The Reconstruction The Reconstruction EraEra

Mrs. ExcellMrs. Excell

Intro to ReconstructionIntro to Reconstruction

April 14April 14thth, 1865- Lincoln was assassinated , 1865- Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth @ Ford Theatreby John Wilkes Booth @ Ford Theatre– Andrew Johnson (VP) succeeded LincolnAndrew Johnson (VP) succeeded Lincoln

Presidential Reconstruction PlanPresidential Reconstruction Plan– A state could rejoin the Union once it had:A state could rejoin the Union once it had:

written a new state constitutionwritten a new state constitution Elected a new GovenorElected a new Govenor Repealed its act of secessionRepealed its act of secession Canceled its war debtCanceled its war debt Ratified the 13Ratified the 13thth Amendment (abolishing slavery) Amendment (abolishing slavery)

End of SlaveryEnd of Slavery

““FreedmenFreedmen””- African Americans who - African Americans who had been set free from slaveryhad been set free from slavery

Positives of being set free:Positives of being set free:– New name and a new lifeNew name and a new life– Marriage that was legal and foreverMarriage that was legal and forever– Reuniting scattered familyReuniting scattered family

Negatives of being set free:Negatives of being set free:– Began new lives with nothingBegan new lives with nothing

End of Slavery continued…End of Slavery continued…

FreedmanFreedman’’s Bureau established by Congresss Bureau established by Congress– Assisted former slavesAssisted former slaves– Provided food, medical care for both blacks and Provided food, medical care for both blacks and

whites in the Southwhites in the South– Built schoolsBuilt schools

Forty Acres and a MuleForty Acres and a Mule– Congressman Stevens attempted to get Congressman Stevens attempted to get

Congress to break up plantations and Congress to break up plantations and

give it to freedmen give it to freedmen Congress voted NOCongress voted NO

End of Slavery continued…End of Slavery continued…

The Black Codes:The Black Codes:– Laws passed to control former slavesLaws passed to control former slaves

Spelled out the rights of freedmanSpelled out the rights of freedman Help planters find workers to replace their slavesHelp planters find workers to replace their slaves

– Required freedman to work or they were arrested and Required freedman to work or they were arrested and hired out anywayhired out anyway

– Limited freedmen to farm work or jobs with few skills; Limited freedmen to farm work or jobs with few skills; no trade jobs or businessesno trade jobs or businesses

Kept freedmen at the bottom of the Social Kept freedmen at the bottom of the Social PyramidPyramid

– Segregation in public placesSegregation in public places– Kids could not attend public schoolsKids could not attend public schools

Congressional Congressional ReconstructionReconstruction

By 1865- Johnson felt that all Southern By 1865- Johnson felt that all Southern states were ready to return to the states were ready to return to the Union Union – Congress did not agree. They felt that the Congress did not agree. They felt that the

Union needed to:Union needed to: Extend the life of the freedmenExtend the life of the freedmen’’s Bureaus Bureau Establish the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (gave full Establish the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (gave full

rights as a citizen to African Americansrights as a citizen to African Americans

– Johnson vetoed their suggestions and Johnson vetoed their suggestions and passed the 14passed the 14thth Amendment (declaring Amendment (declaring former slaves to be citizens with full rights)former slaves to be citizens with full rights)

Congressional Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction continued…continued…

Military Reconstruction Act of 1867Military Reconstruction Act of 1867– Divided the South into five military districts, Divided the South into five military districts,

each governed by a general who was backed each governed by a general who was backed by federal troopsby federal troops

– Southerners who had supported the Southerners who had supported the Confederacy were denied the right to VoteConfederacy were denied the right to Vote Southerners not so happy about the presidentSoutherners not so happy about the president’’s new s new

power over them so…power over them so…– Command of the Army Act: limited the presidents Command of the Army Act: limited the presidents

power over the armypower over the army– Tenure of Office Act- barred him from firing certain Tenure of Office Act- barred him from firing certain

federal officials without Senatefederal officials without Senate’’s permissions permission Johnson ruled the two acts UNCONSTITUTIONAL and Johnson ruled the two acts UNCONSTITUTIONAL and

proved his powerproved his power

Congressional Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction continued…continued…

Because of JohnsonBecause of Johnson’’s push-back, House of Representatives s push-back, House of Representatives tried to impeach Johnson for tried to impeach Johnson for ““contempt, ridicule, and contempt, ridicule, and disgrace.disgrace.””– Johnson was not impeached BUT lost his powerJohnson was not impeached BUT lost his power

MEANWHILE: MEANWHILE: Sharecropping became a means of survivalSharecropping became a means of survival

– African Americans wanted land but had no money or jobs to get African Americans wanted land but had no money or jobs to get moneymoney

– White farmers had land but no one to farm it and no money to White farmers had land but no one to farm it and no money to pay for it to be farmedpay for it to be farmedSO….SO….

