American Stories THIRD EDITION By: Brands By: Brands Chapter 16 The Agony of Reconstruction 1865 ‒ 1877

The Agony of Reconstruction, 1865 ‒ 1877 The President versus Congress What conflicts arose consecutively involving President Lincoln and then President Johnson and Congress during Reconstruction? Reconstructing Southern Society What problems did southern society face during Reconstruction?

The Agony of Reconstruction, 1865 ‒ 1877 Retreat from Reconstruction Why did Reconstruction end? Reunion and the New South Who benefited and who suffered from the reconciliation of the North and South?

Video Series: Key Topics in U.S. History 1.Reconstruction and Its Missed Opportunities: 1865 ‒ The Amendments of Freedom 3.Presidential Reconstruction 4.The Compromise of 1877 Home

Robert Smalls and Black Politicians During Reconstruction Robert Smalls from South Carolina Aided Union during War Elected to Congress after the war Defeated by whites falsely claiming he was corrupt Blacks politicians during Reconstruction Power lasted only a few years Promise of Reconstruction stifled Home

The President versus Congress Wartime Reconstruction Andrew Johnson at the Helm Congress Takes the Initiative Congressional Reconstruction Plan Enacted The Impeachment Crisis Home

The President versus Congress Reconstruction a challenge Constitution had no guidelines How much to help former slaves The North split on reconstructing the South White House Congress The President versus Congress

Wartime Reconstruction Lincoln favored lenient policy in 1863 Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction – Ten Percent Plan Goal to weaken southern causes Congress unhappy with Lincoln’s plan Radical Republicans Moderate Republicans Felt president was exceeding his authority The President versus Congress

Wartime Reconstruction (continued) Wade-Davis Bill Congress passed own Reconstruction plan 50 percent of voters to take loyalty oath Voting restricted for constitutional convention Federal courts to enforce emancipation Lincoln used pocket veto Stalemate on Reconstruction Lincoln to compromise Assassinated The President versus Congress

Andrew Johnson at the Helm Republicans initially supported Johnson Background shaped policy Remained loyal to Union Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Southern states - provisional governors Southern conventions Ratification of Thirteenth Amendment Pardons to regain political and property rights The President versus Congress

Andrew Johnson at the Helm (continued) Southern conventions Dominated by Unionists and backcountry yeoman Limited suffrage to whites Passed Black Codes Election of prominent ex-Confederates Congress condemned conventions Refused to seat recently elected delegations The President versus Congress

How Did Reconstruction Affect African Americans in the South? How did voting patterns for Republicans evolve during the Reconstruction period? How did literacy rates differ between African Americans and Euro-Americans in the South? What was the landholding situation for African Americans at the end of the nineteenth century? The President versus Congress

Congress Takes the Initiative Federal government authority Limit political role of ex-Confederates Protect black citizenship Republican commitment to equal rights Political expediency Johnson vetoed two bills Extension of Freedmen's Bureau Civil rights bill to overturn Black Codes The President versus Congress

Congress Takes the Initiative (continued) National Union party Johnson at head of new conservative party Ran against Republican congressmen in elections Supported Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan Republicans passed Fourteenth Amendment Equal rights for all Americans 1866 election referendum The President versus Congress

Table 16.1 Reconstruction Amendments, 1865–1870 The President versus Congress

Congressional Reconstruction Plan Enacted Radical Reconstruction Compromise plan between Radicals and moderates First Reconstruction Act Passed over Johnson’s veto South under military rule Additional acts Readmit states that provided black suffrage Limited ex-Confederates The President versus Congress

The Impeachment Crisis Johnson obstructed plans of Congress Dismissed officeholders who supported Radical Reconstruction Countermanded orders of generals in charge of southern military districts Congress limited presidential power Tenure of Office Act Johnson charged restrictions violated Constitution The President versus Congress

The Impeachment Crisis (continued) Congress impeached Johnson Johnson disobeyed Tenure of Office Act House impeached - February 1868 Senate refused to convict Johnson Johnson pledged to enforce Reconstruction Acts, neutralizing his opposition The President versus Congress

Discussion Question What conflicts arose among Lincoln, Johnson, and Congress during Reconstruction? The President versus Congress

