RETREAT FROM RECONSTRUCTIONU.S. Grant would face problems that would take down a lesser president. He was not, however, a man of strong principles.

Grant/Terrorism/”Force Acts”• Grant’s administration had failed to sustain the black

suffrage movement.• Even though the 15th Amendment had passed groups

such as the KU KLUX KLAN were terrorizing not only the blacks, but the Republican groups in the South.

• The “Force Acts” would allow the president to use military force to suppress these insurrections.

Rise of the Money Question• Greenbacks: Paper money issued during the war. They

become a major problem by 1868.• Debtors, especially in the Midwest, wanted the government

to keep the money in circulation and follow an inflationary policy.

• Bankers, merchants, and intellectuals wanted to return to hard money which would anger those suffering from the depression.

• The Panic of 1873 would intensify the argument. 1874 Congress adopts the Sherman Specie Resumption Act, but it fails to please either side.

• President Grant opposes “greenbacks” and by 1875 the government committed itself to hard money.

A Reign of Terror Against Blacks• Various vigilante groups would begin to pop up, notably the

KKK. • Grant and the Republicans begin by taking a hard line

against the groups.• The Democrats begin to gain ground by going against the

putting down of Southern Whites.• The Republican were less and less likely to continue to

support the blacks if it meant losing votes.• Blacks lost support of the federal government and with that

status in the political field.• Force could have saved it, but by 1876 Republicans only

control 3 states and the North was growing tired of supporting it.

Spoilsmen vs. Reformers• “Spoilsmen”: Business owners from the north who had

come south to make money from their own private interests.

• “Reformers”: Liberal Republicans who wanted the government over hauled.

• Rumors of corruption came out during Grant’s first term, but nothing that would stop him from winning the election of 1872 against Horace Greely. The full story wouldn’t be told until the 2nd Term.

The Compromise of 1877• The election of 1876 would come under dispute.

Democratic candidate Samuel Tilden had won both the popular majority as well as the uncontested electoral vote.

• The elections in 3 Republican run states would throw the election into turmoil.

• Congress would appoint a special commission to determine who should get the disputed electoral votes.

• The Compromise of 1877: It became clear that Rutherford Hayes would get the votes, the Southern Democrats in Congress would not cause any trouble if federal aid was granted to the South and all the federal troops were removed. Hayes would agree, accept the nomination, and Reconstruction would be over.

“Redeeming “ a New South• “Redeemers”: The men who replaced the Republicans

running in the South. They were more interested in commerce or manufacturing than agriculture.

• A doctrine of white supremacy was used to gain and hold power. The chief interest was to make the South a modern, industrial society.

• They were corrupt and welcomed northern investment and control of the southern economy. They would neglect the problems of the small farmers , black or white, who couldn’t pay their debts. This would forge a new political party by 1890.

The Rise of Jim Crow• The Redeemers would begin the process of legal

segregation. They would come up with new ways to prevent blacks from voting. Blacks trying to vote Republican were often lynched or whipped.

• Rules enacted to keep blacks from voting:• Literacy Tests.• Poll Taxes.• Grandfather Clauses.