Reconstruction

Emancipation Emancipation Proclamation – Jan.1, 1863 Lincoln had ordered all slaves in the rebelling states free – Texas ignored the law June 19, 1865 – General Gordon Granger declared all slaves free (today known as Juneteenth) Freedmen – Former slaves after the war that were now free

Freedmen’s Bureau This was originally created by Lincoln and passed by the U.S. Congress. It was an agency that provided food, clothing, shelter, jobs, and education for freedmen. Primarily responsible for creating schools for African Americans.

Andrew Johnson – 17th President Plan for Reconstruction – state to be readmitted 1. End slavery 2. Declare that secession had been wrong 3. Cancel war debts 4. Adult white males pledge loyalty to U.S.

Constitution of 1866 The Texas Congress returned the Constitution back to the way it had been in 1845 before the war. They did end slavery and denounced secession, but they refused to recognize the 13th Amendment and refused to give African Americans voting rights. Black Codes – laws limiting the rights of freedmen (example: requiring that blacks have written proof of employment or return to slavery). Johnson agreed to let Texas back in the Union, but the U.S. Congress voted to not let Texas into the Union.

Radical Republicans Congressional Radical Republicans were opposed to Johnson’s lenient reconstruction plan. These Radicals wanted to punish the South for the war. Johnson vetoed any plans they had for Reconstruction, but the Radicals overrided the president’s veto.

Radical Republicans had their own plan for Reconstruction. The Reconstruction Act of 1867: divided the South into 5 military districts new Southern constitutions had to be written guaranteed freedmen (former slaves) citizenship guaranteed freedmen voting rights

Reconstruction Amendments 13 – Free 14 – Citizens 15 - Vote 13th Amendment- freed all slaves 14th Amendment- defined citizenship and extended it to blacks 15th Amendment-gave blacks the right to vote

Ku Klux Klan Ex-Confederates and plantation owners wanted to keep blacks powerless (example- Nathan Bedford Forrest – Grand Wizard of the KKK). They rode the countryside in white hooded robes and beat, burned, and even killed African Americans to keep them from being equal to whites. Despite their efforts, nearly 50,000 African American men were registered to vote in Texas, and 10 were chosen to serve as delegates to write the new constitution.

Constitution of 1869 1. Declared U.S. Constitution supreme law 2. All men could vote 3. Public School System 4. Law Enforcement system 5. Terms for state office

Texas readmitted - 1870 Edmund J. Davis was elected governor (Radical Republican) 14th and 15th Amendments ratified in Texas. President Grant ordered the military out of Texas. 1872 – Democrats regained control of the legislature. Election of 1873 – Democrat Richard Coke won the governor’s race. African Americans soon lost most of the ground they had gained. Things returned a lot to the way they had been before the war.

Constitution of 1876 90 delegates were elected to work on a new constitution. Democrats stripped the legislature and governor of as much power as possible. Legislature meets every other year Legislature can only make changes with an amendment. Still our Constitution today – amended 400 times