Reconstructing Southern Society Reorganizing Land and Labor Black Codes: A New Name for Slavery? Republican Rule in the South Claiming Public and Private Rights Home

Reconstructing Southern Society Southern whites’ goal Keep newly freed blacks inferior Blacks sought equality Independence from former masters Acquire land, education, and the vote Northern whites’ goal Make money or "civilize" the region Reconstructing Southern Society

Reorganizing Land and Labor South in bad shape Destruction of physical landscape Wrecked economy Recovery hinged on new labor system Ex-slaves wished to work their own land Some federal government grants of land Ex-slaveowners wanted contract labor Blacks insisted on sharecropping Reconstructing Southern Society

Reconstructing Southern Society

Black Codes: A New Name for Slavery? Black Codes – “Jim Crow” laws Designed to return blacks to quasi-slavery Black unemployment a crime Limited rights to own property or engage in certain occupations Many codes overturned by Congress Violence and discrimination Unchecked by state authorities Kept blacks from polls Black militias Reconstructing Southern Society

Republican Rule in the South Southern Republican party Coalition of three social groups Groups had own goals Businesspeople wanted government aid Support for private enterprise Carpetbaggers and scalawags Poor white farmers Wanted protection from creditors Reconstructing Southern Society

Republican Rule in the South (continued) Blacks formed majority of party Wanted social and political equality Achievements of Republicans in South Social and political reforms Major effort – economic development Corruption hampered efforts Republican state legislatures corrupt Scandal during Grant administration Few blacks involved Reconstructing Southern Society

Claiming Public and Private Rights Institutions important part of new rights Courts used to assert rights Churches, fraternal and benevolent associations, political organizations Schools Reconstructing Southern Society

Reconstructing Southern Society

Discussion Question What problems did southern society face during Reconstruction? Reconstructing Southern Society

Retreat from Reconstruction Final Efforts of Reconstruction A Reign of Terror Against Blacks Home

Retreat from Reconstruction Reconstruction ended quickly Grant blamed inconsistency and failure of his southern policy Political issues replaced Reconstruction as focus of national politics Plight of African Americans in South receded in white public mind Retreat from Reconstruction

Final Efforts of Reconstruction Fifteenth Amendment – ratified 1870 Prohibited denial of voting rights for male citizens Not universal manhood suffrage Women's rights group upset that women were not granted the vote Led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Campaigned against ratification Retreat from Reconstruction

A Reign of Terror Against Blacks Secret societies – Ku Klux Klan Wanted to restore white supremacy Used terror tactics Thrived on local initiative and support Difficult to suppress Retreat from Reconstruction

A Reign of Terror Against Blacks ( continued ) Force Acts Made interference with voting rights a federal crime Black support in elections Republicans held control in Deep South Detractors changed strategy Public disenchanted Reduced use of military force White League Race riots in Mississippi Retreat from Reconstruction

Discussion Question Why did Reconstruction end? Retreat from Reconstruction

Reunion and the New South The Compromise of 1877 “Redeeming” a New South The Rise of Jim Crow Home

Reunion and the New South North and South reconciled after 1877 African Americans stripped of political gains Big business interests favored over small farmer Reunion and the New South

The Compromise of 1877 Election of 1876 disputed Special congressional commission gave disputed votes to Rutherford B. Hayes Compromise of 1877 – Informal bargain by which southern Democrats accepted Hayes’s election Federal troops withdrawn from South Southern blacks abandoned to their fate Agreement ended Reconstruction Reunion and the New South

“Redeeming” a New South Southern Redeemers Took power in South after Reconstruction Different backgrounds, loyalties, ideologies Two main principles Laissez-faire White supremacy New governments Cut public services, such as education Corruption remained Neglected small farmers Reunion and the New South

The Rise of Jim Crow Jim Crow laws Term came from antebellum minstrel show Political power limited by Redeemers Democrats controlled electoral process Voting restrictions Reunion and the New South

Discussion Question Who benefited and who suffered from the reconciliation of the North and South? Reunion and the New South

Conclusion: Henry McNeal Turner and the “Unfinished Revolution” Henry McNeal Turner's career Exemplifies Southern black experience during and after Reconstruction Late 1880s – wounds of Civil War healing Spirit of sectional reconciliation Common Americanism pulled together different regions African Americans paid price for sectional healing