1865-1877 The process of reuniting the nation and rebuilding the southern states after the Civil War without slavery. Election of 1864 l No Hannibal Hamlin, needs border states l Sherman s capture of Atlanta seals the deal l Easily re-elected in North, defeating McClellan??? l After the War the South is destroyed l They need the Union for: l Money, supplies, rebuilding, direction, jobs l North will determine conditions for re-joining Union l Cannot determine how blacks will be treated l This process will last for 12 yrs and have many failures Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction Very lenient, Lincoln wanted to restore the nation as quick and painlessly as possible. Unity First Any State could be readmitted to the Union as soon as 10% of its voters agreed to uphold the Constitution and ban slavery. Lincoln s plan aroused opposition among the Radical Republicans in Congress, who feared the plan would simply restore power to the old planter aristocracy. Easy way out? Yes but he knows what he is doing (E.P) Extremists within the Republican Party, who felt Lincoln s plan was not harsh enough to bring lasting change. Wanted African Americans to be given equality. Radicals controlled Congress, led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner Wade-Davis Bill- stricter alternative to Lincoln s plan, required a 50% oath to Constitution Pocket Vetoed by Lincoln A Battle was brewing l Under the Wade-Davis Bill, only those that never supported the Confederacy could vote or hold office. Anyone qualified??? l Lincoln vetoed for this very reason l He did not want to start another war l Johnson, from Tennessee, will have his own, pro-southern plan One thing all Republicans could agree on was the ending of slavery. 13 th Amendment Dec. 18, 1865 officially abolished slavery. Many former slaves were unsure about their futures. Many took the opportunity to find family members, travel, legalize marriages, and find work. Freedman s Bureau gave food, clothes and established schools and hospitals for former slaves and needy families. Provided relief for ALL poor people in the South 1
12/3/13 April 14, 1865 5 days after the war ended Lincoln planned to attend a play at Ford s Theater Our American Cousin John Wilkes Booth southern sympathizer shot Lincoln in the back of the head. Booth along with David Herold avoided capture until April 26, 1865. Federal officers finally killed Booth at Garrett s farm in Virginia. Mary Surrat, Lewis Paine, David Herold, and George Atzerodt were hung on July 7, 1865. Dr. Samuel Mudd was sentenced to life in prison. Pardoned By Andrew Johnson in 1869 John Wilkes Booth broke his leg when he leapt to the stage, but managed to escape. Lincoln is taken to the private home of William Petersen across the street to be made comfortable. Wound was fatal, nothing could be done to save the President. Throughout the night Politicians, and Government officials came to pay their respects to the dying President. Lincoln died on April 15 at 7:22 am Johnson became President following the assassination of Lincoln. He was a southern democrat!!! Radical Republicans hoped that Johnson would be willing to support their ideas for Reconstruction. 2
Johnson angered many Radicals when he announced that he was going to continue with Lincoln s plans for Reconstruction. By the end of 1865 all of the States except Texas had created new State Governments. Johnson declared Reconstruction was over. Congress however refused to work with the new representatives, or readmit the Southern States. A battle was developing between Johnson and the Radical Republicans in Congress. Johnson continued to anger Radical in Congress by vetoing their legislation. Freedman s Bureau wanted to increase funds, wanted stricter punishment for violators of African American rights. Vetoed Johnson believed African American didn t need special assistance. Civil rights Act 1866 would provide equal rights for blacks Vetoed Johnson rejected the idea of equality. Congress overrides Johnson s veto (requires 2/3 vote in congress) 14 th Amendment guaranteed citizenship and equal protection under the law for blacks. Impeach to file charges against an elected official. Johnson s opposition to the 14 th Amendment along with increasing violence towards blacks throughout the south gave the Radicals greater power in Congress. Giving them the ability to override the Presidents veto. Reconstruction Acts- divided south into 5 military districts. Also required States to accept the 14 th Amendment