1. Reconstruction Source: www.digitalhistory.uh.edu

2. End of the Civil War 620,000 dead, nation scarred 620,000 dead, nation scarred A virtual social revolution in the South: 4 million slaves freed & 1/5 of white male population had died A virtual social revolution in the South: 4 million slaves freed & 1/5 of white male population had died Enter period of Reconstruction: Enter period of Reconstruction: Rebuild, reunite the Nation Rebuild, reunite the Nation Questions of the day: Questions of the day: 1. How to restore and treat the South 1. How to restore and treat the South Quick and lenient policies or violent and punitive? Quick and lenient policies or violent and punitive? 2. What will freedom mean for the newly freed slave population? 2. What will freedom mean for the newly freed slave population?

3. Reconstruction: Unfinished Revolution In reality, reconstruction is a daring experiment In reality, reconstruction is a daring experiment Failed Goals Failed Goals Guarantee civil & political rights of freedmen Guarantee civil & political rights of freedmen Forge a more just society Forge a more just society Resulted in: Resulted in: First taste of political power for blacks First taste of political power for blacks Constitutional amendments (13 th, 14 th & 15 th ) Constitutional amendments (13 th, 14 th & 15 th ) 4 stages 4 stages

4. 1. Wartime Reconstruction Emancipation Proclamation Emancipation Proclamation Reaction to freedom: internal community Reaction to freedom: internal community Lincoln’s 10% Plan Lincoln’s 10% Plan Former rebel states allowed to form new governments when 10% of the voting population swore an oath of allegiance Former rebel states allowed to form new governments when 10% of the voting population swore an oath of allegiance

5. 1. Wartime Reconstruction Freedman’s Bureau created (1865) Freedman’s Bureau created (1865) Aid to assist transition to freedom Aid to assist transition to freedom Medical care, education, legal aid Medical care, education, legal aid Goal: “40 acres and a mule” Goal: “40 acres and a mule” Mixed record Mixed record Expression of freedom- Expression of freedom- Many sought social independence Many sought social independence Internal community Internal community

6. 2. Presidential Reconstruction President Andrew Johnson’s plan for reconstruction: President Andrew Johnson’s plan for reconstruction: Declare secession illegal Declare secession illegal Ratify the 13 th Amendment abolishing slavery Ratify the 13 th Amendment abolishing slavery Repudiate war debts Repudiate war debts No role for freedmen, disenfranchised wealthy white southerners and high ranking Ex-Confed. No role for freedmen, disenfranchised wealthy white southerners and high ranking Ex-Confed. Black Codes: legal codes to return South to pre-war social status Black Codes: legal codes to return South to pre-war social status Ex. Deny right to own/rent land Ex. Deny right to own/rent land Deny right to bear arms, marry whites, vagrancy laws Deny right to bear arms, marry whites, vagrancy laws Insulting gestures Insulting gestures 1865 Johnson declares Union restored 1865 Johnson declares Union restored

7. Freedom? Sharecropping: form of economic exploitation Sharecropping: form of economic exploitation Description Description “If this is freedom, what did you call slavery?” “If this is freedom, what did you call slavery?” Rise in violence: Mass killings of ex-slaves Rise in violence: Mass killings of ex-slaves KKK: Ku Klux Klan- secret organization founded in Tennessee in 1866: intimidation techniques against freemen and Republican sympathizers KKK: Ku Klux Klan- secret organization founded in Tennessee in 1866: intimidation techniques against freemen and Republican sympathizers

8. 3. Presidential to Congressional Reconstruction Election of 1866 Election of 1866 Civil Rights Act of 1866 Civil Rights Act of 1866 Tenure of Office Act: bars President from removing officeholders without consent by Senate to prevent President from impeding reconstruction Tenure of Office Act: bars President from removing officeholders without consent by Senate to prevent President from impeding reconstruction Johnson Impeachment trial: Johnson impeached by House for trying to remove Sec. of War. Senate votes against impeachment by one vote Johnson Impeachment trial: Johnson impeached by House for trying to remove Sec. of War. Senate votes against impeachment by one vote

9. 3. Congressional Reconstruction Reconstruction Act of 1867: Reconstruction Act of 1867: divided South into 5 military districts divided South into 5 military districts New State Constitutions ratifying the New State Constitutions ratifying the 14 th Amendment (equality before the law, citizenship) 14 th Amendment (equality before the law, citizenship) Disqualify former Confederates from holding office Disqualify former Confederates from holding office Brief period of expanded liberties Brief period of expanded liberties Thousands of blacks registered voters (5 states majority) Thousands of blacks registered voters (5 states majority) Freedmen in state legislatures (600) Freedmen in state legislatures (600) Hiram Revels: first African American to US Senate Hiram Revels: first African American to US Senate 15 th Amendment: passed to protect right to vote 15 th Amendment: passed to protect right to vote Ulysses S. Grant (R) elected President in 1867 Ulysses S. Grant (R) elected President in 1867

10. 3. Congressional Reconstruction Republican Rule associated with corruption at local, state and federal level Republican Rule associated with corruption at local, state and federal level Examples Examples Republican reforms in South Republican reforms in South Free public education Free public education Railroad lines Railroad lines

11. 4. Redemption Period Compromise of 1877: disputed election Compromise of 1877: disputed election Democrats eventually agree to support Rutherford B. Hayes (R) as President Democrats eventually agree to support Rutherford B. Hayes (R) as President in exchange for the withdraw of all federal troops from the south in exchange for the withdraw of all federal troops from the south Marks end of reconstruction & return of white supremacist rule Marks end of reconstruction & return of white supremacist rule Jim Crow segregation customs and laws maintained for nearly a century Jim Crow segregation customs and laws maintained for nearly a century Deprived of right to vote & other privileges of citizenship Deprived of right to vote & other privileges of citizenship Literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clause Literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clause

12. Conclusion: Unfinished Revolution By 1900’s: By 1900’s: Majority lived on land they didn’t own Majority lived on land they didn’t own 9/10 th lived in the south 9/10 th lived in the south 3/4 th sharecroppers 3/4 th sharecroppers 44% of adults illiterate 44% of adults illiterate Reconstruction failed to: Reconstruction failed to: Establish a less racially divided society Establish a less racially divided society Left African Americans without achieving full economic and political equality Left African Americans without achieving full economic and political equality