The Era of Reconstruction 1
www.heartpunchstudio.com/.../reconstruction.jpg 2
Learning Objectives 3 Define the major problems facing the South and the nation after the Civil War. Analyze the differences between the presidential and congressional reconstruction approaches to Reconstruction. Explain how the blunders of President Johnson and the white South opened the door to more radical congressional Reconstruction policies. Describe the actual effects of congressional Reconstruction on the South.
Basic Questions 1. What conditions should be placed upon the Southern states before permitting them to return to the Union and to resume their former rights? 2. Which branch of the federal government the executive, or the legislative should determine the conditions for the return of the Southern states? 3. What political, economic, and social rights should be granted to the emancipated blacks, and how should these rights be enforced? 4
Equality by Force 5 Reconstruction (1865-1877) was rooted in sectional struggle over the expansion of slavery was a failure to reconcile the opposite moral values toward American s conceptions of what slavery actually was.
Charleston, South Carolina 6 www.civil-war.net/cw_images/files/images/112.jpg
The Image of the Black Man in American Society 7 Both positions were molded by past conceptions The Radical Position the anti-slavery crusade of the 1850 s influenced their positions The Southern Position the Black man as property, not a person (again, the past) Result--> an ideological cold war developed after the end of the Civil War
Reconstruction reeducated the American people on the place blacks should occupy in society. 1865: the war ended; Black s position was ambiguous. by 1870 because of the influence of the Radicals 13th Amendment outlawed slavery 14th Amendment gave Blacks citizenship & civil rights 15th Amendment gave Blacks voting privileges Sig:--> the Civil War amendments were passed because the South was powerless to resist the North. 8
Emancipation 9 www.cerritos.edu/.../image002.jpg
The 13 th Amendment 10 The Civil War put an end to slavery in the U. S. was not fully recognized in the South; was avoided Black Codes enacted Continued racial discrimination against Blacks discrimination against white Southern Unionists (Scalawags)
Effect of the Black Codes 11 the South appeared to be re-instituting slavery radical Republicans sought to convince the people of the North that Southern institutions needed federal renovation.
The Radical plan of action 12 destroy Lincoln s and Johnson s Reconstruction Plans, which were attempts at speedy reconstruction of the Union. Radicals believed that Southern representation in Congress would stop further Federal interference in the South.
13 Radical Reconstruction would hold the South in suspended animation Radicals could work to change the South s economic, political, and social structure (remember the social pyramid)
Goals of Radical Reconstruction 14 Negro equality Negro suffrage create a carpetbagger / scalawag / Negrobased Republican Party in the South
Attempts at Equality 15 The Congress employed Federal power to insure Black equality Civil Rights Bill of 1866 Freedman s Bureau Bill of 1866 Effect--> Vetoed by Pres. Johnson and opposed by Southern Governments Southern state legislatures refused to ratify the 14th Amend. Result--> Aroused support for Radical Reconstruction in the North
Radical Reconstruction 16 Forced the passage of the 14th Amendment overturned the theory of state s rights overturned the idea of legal black inferiority Radical Reconstruction gained support in the North Radicals made gains in the Congressional election of 1866 people of the North were behind the idea that restoration of the Union must rest upon the South s acceptance of Negro equality.