as well as give African Americans the right to vote before they could rejoin the Union Causes: 1. Not enforcing the Reconstruction Acts Trial: 2. Tenure of office act President cannot fire a cabinet member without Senate approval. Johnson fired Sec. of War Edwin Stanton. Feb. 24 May 26, 1868 (3 months) Senate serves as court and jury, 2/3 vote need to convict. Johnson argued the Tenure of Office act didn t apply. Outcome: Final vote 35-19, 1 vote shy of 2/3 The majority of southerners opposed reconstruction. Southerners used both legal and illegal means to maintain superiority over the blacks. Scalawags Negative term meaning liar or cheat, a southerner who supported the Republican ideas for Reconstruction. About 25% of South Redeemers wanted the south to return to its old ways Black codes laws passed throughout the south, aimed at regulating the economic and social lives of blacks. Angered Republicans. Blacks were given a curfew, forced to find work, unable to own guns. Kuklos or Circle Formed in Tenn.in 1866 by former Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Used violence and terror to discourage African Americans from exercising their rights. Federal govt. does nothing at first. Grant? Will die down for a short period and reemerge around turn of century very strong 3
Republican support fades - Ulysses S. Grant narrowly elected President in 1868 and 1872 Why? black vote in the south War Hero, no political experience: let us have peace 7 states are readmitted right before he takes office l Civil Rights Act of 1875: l allowed blacks to sue private business for discrimination: first of MANY steps, not in south Grants Presidency was marked with scandal and economic depression General amnesty act allowed former Confederates to hold public office. Allowed Democrats to return to power throughout South. Rutherford B. Hayes (Rep) v. Samuel Tilden (Dem) When Democrats regained control of their State Governments, their first order of business was to eliminate the reconstruction reforms. Marked by scandal Hayes lost the popular vote but there were 20 disputed electoral votes. Segregation - The forced separation whites and African Americans in public areas. Settled the election of 1876 Compromise gave the 20 disputed electoral votes to Hayes making him President, in exchange Hayes agreed to remove the Federal troops from the South. Jim Crow laws - Began in 1881 throughout south, provided separate facilities such as schools,parks, railcars, and public restroom and drinking fountains. Officially ended reconstruction 1896 Supreme Court Case Homer Plessy arrested for sitting in the 1 st class railcar in Louisiana. Court ruled Separate but Equal segregation was legal as long as facilities were provided. Segregation would continue in America for nearly 60 more years (1950 s). Brown v. Board of Ed. Topeka Kansas. 1954 overturned segregation 15 th Amendment Gave African American males over 21 the right to vote. Poll Taxes fee charged for voting, means of keeping blacks from voting (unable to afford fee). Affected some poor whites Literacy Test Test to vote, kept many uneducated blacks and whites from voting Grandfather Clause Stated those eligible to vote Jan. 1, 1866 or whose ancestors were eligible to vote could still vote regardless of the literacy tests and poll taxes. Kept poor and uneducated white voting. 4
Republican Party dominated Reconstruction era politics Under the 14 th Amendment former confederates were banned from holding public office. Scalawags Negative term meaning liar or cheat, a southerner who supported the Republican ideas for Reconstruction. About 25% of South Carpetbaggers Northerners who came to the south after the war for profit or personal gain (economically and politically) from Reconstruction. African Americans in politics over 600 were elected to State and Local Governments, while 16 were elected into the national government (Congress). Joseph Rainey 1 st in House of Reps. Hiram R.Revels 1 st senator Few African Americans could afford to buy or rent their own farms and supplies, while many white southern farmers found themselves without laborers to harvest their crops. Sharecropping - Agriculture arrangement, wealthy land owners rented the land, tools and other supplies, in exchange the sharecroppers would plant and harvest the crops. Most sharecroppers hoped to earn enough money to someday buy their own farms (most didn t) Bad weather, low prices(too much cotton), and greedy land owners put many sharecroppers in great financial problems 5