The Ordeal of Reconstruction

1. The Ordeal of Reconstruction 1865-1877

2. Problems of Peace • After the Civil War-- four questions the peoplefaced: • How would the South be rebuilt? • How would liberated blacks fare as free men andwomen? • How would the Southern states be reintegrated intothe Union? • Who would direct the process of Reconstruction—the Southern states themselves, the president, or Congress?

3. Problems of Peace—cont. • Rebel leaders • Davis—2 year imprisonment • Leaders pardoned eventually byJohnson • Civil liberties restored 30 years later • Destroyed cities—Richmond,Charleston • Economic life—stopped • Transportation—destroyed • Agriculture—crippled • Many Southerners—still defiant

4. Freedmen and Freedom • Emancipation—halting & uneven • Planters resisted violently & legalistically • Yankee military occupation—forcedrecognition of Emancipation • Freedmen • Some stayed w/planters---loyalty • Tens of thousands—left • Went to find family • Jobs in towns & cities • Church became center of social life

5. The Freedmen’s Bureau—1865 to 1872 • Freemen—unskilled & uneducated • Freedmen’s Bureau • Clothing, education, medical carefor both white & black refugees • Headed by Union General Oliver O.Howard • Most success—education • 200,000 taught to read • Otherwise meageraccomplishments • I.E. 40 acre land tracts—rarelygiven • Worked w/planters—cajole to signlabor contracts

6. Andrew Johnson as President • Humble background—tailor • War democrat • Racist, hotheaded, stubborn,but intelligent • Refused to secede w/his ownstate, Tennessee • Did not fit w/Democrats orRepublicans • Worst thing for Southerners—Lincoln’s death

7. Presidential Reconstruction Lincoln’s Plan Wade Davis Bill Johnson’s Plan • South never legally w/drawn from • South never legally w/drawn from •Congress thoughtLincoln’s plan too Union Union soft • 10 Percent voters gave loyalty oath • Recog. several 10% states •1864 passed Bill & abide byemancipation • Disenfranchised leading Confederates •50% of voters takeallegiance oath • Set up state • Could petition for special pardon government • State conventions • Then…return to Union •Stronger safeguards • Repeal secession to protect • Repudiate Confed. emancipation debt • Ratify 13th Amendment •Lincoln “pocket- vetoed” the bill

8. Black Codes • Similar to pre-Civil War Codes • “Regulate” emancipated blacks • First law—November 1865 • Goal—subservient, stable labor force • Penalties for breaking labor contracts • “Negro- Catchers”—arrested freedmenfined & then hired out to pay fine • No vote, serve on juries, sometimesrent/lease land • Worst features—eventually repealed,but… • Result—mistreatment & poverty—Sharecropping

9. Congressional Reconstruction • 1861-1865—Republicans had “free hand” • I.E. Morrill Tariff, Pacific Railroad Act, Homestead Act • December 1865—restored states elected many rebelleaders • Republicans upset—shut down congress for 1st day • Republican (all Northerners) worries: • Without 3/5 clause—South has more voting power in House& Electoral ballots • Southern majority—repeal laws, perpetuate Black Codes • Dec. 6, 1865, Johnson announced that rebel states hadfulfilled requirements & Union was restored

10. Johnson v. Congress • “Sir Veto” or “Andy Veto” • Feb. 1866—Bill that extended Freemen’sBureau • March 1866—Civil Rights Bills— citizenship & struck down Black Codes • Overrode veto—repeatedly did after this • 14th Amendment • Civil rights & citizenship (not vote); • Reduced proportionality in representationif denied ballot • Disqualified former Confed. leaders fromfederal office • Guaranteed federal debt; repudiatedConfederate debts

11. Johnson v. Congress—cont. • Congress wanted states to ratify14th Amendment before returning to Union • Johnson told 11 Confed. states toreject 14th Amendment, so… • 1866--Congressional electionskey • Johnson went on speakingcampaign • Flop—did more harm than good • Results--Republicans more than2/3 vote of both houses

12. Radical Republicans • Congress is now “veto proof” • Radicals—idealist and/orvindictive • Charles Sumner & Thaddeus Stevens • Apply federal power for social &economic transformation • Moderate Republicans wanted policies that would insure citizens’rights • Both realized—Blacks needed thevote

13. Reconstruction by the Sword • Race riots in Southern cities • Reconstruction Act, March1867 • Divided South into 5 militarydistricts • 20,000 Union soldiersenforced • Must ratify 14th Amendment • State Constitutions—givesuffrage to freedmen • 15th Amendment 1870—Votegiven to men regardless of race

14. Reconstruction by the Sword—cont. • Military rule—dubious legality • Ex parte Milligan (1865)—S.C. ruled thatmilitary tribunals could not try civilians,even during war • Mostly—S.C. avoided “offending”Republican Congress • By 1870 all Southern states had written state constitutions complying w/demands • 1877—Last of federal troops leave—State governments were back in the hands of white “Redeemers” a.k.a.aristocracy

15. No Women Voters • 14th Amendment—first time Constitution clearly distinguishedcitizenship for males only • Abolitionist movement tied with women’s rights • Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony • Had temporarily suspended their cause to work solely for emancipation • Now campaigned against 14th Amendment • Cause rift w/Frederick Douglass—the “Negro’s hour” • Also wanted to change 15th Amendment so vote couldn’t be denied based on gender either

16. Realities of Radical Reconstruction in the south • By 1867—Former slaves had voting rights inSouth • Contrast—until 15th Amendment in 1870—most Northern states did not allow Blacks to vote • Union League • Southern black political organization • Educate members on political duties • Campaign for Republican candidates • Building black churches • Representing black grievances • Recruiting militia to protect black communities

17. Realities of Radical Reconstruction in thesouth—cont. • Black women helped w/organization • Black delegates to state constitutional convention • Universal male suffrage • 1868-1876—14 Black congressmen; 2 Black senators (Hiram Revels & Blanche K. Bruce) • Served in State governments • Reforms: public schools, tax system, women property rights • Some corruption—white freedmen allies “scalawags” and “carpetbaggers” • Graft ran rampant, but not much different than in the North

18. The Ku Klux Klan • Bitter white southerners—secret organizations • “Invisible Empire of the South”—KKK • Started Tennessee in 1866 • Use intimidation for “upstart” blacks— affected polls • Force Act of 1870 & 1871 • Federal troops suppress KKK— intimidation already done • Continued secretly—”dance” or “missionary” clubs • By 1890—Southern states flouted 14th & 15th Amendments • Fraud, trickery, literacy tests • Lasted for decades

19. Johnson & Impeachment • Tenure of Office Act—1867 • Senate consent before dismissal of presidential appointee who had previouslybeen approved by senate • Johnson fires Edwin M. Stanton in 1868 • House of Rep.—impeach 126-47 for “high crimes & misdemeanors” • Very public hearing—sold 1000 tickets • Lost 2/3 majority vote to remove from office by one vote • Destabilized checks & balances • Didn’t want radical Ben Wade (president pro-tempore of senate) as President

20. Purchase of Alaska • Russia overextended—avoidwar with British • Friendly to North duringCivil War • Sec. of State--William Sewardarranged purchase for $7.2 million • Unpopular purchase “Seward’sFolly” or “Seward’s Icebox” • Later found natural resourcessuch as oil and gas

21. Lasting Effects of Reconstruction • Southerners viewed Reconstruction—moredamaging than war • Could have been much harsher • Radical Republican programs backfired afterfederal troops withdrew • Moderate Republicans did understand strengthnecessary to make freemen equal citizens • Racism and indifference • Many ways South “resurrected” not “reconstructed”