The Ordeal of Reconstruction Chapter 22
Problems of Peace What to do with Confederate Leaders? South s economic & social structure collapsed Southern cities torn apart Southern planters bankrupt $2 billion of slaves emancipated South blamed North for problems
Freedmen Define Freedom Free blacks face uneven prospects Violence Slavery??? No official law ending slavery 13 th amendment Dec. 1865 Outlawed slavery Many blacks took to migration Surge in black education & church attendance
Freedmen s Bureau March 3, 1865 Congress creates Freedmen s Bureau to deal w/ mass of freed slaves Provide food, clothing, medical, education, etc. Made most progress in education Corruption meant little land actually made it to blacks 40 acres and a mule
Freedmen s Bureau 5
Johnson: The Tailor President Poorest president Misfit in Washington Southerner in the North Distrusted by South Democrat in Republican presidency President w/o being elected
Presidential Reconstruction Lincoln believed reconstruction would be simple (Opposed by many Republicans) Reintegration w/ 10% oath of allegiance Formal erection of state government Wade-Davis Bill (Vetoed by Lincoln) Required 50% oath Showed split in Republicans (Moderates followed Lincoln, Radicals wanted to punish South) Johnson proposes own reconstruction plan 10% oath, personal pardons, disfranchisement of wealthy, etc, ratify 13 th amendment Republicans furious over new state governments
Baleful Black Codes Varied from state to state Ensure a stable & subservient workforce Labor contracts Violators forfeit wages & forcefully returned Fined & hired out to pay fines Forbade blacks to own land, serve on juries, vote, etc. All become slaves to the land
Congressional Reconstruction Many Confederate leaders elected in Southern states Republicans enjoyed free reign w/o South Raised tariffs, Pacific Railroad Act (North) Homestead Act 160 acres free in West North angered by new strength of South Blacks now count as 1 instead of 3/5 Johnson declares that South has satisfied his conditions & must be let back in
Johnson Clashes w/ Congress 1866 Congress extends Freedmen s Bureau, Johnson vetoes, Congress re-passes Congress passes Civil Rights Bill, Johnson vetoes, Congress re-passes Gives blacks citizenship, renounces black codes 14 th Amendment Johnson tells South to oppose Provides equal protection under laws
Swinging Round the Circle w/ Johnson Gives a series of speeches throughout the country Johnson accuses Congress of planning antiblack riots & murder in the South Greatly disregarded Gains support for opponents Republicans win 2/3 of seats in 1866 elections
Republican Principles & Programs Republicans seek to control reconstruction Sought to limit power of anti-black southern governments Determined to give blacks the vote
Reconstruction by the Sword Reconstruction Act of 1867 Divided South into 5 military districts Each commanded by a Union general w/ Union soldiers as police Disfranchised thousands of former Confederates Essentially re-kick out South Demand ratification of 14 th adult males amendment & full suffrage for amendment Prohibit denial of voting on basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude 15 th 1870 All southern finally re-admitted 1877 Federal troops finally removed South quickly congeals as Democratic South
Military Reconstruction & Effect on Republican Party
No Women Voters Women left out Women begin work again on women s rights issues
Realities of Reconstruction in the South South points to North not allowing blacks to vote Blacks represent Republicans in Democratic South Organize political parties Elect blacks to state assemblies Black-supporting whites scalawags Northerners seeking power & profit in South carpetbaggers New South South after Civil War Introduce many needed reforms Corruption rampant in southern governments
Ku Klux Klan Secret organizations rise in South Invisible Empire of the South (KKK) Determined to keep blacks & supporters away from polls & enforce white supremacy Terror tactics, murder, etc. Force Acts of 1870 & 71 Allowed Congress to use military to stop KKK Damage already done & KKK too far spread South openly rejected 14 th & 15 th amendments
Johnson Walks the Impeachment Plank 1867 Congress passes Tenure of Office Act Required consent of Senate for President to remove his appointees Meant to keep radical spy, Edwin M Stanton, as Sec of War 1868 - Johnson dismisses Stanton House impeaches Johnson for high crimes & misdemeanors & for verbal assaults on Congress
Impeachment Trial
Not-Guilty Verdict for Johnson SC defends Johnson s right to fire Stanton Tenure of Office Act is unconstitutional House has trouble making case against Johnson Vote for removal fails by 1 vote Nation split over outcome of trial Outcome strengthens Constitution President cannot be removed because Congress does not like him
Purchase of Alaska Seward s Folly 1867 William Seward negotiates purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million
Heritage of Reconstruction White southerners resent reconstruction more than the Civil War itself Republicans sought to protect freed slaves & promote Republican party Ultimately failed at both Republican party absent from South for 100 years Failed to grasp depth of racism in South Failed to eliminate Old South