Reconstruction

Presidential Reconstruction

Effects of the War 2/3 of Southern shipping, 9K mi of railroads, and 1/3 of livestock destroyed 2/3 of Southern shipping, 9K mi of railroads, and 1/3 of livestock destroyed Southern property value dropped 70% Southern property value dropped 70% Death toll Death toll North--364K dead North--364K dead South--260K dead (1/5 of white males) South--260K dead (1/5 of white males) 4 million Southern slaves now were homeless, jobless and hungry 4 million Southern slaves now were homeless, jobless and hungry Plantation owners lost slave labor worth $3 billion Plantation owners lost slave labor worth $3 billion Poor white Southerners couldn’t find work Poor white Southerners couldn’t find work

Homeless children after the Civil War

Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction Offered pardons to Confederates who swore an oath of allegiance to the Union Offered pardons to Confederates who swore an oath of allegiance to the Union Denied pardons to Confederates who had killed black POW’s Denied pardons to Confederates who had killed black POW’s Permitted states to hold constitutional conventions if 10% took the oath Permitted states to hold constitutional conventions if 10% took the oath Then states could hold elections and resume participation in the Union. Then states could hold elections and resume participation in the Union. Opposition--Radical Republicans believed the war was fought over slavery and that the entire Southern society should be restructured. Opposition--Radical Republicans believed the war was fought over slavery and that the entire Southern society should be restructured.

Abraham Lincoln

Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Pardon to Southerners who swore allegiance Pardon to Southerners who swore allegiance Permitted states to hold a constitutional convention. Permitted states to hold a constitutional convention. States required to void secession, abolish slavery and ratify the 13th Amendment. States required to void secession, abolish slavery and ratify the 13th Amendment. Then states could hold elections and reenter the Union. Then states could hold elections and reenter the Union.

Andrew Johnson

Freedman’s Bureau Created by Congress to help slaves adjust to freedom Created by Congress to help slaves adjust to freedom Provided food, clothing, and education to slaves Provided food, clothing, and education to slaves

Freedman's Bureau School in Lynchburg, circa

Congressional Reconstruction

Black Codes Passed by Southern states after reentry into the Union Passed by Southern states after reentry into the Union Curfews--blacks couldn’t go out after sunset Curfews--blacks couldn’t go out after sunset Vagrancy Laws--freedmen could be fined, whipped, or sold for a years labor for vagrancy Vagrancy Laws--freedmen could be fined, whipped, or sold for a years labor for vagrancy Labor contracts--blacks had to sign agreements that if quit lost all wages earned Labor contracts--blacks had to sign agreements that if quit lost all wages earned Freedmen could only rent land / homes in a rural area. Freedmen could only rent land / homes in a rural area. The codes enraged Congress. The codes enraged Congress.

14th Amendment Established civil rights for blacks and outlaws the black codes Established civil rights for blacks and outlaws the black codes

Radical Reconstruction Reconstruction Act of 1867 Reconstruction Act of 1867 Established military rule in the South (5 districts ruled by a Northern General) Established military rule in the South (5 districts ruled by a Northern General) Ordered southern states to create new constitutions Ordered southern states to create new constitutions Required states to allow all male citizens to vote Required states to allow all male citizens to vote Temporarily barred Southerners who’d supported the CSA from voting. Temporarily barred Southerners who’d supported the CSA from voting. Required states to ratify the 14th Amendment Required states to ratify the 14th Amendment

The Battle over Reconstruction The Battle over Reconstruction President Johnson vs. the Radical Republicans President Johnson vs. the Radical Republicans 1868 Johnson tried to fire Edwin Stanton (Sec. of War) 1868 Johnson tried to fire Edwin Stanton (Sec. of War) This violated the recent Tenure of Office Act which required Senate approval for firings. This violated the recent Tenure of Office Act which required Senate approval for firings. February 24, House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson. February 24, House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson. He escaped conviction by one vote. He escaped conviction by one vote.

Edwin Stanton

15th Amendment Gave male citizens of all races the right to vote. Gave male citizens of all races the right to vote Southern black men voted for the 1st time Southern black men voted for the 1st time.

The New South

Overview Southerners resented the military rule of the North. Some Northerners who came south took advantage of poor Southerners. Southerners found themselves heavily in debt, and with no labor system to farm the land. Despite the conditions, the South rebuilt and adapted. Southerners resented the military rule of the North. Some Northerners who came south took advantage of poor Southerners. Southerners found themselves heavily in debt, and with no labor system to farm the land. Despite the conditions, the South rebuilt and adapted.

Farming Sharecropping arose--farming a portion of a planter’s land in exchange for a portion of the crop. Sharecropping arose--farming a portion of a planter’s land in exchange for a portion of the crop. Tenant Farming--farmers who rented land. Tenant Farming--farmers who rented land.

Economic Effects More whites worked to harvest cotton More whites worked to harvest cotton Cash crops were emphasized Cash crops were emphasized Poor blacks and whites were deeply in debt Poor blacks and whites were deeply in debt Merchants arose to supply the new “small” farmers. Merchants arose to supply the new “small” farmers.

Urbanization and Industry Cities began to grow Cities began to grow Cotton mill industry grew Cotton mill industry grew Alabama became the largest producer of Iron and a major steel producer. Birmingham will become known as the “Pittsburgh of the South” Alabama became the largest producer of Iron and a major steel producer. Birmingham will become known as the “Pittsburgh of the South”

Funding Reconstruction Sources-- Sources-- Congress Congress Private investors Private investors Heavy taxes on Southerners Heavy taxes on Southerners Corruption Corruption Much of the money was lost to those who cheated the South out of the money Much of the money was lost to those who cheated the South out of the money

Reconstruction Ends

Overview By March 1870 all Southern states had reentered the Union. However, the country was not united. By March 1870 all Southern states had reentered the Union. However, the country was not united.

The Ku Klux Klan Founded as a social club in TN Founded as a social club in TN Evolved into a terrorist organization Evolved into a terrorist organization Sought to preserve the social order of the South Sought to preserve the social order of the South Tried to destroy the Republican party in the South Tried to destroy the Republican party in the South Congress passed the Anti-Klan laws. President Grant used the army to enforce them and almost wiped out the Klan Congress passed the Anti-Klan laws. President Grant used the army to enforce them and almost wiped out the Klan.

Reasons Reconstruction Ended Created heavy debt in the South Created heavy debt in the South Was very corrupt Was very corrupt As federal troops left the South, Southerners denied blacks the vote and retook control of state governments. As federal troops left the South, Southerners denied blacks the vote and retook control of state governments. Northerners never fully supported the goal of racial equality Northerners never fully supported the goal of racial equality 1873 recession took the focus off the South 1873 recession took the focus off the South The “Solid South” became a Democratic stronghold. The “Solid South” became a Democratic stronghold.

Effects of Reconstruction Successes Successes Union rebuilt and South repaired Union rebuilt and South repaired Stimulated economic growth in the South and new wealth in the North Stimulated economic growth in the South and new wealth in the North 14th and 15th amendments 14th and 15th amendments Freedmen’s Bureau Freedmen’s Bureau South established publicly funded schools South established publicly funded schools

Failures Failures Blacks remained poor in the South Blacks remained poor in the South Blacks were denied the right to vote Blacks were denied the right to vote Racism continued in the North and South Racism continued in the North and South White Southerners were left with a lasting bitterness toward the federal government and Republicans. White Southerners were left with a lasting bitterness toward the federal government and Republicans. Southern industry was slow to grow. Southern industry was slow to grow.