Transcript Reconstruction

Reconstruction
1865-1876
Aftermath of the War
South is in ruins
Sherman’s march to the Sea/Grant’s Virginia campaign
Southern economy destroyed
Wealthy planters bankrupted by the war
European demand for cotton met elsewhere
Confederate dollars worthless
Many Southern slaves had been given their freedom
Southern states occupied by Union army
Questions to Answer for the North:
Slavery-What to do with current and former slaves?
How to restore the Union?
Should the South be punished for secession?
Lincoln’s Plan
Reconstruction begins before the war ends
By 1863, Union armies controlled much of the South
Lincoln hoped to restore the Southern states to the Union
peacefully
Lincoln’s view conflicted with Republican members of
Congress who hoped to punish the South (Radical Reps)
10% Plan (Proposed by Lincoln)
10% of a state’s voting population pledged loyalty to the
Union (using 1860 election totals)
Once they met quota states could hold elections and
rejoin the Union
Generous pardon were given to all but the highest
ranking Confederates
Reaction to Lincoln’s Plan
Plan did not go far enough for Radical Republicans
Proposed tougher Wade Davis Bill
Required an “ironclad” oath (never were disloyal)
Attempted to give control to black voters
Lincoln “pocket” vetoed the bill
Lincoln is assassinated April 14, 1865
Replaced by Vice President Andrew Johnson
Congress hoped that Johnson would be tougher on the
South
They’re wrong--Johnson follows Lincoln’s path
Johnson’s Plan
Johnson former Democrat, former slave holder believed
white men should continue to run the South
Johnson favored giving power to yeoman farmers in the
South
Plan for readmission only slightly tougher than Lincoln’s
Forced wealthy land owners and former Confederate
officials to apply directly to the President for pardons
Pardoned many major Confederate figures
Forced Southern states to repudiate Confederate debt
States had to ratify 13th amendment to rejoin union
13th—Abolishes slavery
Johnson’s Plan and subsequent vetoes of Congressional
Reconstruction Plans made him many enemies in
Congress
Congressional Reconstruction
Radical Republicans were committed to crippling the South
politically
Created Freedmen’s Bureau (1865)
Assisted former slaves
Passed the 13th Amendment banning slavery (1865)
Angry at Johnson’s plan and Southern action (black
codes), proposed stronger legislation
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Extended the power of Freedmen’s Bureau
Both Vetoed by Johnson and overridden by
Congress
Proposed 14th Amendment
Defined citizenship and protected that right
Punished former Confederates
Congressional Reconstruction
Military Reconstruction Act of 1867
Passed over Johnson’s veto
Divided South into military districts
Each run by a military general with dictatorial powers
To be “readmitted” to the Union:
States drafted Constitution granting black suffrage
Ratified the 14th Amendment/Later 15th Amendment
Congress passed Army Act and Tenure of Office Act to
prevent Johnson from interfering with their plans
Johnson violated Tenure of Office Act
Fired radical Secretary of War Edwin Stanton
Impeached by Congress
Removal fails by a single vote
Grant as President
Elected narrowly as a Republican in 1868 & again in 1872
Secures passage of the 15th Amendment
Prevents voting discrimination based on race
Quickly dismantled by Southern laws
Grant’s administration is filled with scandal and corruption
Routinely placed trust in dishonest men
“Black Friday” scandal
Whiskey Ring
Credit Moblier
Grant also faced economic woes (Panic of 1873)
Election of 1876
By 1876, all but three Southern states had been
“redeemed”
Northern Democrat Tilden vs. Republican Hayes
“Waving the bloody shirt” has lost most of its impact
Tilden wins the election narrowly
Fails to get necessary electoral votes
20 electoral votes came from occupied South
Election is disputed on both sides
Congress creates a special commission to decide matter
Republican manipulated the commission
Both sides struck a compromise
Republicans got Hayes elected
Democrats secured an end to Reconstruction
Net Results of Reconstruction
Despite efforts by Congress, political control gradually return to
white Southern Democrats (Redeemers)
Former slaves had in many states gained political
control during the early days of Reconstruction
Black representatives reach Congress (Hiram
Revels)
Republicans attempted to build support among poor
southern whites (scalawags) and northern transplants
(carpetbaggers)
Race is used by southern Democrats to divide Republicans
Segregation laws/voting restriction put in place by
Reedemer governments
Racist groups form in the South to resist growing
black rights (KKK, Knights of White Camellia)
Supreme Court overturned civil rights cases
Net Results of Reconstruction
Reconstruction did little to diminish sectionalism
Destruction of the Southern economy will create change,
but slowly (New South)
Northern war strategies and Republican reconstruction
measures create lasting animosity
Democrats will be the party of the South for next 100
years
Former slaves had little opportunity to change their status
Many become sharecroppers
Only a small number leave the South