Southern Actions 17 The Southern states refusal to ratify the 14th Amendment led to Military Reconstruction Congress requiring Southern states to extend suffrage to Blacks (the 15th Amendment)
Military Reconstruction 18 content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/
19 The Reconstruction Period 1863-1877
THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD: 1863-1877 FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR, THE SOUTH EXPERIENCED ECONOMIC CHAOS much of the infrastructure was destroyed (bridges, railroads, factories) agricultural base was crippled (burned farms, mills, barns) Plantation owners lost their slaves, & the value they represented Planters had no money for agricultural equipment to replace slave labor business was at a standstill / capital lost in speculative enterprises. 20
21 SOCIAL CONFUSION Civil War destroyed the structure of Southern society Planters lost power growing influence of bankers, merchants, small farmers status of Blacks changed (slaves to wage earners) social tensions increased between Blacks & whites
22 POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY state and local governments had to be reorganized new state governments had to establish normal relations within the Union quarrels in the Republican Party concerning the proper basis for political reconstruction in the former Confederacy
THE STAGES OF POLITICAL RECONSTRUCTION 23 the period before Lincoln's assassination on April 4, 1865 the years between 1865 and 1866 when Pres. Andrew Johnson tried to carry out his own policy the period from 1866 to 1868 when the Congressional Reconstruction policy was formulated the period after 1868 when southern opposition gradually negated the Congressional measures
24 Differing Theories of Reconstruction
Lincoln s Ten Percent Plan 25 Was a very moderate plan, formulated in Dec., 1863 pardoned all Southerners who would swear allegiance to the United States, and accept all Congressional laws regarding slavery passed during Civil War. Authorized the establishment of a new state government (with Federal representation) for any state if 1/10th of its qualified voters (in 1860) would take the required loyalty oath. Lincoln's plan excluded high Confederate officials and those who left U.S. Government military service to aid the Confederacy.
The Wade-Davis Bill 26 Formulated by the Radical Republican minority in Congress in July, 1864 as a counter to Lincoln s 10% Plan. a majority of white male citizens had to take a loyalty oath before a civilian government could be organized in a southern state. The bill excluded former Confederate office holders and southern soldiers from voting and holding office. Lincoln used the pocket veto to defeat this bill.
The Andrew Johnson Plan 27 Was a moderate plan formulated by the new president after Lincoln s assassination. Johnson s plan granted amnesty to former Confederates who were willing to take an oath to uphold the Constitution Johnson used Presidential Proclamations to set up provisional governments in former Confederate states. (bypassed Congress) authorized loyal white citizens to draft and ratify new state constitutions, and to elect state legislatures. (bypassed Congress)
28 Under Johnson s Presidential Reconstruction, the southern state legislatures were required to repeal their ordinances of secession. repudiate all Confederate state debts, and ratify the Thirteenth Amendment, which prohibited slavery.
The Radical Republicans 29 The Radicals were members of the Republican Party who opposed Johnson's reconstruction plan. They wanted harsh reconstruction of the defeated South. Radical leaders were Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (PA.) in the House and Sen. Charles Sumner (Mass.) in the Senate.
Motives of the Radicals 30 The Radicals had a personal animosity towards Andrew Johnson, Johnson was a War Democrat He was a Southerner, from Tennessee Seen as an unworthy successor to Lincoln
31 The Radicals feared continued Executive branch encroachment upon the authority of Congress. The Radicals desired to safeguard the interests of the FREEDMEN
32 Radicals resented the speedy return of former Confederates to political power in South under Johnson's plan. They wanted to develop a strong Republican Party in the South. They believed that a reduced Southern influence in Congress would result in a program of government aid to industry (begun during Civil War).
1865: How to Reconstruct the South? 33 Nov., 1864: Lincoln was re-elected pledged moderate reconstruction Feb., 1865: Congress passed the 13th Amendment, prohibiting slavery in the U.S. March, 1865: Congress created FREEDMEN'S BUREAU provide newly freed Blacks with necessities of life, protect their civil rights care for abandoned lands in the war ravaged South April, 1865: Lincoln was assassinated. Southerner Andrew Johnson became President and pledged moderate reconstruction.
Southern Reaction: The Black Codes 34 Nov., 1865-into 1866: BLACK CODES passed in the South Were a series of laws regulating the status of the freedmen passed by southern legislatures elected under Johnson's reconstruction plan Black Codes helped to insure white supremacy by restructuring the political, economic, & social activities of Blacks Black Codes varied from state to state
Effect of the Black Codes 35 They increased Northern support for the Radical Republican desire for harsh reconstruction. Dec., 1865: Congressional actions toward Reconstruction policy Congress refused to seat southern Congressional delegations elected under Johnson plan. The Radical-dominated Congress created the JOINT COMMITTEE ON RECONSTRUCTION total of 15 Representatives and Senators. purpose was to make new recommendations for Congressional action.
