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Reconstruction: Triumphs and Tragedies

Reconstruction: Triumphs and Tragedies. Base Problems. Treason? Status of the States Rights of ex-slaves Rights of Unionists Veteran’s Rights Law and Order Repairs Economic Wasteland. The Freedman's Bureau. Operates: March 1865-1872 Boss: General Oliver Howard

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Reconstruction: Triumphs and Tragedies

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  1. Reconstruction: Triumphs and Tragedies

  2. Base Problems • Treason? • Status of the States • Rights of ex-slaves • Rights of Unionists • Veteran’s Rights • Law and Order • Repairs • Economic Wasteland

  3. The Freedman's Bureau • Operates: March 1865-1872 • Boss: General Oliver Howard • Assists Freedmen in many different ways, many unprecedented

  4. The Freedman’s Bureau -- Education • Biggest Success of the Agency • No Southern Public Education Pre-War • 3000 Schools, 150,000 students • Originally Northern White Women Teachers • Later staffed by Blacks • Literacy: Up to 30% by 1876, 70% by 1910

  5. Sea-Island School

  6. Black Universities • 1880—13 Black Universities • “Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute” (1870—Land Grant University) • Trained Teachers • “Head, Heart, and Hands”--Mixed intellectual, moral, and craft instruction • Booker T. Washingtonwas a graduate

  7. Other Freedman's Bureau Activities • Food Distribution (15 million rations) • Reuniting Families • 100 Hospitals • Work Dispute Resolution and Contract Negotiations

  8. Land for the Freedmen • Former Slaves wanted land (“Forty Acres and a Mule”) • Sherman's Field Order Number 15—January, 1865—Land for slaves on South Atlantic Coast • 1866—Southern Homestead Act: Blacks get first Homestead rights in South

  9. Results • 33% of Upper South Blacks own a farm • 20% of all Blacks • Why no redistribution? Too radical for a bunch of laissez-faire economists • Most blacks and whites are tenant farmers / sharecroppers by 1900. • Sharecroppers rent land with part of their crops

  10. Freedmen--Migration • Many former slaves hit the road once free and move around a year or two • Many move to the cities because there is lots of work, even if wages = poor.

  11. Freedmen--Religion • Churches usually segregated, but whites and blacks follow same religions • Churches serve as a major community hub • Provide experience in managing and organizing things • Used for clubs, businesses, fraternities, etc. • Focus for defense of civil rights

  12. A Black Church

  13. The Lincoln Plan • States now federal territories • 10% of voters must swear allegiance • Must ban slavery • A minimalist plan • Lincoln dies, only applied in Tennessee.

  14. President Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)

  15. The Johnson Plan (1865-1867) • States exist, but former Confederates can't vote • Under $20,000 dollars property folk can get easy pardon • Rich must apply to president • No protection of former slaves • Johnson hopes poor whites will rule!

  16. Southern Response • Southerners resist any changes • Re-elect ex-confederates • Institute 'Black Codes', which limit freedom of ex-slaves, force them to work for others

  17. Congress Fights Back • December 1865—Congress in session • Congress’ Desires • Extend Suffrage to Blacks • Protect Civil Rights of Ex-Slaves • The Whites had to acknowledge these civil rights

  18. Congress vs. South, Round 1, Fight! • Civil Rights Act of 1866 • All born in US are citizens! • Mainly protects business / court rights • Fourteenth Amendment • All born in US are citizens! • Defends basic rights of citizens to life, liberty and property • No ex-Confederates in office • Confederate debts NEVER to be paid

  19. 1866 Mid-Term Elections • Johnson opposes the Republicans • Goes on a speaking tour before 1866 elections • This is unusual • He fails miserably • Congressional Reconstruction Begins

  20. Military Reconstruction Act of 1866

  21. Congress vs. Andrew Johnson • Tenure of Office Act—No firing anyone without Senate saying yes. • Andrew Johnson fires Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to control the generals for Military Reconstruction • Congress tries to impeach Johnson. • House: YES • Senate: No by 1 vote

  22. 1868 Election

  23. 1868 Election • Ulysses S. Grant (Moderate Republican) vs. Horatio Seymour (Democrat) • Grant wins: 52.66% Popular, 214 EV vs 80. • Grant takes 7 Southern states • Black support is key

  24. The Grant Administration • 1869: Fifteenth Amendment—All adult males can vote, 21+ • Grant is not very experienced • Failure of oversight • Some appointees are corrupt • Conflict between reformers and 'stalwarts' (who are more interested in perks of office)

  25. 1868 Election

  26. The Southern Republican Party • Southern Poor to Middling Whites: “Scaliwags” • Debt Relief, Education, Roads • Northern Whites: “Carpetbaggers” • Economic Development, Civil Rights • Southern Blacks • The Union Leagues. • 90% of Blacks Vote • Debt Relief, Land, Education, Civil Rights!

  27. Black Politicians:Senator Blanche K. Bruce, Frederick Douglass, and Senator Hiram Revels

  28. Expansion of State Government • Debt and Stay Laws • Building Projects • Public Education • Child Support • Legal Aid • Medical Assistance • The Unfortunate Side Effects: • Higher Taxes • Corruption

  29. Counter-Reconstruction • Racism • Racism used to divide poor whites and blacks in favor of 'white unity' • Violence • the Klu Klux Klan – Ex-Confederate murderers, rapists, and thugs who attacked former slaves and their white allies • Enforcement and Klu Klux Klan Acts • Allowed calling in federal help against political violence

  30. “The Union as it was,” Thomas Nast, Harper’s Weekly, 1874

  31. Failure of Northern Will • Many see Southern Republican governments as corrupt • Many don't care about black rights • Many care more about other issues: • Immigration • Fiscal Responsibility • Tariffs • Hard Money (This is a priority for Grant)

  32. 1872: ‘Liberal Republican’ Insurgency • Some Republicans now revolt against corruption of the 'Stalwarts' • Platform: • Civil Service Reform • Tariff Reductions • End of Federal Grants to Railroads • Amnesty for Southern Whites • Southern Self-Government

  33. 1872 Election • US Grant (Rep.) vs. Horace Greeley (Liberal Republicans + Democrats) • Grant wins: 55.58% of Popular, 286-66 EV • Greeley then dies.

  34. 1872 Election

  35. ‘Redemption’: 1874-7 • ‘Redeemers’ --Racist militia who aided Southern Democrats • They triggered growing violence • Civil Rights Act of 1875: No discrimination in public places • Useless vs. Violence

  36. Grant's Failing Administration • Corruption: • 1874 Sanborn Incident • 1875 Whiskey Ring • 1876 Indian Trading Post Ring • Indian Wars • Gold in Black Hills; settlers invade Sioux land • Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

  37. 1876: Tilden v. Hayes • Samuel Tilden (D) vs. Rutherford B. Hayes (Rep.) • Election results disputed in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina • No good way to resolve fairly • Compromise of 1877 • Hayes becomes President • Hayes abandons Reconstruction

  38. The Failure of Reconstruction • The Lost Cause • Survival of Segregation • Sharecropping • Slaughterhouse Cases (1873) • United States vs. Cruikshank (1876) • Gutting of Protections

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