White farmers divided land into small plots & rented plots and White farmers divided land into small plots & rented plots and African American farmers rented land and paid for the land by African American farmers rented land and paid for the land by working itworking it

– Sharecropping led to a lifetime of poverty and debt Sharecropping led to a lifetime of poverty and debt for African Americansfor African Americans

Used debt to by tools, seeds, etc and never made Used debt to by tools, seeds, etc and never made enough off the land to pay the debt backenough off the land to pay the debt back

Southern ReconstructionSouthern Reconstruction

1867- Federal Army returned to the South 1867- Federal Army returned to the South and started registering people to voteand started registering people to vote– Freedmen, white Southerners who opposed the Freedmen, white Southerners who opposed the

war, and Northerners who moved South after war, and Northerners who moved South after the warthe war African Americans joined the Republican PartyAfrican Americans joined the Republican Party

– Largest group in the SouthLargest group in the South White Southerners opposing the WarWhite Southerners opposing the War

– Second largest groupSecond largest group– Mostly poor white farmers, became known as ScalawagsMostly poor white farmers, became known as Scalawags

Northerners who moved South after war Northerners who moved South after war – 33rdrd largest group, became known as largest group, became known as ““Carpet baggersCarpet baggers””

Southern Reconstruction Southern Reconstruction continued…continued…

1868 Election1868 Election– Ulysses S. Grant for the RepublicansUlysses S. Grant for the Republicans

Supporter of ReconstructionSupporter of Reconstruction Promises to protect the rights of African Promises to protect the rights of African

Americans in the southAmericans in the south

– Horatio Seymour for the DemocratsHoratio Seymour for the Democrats Wanted to end reconstructionWanted to end reconstruction Wanted to return south to traditional WHITE Wanted to return south to traditional WHITE

leadersleaders

– GRANT WINS!!!!GRANT WINS!!!!

Southern Reconstruction Southern Reconstruction continued…continued…

1515thth Amendment- urged by Grant Amendment- urged by Grant– ““Citizens right to vote shall not be Citizens right to vote shall not be

denied… on account of race, color, and denied… on account of race, color, and previous condition of servitude.previous condition of servitude.””

Because of the new right to vote Because of the new right to vote states elected new delegates (1/4 states elected new delegates (1/4 elected were African America)elected were African America)– Created new state constitutions that Created new state constitutions that

were very progressivewere very progressive

Southern Reconstruction Southern Reconstruction continued…continued…

New State GovernmentsNew State Governments– Republican Governments (1/2 were African Republican Governments (1/2 were African

Americans)Americans)– Ratified 14 and 15 AmendmentRatified 14 and 15 Amendment– By 1870 all states rejoined the UnionBy 1870 all states rejoined the Union

Started working on damage cause by the war Started working on damage cause by the war (damage on roads, bridges, railroads, schools and (damage on roads, bridges, railroads, schools and hospitals)hospitals)

Taxes increased up to 400% due to need to rebuildTaxes increased up to 400% due to need to rebuild

– African Americans in officeAfrican Americans in office ½ officeholders- 22 in State Congress, 20 in the ½ officeholders- 22 in State Congress, 20 in the

House of Representatives, and 2 in SenateHouse of Representatives, and 2 in Senate

End of End of ReconstructionReconstruction

Southerners resented Reconstruction Southerners resented Reconstruction governmentsgovernments

Tax payers blamed increased taxes Tax payers blamed increased taxes on corruptionon corruption– White TerrorismWhite Terrorism

Tried winning black voters with charm, then Tried winning black voters with charm, then legal tricks to keep them from voting, and legal tricks to keep them from voting, and then with terrorism and violencethen with terrorism and violence

– Ku Klux Klan (KKK)- dressed in long hooded robes Ku Klux Klan (KKK)- dressed in long hooded robes and armed with guns; worked at night, used and armed with guns; worked at night, used methods from threats to beatings to tar and methods from threats to beatings to tar and feathering, to murder.feathering, to murder.