1866: Congress took over Reconstruction 1866 was a Congressional election year. Radical Republicans took steps to elect radicals Republicans to Congress They sought to increase Congressional control over Reconstruction policy and To decrease interference by Pres. Johnson 36
Congressional Actions 37 Congress passed the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT (April, 1866) conferred citizenship on blacks, assured them of equal protection under the law; passed over Johnson's veto Congress passed the 14 th Amendment and sent it to the states for ratification.
14 th Amendment (June, 1866): was passed in response to Black Codes in the South all persons born/naturalized in the U.S. were citizens with full rights Southern states must grant blacks the vote or suffer the loss of a portion of their Congressional representation Former Confederates could not hold office until pardoned by Congress Repudiated Confederate war debt; affirmed U.S. debt Tennessee ratified the 14th Amend. and was readmitted to the Union (1866). 38
November 1866 Congressional elections 39 This election allowed voters to choose between Presidential reconstruction policy (conciliation toward the defeated South) or Congressional reconstruction policy (more harsh) Republican Congressional candidates won an overwhelming victory The Radicals possessed veto-proof majorities in both the House and the Senate.
1867: Congressional Reconstruction 40 by the Sword March 1867: The Radical-dominated Congress passed the Military Reconstruction Act divided the 10 southern states into 5 military districts under Major Generals & troops instructed to protect life and property. decreed that no state could return to civilian rule until the voters (black & white) framed a state constitution that guaranteed black suffrage, and was approved by Congress each state must ratify the 14th Amendment.
The Tenure in Office Act Johnson vetoed the act. Congress overturned Johnson's veto, Mar. 1867. The act stated that the president could not remove a Cabinet member without Senate consent. The Radicals controlled the Senate The law was designed to keep Lincolnappointee Radical Edwin M. Stanton in Johnson's Cabinet as Sec. of War. 41
42 The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson February, 1868
President Andrew Johnson The Antagonists Secretary of War Edwin Stanton 43 www.historyplace.com/.../docs-pix/ajohnson.jpg www.law.umkc.edu/.../ftrials/impeach/stanton.jpg
Impeachment 44 Johnson dismissed Stanton House of Representatives voted articles of impeachment against Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act Radicals did not get 2/3 majority needed for conviction in the Senate trial. Johnson escaped removal from office by one vote in the Senate. SIGNIFICANCE: Johnson's victory helped preserve the authority and independence of the Presidential office. However, reconstruction policy was firmly in Radical's hands.
The End of Political Reconstruction In 1868, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana were re-admitted to the Union under the Radical s Military Reconstruction Plan. In 1870, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, and Mississippi were re-admitted after ratifying the 15th Amendment The 15 th Amendment stated that states could not deny the vote to any citizen because of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." 45
Reconstruction from 1870 to 1877 The center of the conflict over Reconstruction shifted to the South. Reconstruction became a contest for future political control of the southern state governments (Republicans vs. Democrats) Democrats sought to re-establish white supremacy. Radical Republicans were determined to maintain control in Southern states and secure rights of blacks. CARPETBAGGERS: Northerners who came south to lead the freedmen. SCALAWAGS: Southern whites who deserted to the Republican camp. 46
The Effects of Congressional 47 Reconstruction A great majority of southern whites supported the Democratic party. Most areas of the Old South developed a one-party system controlled by the Democrats. Southern whites developed ways to disenfranchise the black voters literacy tests poll taxes property requirements "grandfather clause" (written into state constitutions; states granted suffrage only to black and white males whose fathers or grandfathers had voted in the 1860 election)