RECONSTRUCTION Therese Ahlers, Riley Parco, Emily Sorger, Jade Tinney

THE PRESIDENTS Andrew Johnson ( ) – Democrat Andrew Johnson ( ) – Democrat Believed the Southern states should decide the course best for them. Believed the Southern states should decide the course best for them. Was remarkably lenient (by 1866, 7,000 presidential pardons had been granted). Was remarkably lenient (by 1866, 7,000 presidential pardons had been granted). Once a former Confederate pledged loyalty to the Union and agreed ot support the 13 th Amendment, Johnson returned all of their property, except, of course, the slaves. Once a former Confederate pledged loyalty to the Union and agreed ot support the 13 th Amendment, Johnson returned all of their property, except, of course, the slaves. Ulysses Grant ( ) – Republican Ulysses Grant ( ) – Republican By 1870, the four remaining former Confederate states were successfully returned to the US. By 1870, the four remaining former Confederate states were successfully returned to the US. Grant lobbied Congress to pass the 15 th Amendment. Grant lobbied Congress to pass the 15 th Amendment. Established the Department of Justice to ensure that all laws were enforced in the South. Established the Department of Justice to ensure that all laws were enforced in the South. Grant’s administration was very aggressive in prosecuting such groups as the Ku Klux Klan. Grant’s administration was very aggressive in prosecuting such groups as the Ku Klux Klan.

SOUTHERN STATE GOVERNMENTS: THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAILURES Achievements: Achievements: African-Americans gained a voice in government. African-Americans gained a voice in government. 13 th Amendment: Outlawed slavery in the US. 13 th Amendment: Outlawed slavery in the US. 14 th Amendment: Said that every person born or naturalized in the US is a citizen of the US, and as such, is to receive the full benefits (this includes African-Americans). 14 th Amendment: Said that every person born or naturalized in the US is a citizen of the US, and as such, is to receive the full benefits (this includes African-Americans). 15 th Amendment: Protected the right of any citizen to vote. 15 th Amendment: Protected the right of any citizen to vote. Failures Failures Black Codes: Made to restrict the civil liberties and rights of African-Americans, particularly former slaves. Black Codes: Made to restrict the civil liberties and rights of African-Americans, particularly former slaves. Jim Crow Laws: Made to enforce racial segregation. Jim Crow Laws: Made to enforce racial segregation. Sharecropping: An agricultural system wherein a landowner allowed a tenant to farm on his land for a certain share of the crop. This system essentially put African-Americans back into slavery. Sharecropping: An agricultural system wherein a landowner allowed a tenant to farm on his land for a certain share of the crop. This system essentially put African-Americans back into slavery.

ROLE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN POLITICS, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMY Politics Politics After the Civil War, Southern states were forced into compliance with the federal government by the Reconstruction Act of 1866, which put the ten “rogue” Southern states under martial law, and would remain under martial law until such time as adequate state governments were formed that recognized the 13 th, 14 th, and 15 th Amendments. This is the point in time when African-Americans began to gain a voice in politics. More than 600 African-American men served in state and local politics between 1865 and After the Civil War, Southern states were forced into compliance with the federal government by the Reconstruction Act of 1866, which put the ten “rogue” Southern states under martial law, and would remain under martial law until such time as adequate state governments were formed that recognized the 13 th, 14 th, and 15 th Amendments. This is the point in time when African-Americans began to gain a voice in politics. More than 600 African-American men served in state and local politics between 1865 and 1877.

ROLE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN POLITICS, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMY CONT. Education Education One of the most important parts about freedom for many slaves was that they now had access to education. Unfortunately, those in charge of funding for public education didn’t see African-American schools as a priority, so freed slaves had to take their education into their own hands. A lot of the African-American schools were created by the African- American communities themselves. They would pool their money to create these schools, and sometimes the teacher would even be a freed slave who had secretly learned to read and write while enslaved. One of the most important parts about freedom for many slaves was that they now had access to education. Unfortunately, those in charge of funding for public education didn’t see African-American schools as a priority, so freed slaves had to take their education into their own hands. A lot of the African-American schools were created by the African- American communities themselves. They would pool their money to create these schools, and sometimes the teacher would even be a freed slave who had secretly learned to read and write while enslaved.

ROLE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN POLITICS, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMY CONT. Economy Economy After the slaves were freed, plantation owners immediately began to lose money. In order to gain it back, they created new, legalized forms of subordination (such as sharecropping). However, they still weren’t making as much money as before, and this led to even more resentment against African-Americans. After the slaves were freed, plantation owners immediately began to lose money. In order to gain it back, they created new, legalized forms of subordination (such as sharecropping). However, they still weren’t making as much money as before, and this led to even more resentment against African-Americans.

COMPROMISE OF 1877 This was the deal that settled the 1876 election – The Democrats agreed to award the presidency to Rutherford Hayes (Republican) instead of his opponent Samuel Tilden (Democrat) in exchange for the permanent removal of all federal troops from the South. The removal of the troops signaled the end of the Reconstruction Era. This was the deal that settled the 1876 election – The Democrats agreed to award the presidency to Rutherford Hayes (Republican) instead of his opponent Samuel Tilden (Democrat) in exchange for the permanent removal of all federal troops from the South. The removal of the troops signaled the end of the Reconstruction Era.

THE IMPACT OF RECONSTRUCTION Civil Rights Act of 1875: A United States federal law that was enacted during the Reconstruction period which guaranteed African-Americans equal treatment in public accommodations as well as public transport. It helped former slaves become politically, social, and economically part of the free society. Civil Rights Act of 1875: A United States federal law that was enacted during the Reconstruction period which guaranteed African-Americans equal treatment in public accommodations as well as public transport. It helped former slaves become politically, social, and economically part of the free society. “However, in less than a decade, reactionary forces – including the Ku Klux Klan – would reverse the changes wrought by the Radical Reconstruction in a violent backlash that restored white supremacy in the South.” (History.com) “However, in less than a decade, reactionary forces – including the Ku Klux Klan – would reverse the changes wrought by the Radical Reconstruction in a violent backlash that restored white supremacy in the South.” (History.com)

AP QUESTION #1 The Freedman’s Bureau had the MOST success in: A) Redistributing land to former slaves. B) Creating schools for African-Americans. C) Safeguarding blacks’ civil liberties. D) Distributing food to both black and white people. Correct Answer: B

AP QUESTION #2 Reconstruction ended as a result of the Compromise of 1877 because: A) A presidential mandate ordered that Reconstruction end. B) By the provisions of the compromise, the US Army was removed from the Southern states. C) The new president, Hayes, was strongly against the existing Reconstruction policy. D) Many blacks were now in positions of power in the South, and Reconstruction policies were no longer needed. Correct Answer: B