End of Reconstruction End of Reconstruction continued…continued…

Enforcement Acts (1870 and 1871)Enforcement Acts (1870 and 1871)– Illegal to prevent another person from voting Illegal to prevent another person from voting

by bribery, force, or scare tacticsby bribery, force, or scare tactics GRANTS ARMY ENFORCED THISGRANTS ARMY ENFORCED THIS

Amnesty Act of 1872Amnesty Act of 1872– Amnesty (forgiveness) Amnesty (forgiveness)

Allowed most former Confederates to vote once againAllowed most former Confederates to vote once again

Hayes (R) succeeded Grant Hayes (R) succeeded Grant – Forced to remove all troops from the South due Forced to remove all troops from the South due

to back door dealsto back door deals– Ended ReconstructionEnded Reconstruction

Reconstruction ReversedReconstruction Reversed ““New SouthNew South”” with textile mills, factories, and cities with textile mills, factories, and cities

– Textile mills increased in SouthTextile mills increased in South Losing Ground in EducationLosing Ground in Education

– Old southern Democrats regained control and started Old southern Democrats regained control and started cutting spending on educationcutting spending on education Funding dried up so schools shut down OR those that Funding dried up so schools shut down OR those that

stayed open had a feestayed open had a fee Losing Voting GroundLosing Voting Ground

– Voters pay a poll tax- which most African Americans Voters pay a poll tax- which most African Americans could not affordcould not afford

– Made voters pay tax or pass literacy testMade voters pay tax or pass literacy test Whites Whites ““grandfathered ingrandfathered in””- father or grandfather voted on - father or grandfather voted on

Jan. 1, 1867 THEN they could vote without tax or testJan. 1, 1867 THEN they could vote without tax or test

Reconstruction Reversed Reconstruction Reversed continued…continued…

Drawing a Drawing a ““color-linecolor-line’’::– Established Jim Crown Laws enforcing segregation of blacks Established Jim Crown Laws enforcing segregation of blacks

and whites in the South after the Civil War.and whites in the South after the Civil War. ““Jim CrowJim Crow”” was a black character from entertainer's at in the mid- was a black character from entertainer's at in the mid-

1800s1800s Plessy V FergusonPlessy V Ferguson

– African Americans argued that the Jim Crow Laws violated the African Americans argued that the Jim Crow Laws violated the 1414thth Amendment Amendment

Homer Plessy, arrested for refusing to obey a Jim Crow LawHomer Plessy, arrested for refusing to obey a Jim Crow Law– Plessy lost Plessy lost – More Jim Crow Laws passedMore Jim Crow Laws passed

Jim Crow Laws (White Only Labels)Jim Crow Laws (White Only Labels)– Blacks and whites attended different schoolsBlacks and whites attended different schools– Played at different parksPlayed at different parks– Separate theatre sectionsSeparate theatre sections– Back of busBack of bus

Responding to SegregationResponding to Segregation Open ProtestOpen Protest

– Attacked by whitesAttacked by whites– LynchedLynched– Murdered (often hung)Murdered (often hung)

MigrationMigration– Left SouthLeft South

Some to Africa founding Liberia (liberty) by freed Some to Africa founding Liberia (liberty) by freed American slavesAmerican slaves

– Northern CitiesNorthern Cities Competed for jobs with recent immigrants from Competed for jobs with recent immigrants from

EuropeEurope– WestWest

Worked as cowboys or as India fightersWorked as cowboys or as India fighters

Responding to Segregation Responding to Segregation continued…continued…

Self HelpSelf Help– Worked hard in families, churched, and Worked hard in families, churched, and

communities to improve their lives communities to improve their lives Banded together to build schools and Banded together to build schools and

colleges for black childrencolleges for black children Literacy rose rapidlyLiteracy rose rapidly

– 1865- 5% read1865- 5% read– 1900- 50% read and wrote1900- 50% read and wrote

– Started businessesStarted businesses