trial)

-President escapes removal by only 1 vote

Impeachment Process1. House of Rep votes for

Impeachment2. Trial held in the Senate w/

Senators as Jury3. Trial run by Chief Justice of

Supreme Court

Southern Republicans

1. Scalawags – White southern Republicans; most were poor farmers who were against leaving the Union

2. CarpetbaggersNorthern

Republicans who moved south. Seen as greedy men seeking power and a quick dollar. Most were honest and educated.

Election of 1868

Election of 1868Rep – Ulysses GrantDem – Horatio SeymourGrant wins by a narrow victoryWins by “Waving the Bloody

Shirt”

The End of Reconstruction

By 1870 all Southern States were back in the Union

Reconstruction was a dying issue

The End of ReconstructionWhy did Reconstruction end? Heavy taxes Corruption Lack of northern support for racial

equality The Solid South – Southern

Democrats reversed many of the reforms

Election of 1876

Election of 1876Rep – Rutherford B. HayesDem – Samuel Tilden

Tilden wins popular vote BUT a dispute over electoral votes

Election of 1876The votes for FL, LA, & SC

were in question

Congress chose Hayes!Democrats Outraged!

The Compromise of 1877

The Democrats agree to give Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in return for the removal of all federal troops from the Southern States

Hayes’ removal of troops from the south is regarded as

the end of reconstruction!

Reconstruction Successes

1. Rebuilt Union & Repaired South2. Economic Growth in South3. 13th, 14th, & 15th, Amendments4. Freedmen’s Bureau5. Public Schools - South

Reconstruction Failures1. African Am Lacked pol. power2. Racism in North & South3. Left Southern Bitterness4. South still focus on Agriculture5. Didn’t address women’s rights &

safe working conditions (north)