Ch. 23: The Reconstruction Era The Reconstruction Era was the time period immediately following the Civil War where an effort was made to rebuild the war-devastated South. During this period, several key events moved freedmen (former slaves) toward or away from full citizenship (equality with whites). African Americans often gained rights only to have them limited or taken away.

The Reconstruction Era is divided into five phases (or stages): Presidential Reconstruction Congressional Reconstruction Southern Reconstruction The End of Reconstruction Reconstruction Reversed

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PHASE 1: Presidential Reconstruction President Andrew Johnson’s reconstruction had two main aims. First, southern states had to create new governments that were loyal to the Union and respected federal authority. Second, slavery had to be abolished once and for all.

Johnson’s Reconstruction President Johnson’s Reconstruction plan said that a southern state could re-join the union once it had 1) written a new state constitution, 2) elected a new state government, 3) repealed its act of secession, 4) cancelled its war debts, and 5) ratified the 13th amendment (abolished slavery) Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Freedmen’s Bureau The Freedmen’s Bureau was used to assist former slaves by giving them food and medical care to blacks and whites in the south. It helped freedmen get better wages and better working conditions. It distributed land in 40 acre plots to loyal refugees until Congress refused to take land away from southern whites. It also helped to build public schools in which thousands of former slaves could attend Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Black Codes Although the black codes gave freed slaves the right to marry, own property, work for wages, and sue in court, they denied African Americans the right to vote or serve on juries. The black codes called for segregation and prevented black children from attending public schools. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

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PHASE 2: Congressional Reconstruction In 1865, President Johnson announced that Reconstruction was over and that the southern states were ready to rejoin the Union. Republican leaders in Congress did not agree with him and started their own version of Reconstruction. They believed that the South would not be reconstructed until freedmen (former slaves) were granted full rights of citizenship (equality).

Civil Rights Act of 1866 The Civil Rights Act of 1866 said freedmen were full citizens with the same rights as whites. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Fourteenth Amendment The Fourteenth Amendment made former slaves citizens, with full civil rights. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Military Reconstruction Act The Military Reconstruction Act declared that new state governments in the former Confederacy had to be elected by both blacks and whites. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Johnson’s Impeachment Johnson’s impeachment allowed Republicans in Congress to pass more extreme programs to give complete rights for African Americans. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Sharecropping This kept African Americans from gaining full citizenship. Former plantation owners rented out small plots of land to freedmen to cultivate. Freedmen paid the owners in cash or crops, but could not earn enough to pay all they owed. It led to a life of debt and poverty. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

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PHASE 3: Southern Reconstruction Southern Reconstruction came when African Americans gained the right to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment. These new African American voters voted other African Americans into office. This resulted in about a fifth of all officeholders in the South being African American.

Fifteenth Amendment The Fifteenth Amendment protected the right of African American males to vote. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

New State Constitutions The new state constitutions guaranteed the right to vote to every adult male, ended imprisonment for debt, and called for the establishment of public schools in the South. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

African American Officeholders African Americans made up one-fifth of the South’s new officeholders and increased freedmen’s representation in the new government. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

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PHASE 4: The End of Reconstruction Many whites in the South resented the southern Reconstruction governments. They hated the fact that these governments had been forced on them by Northerners and that they allowed former slaves to vote and hold public office. This led to the rise of white terrorist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan. In 1877, an end would be declared to Reconstruction and white southerners would regain power in southern governments.

Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan was a secret society of whites formed to drive African Americans out of political life. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Enforcement Acts The Enforcement Acts made it illegal to prevent another person from voting by bribery, force, or intimidation. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Amnesty Act of 1872 The Amnesty Act of 1872 allowed former Confederates to vote, which allowed whites to regain control of most Southern states. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Compromise of 1877 The Compromise of 1877 removed federal troops from the South and returned rule throughout the South to former slave owners. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

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PHASE 5: Reconstruction Reversed With southern Democrats back in control of southern governments, education funding was cut and new discriminatory laws were passed. African Americans became less likely to be able to go to school or vote. Segregation spread throughout the South as blacks and whites were separated in most aspects of southern society.

Poll Tax The poll tax, which most African Americans could not afford, was a high tax that had to be paid before a person could vote. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Literacy Tests The literacy tests, which showed a person could read before allowing him to vote, were rigged against African Americans because even with education it was too hard. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Jim Crow Laws Jim Crow laws segregated African Americans and whites. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Plessy v. Ferguson Plessy v. Ferguson declared separate public facilities were constitutional as long as they were equal, but facilities for African Americans usually ended up being inferior. Limited Citizenship Full Citizenship

Processing 23 Assignment Label your sheet of paper “Road to Full Citizenship.” Your road should begin with “Limited Citizenship” and end with “Full Citizenship.” You will show the progress and setbacks that African Americans experienced in their struggle for full citizenship during Reconstruction. For example, hills, twists, and turns away from full citizenship can show setbacks. Stop signs, potholes, and roadblocks might show events that prevented progress toward full citizenship, while straight paths and bridges can show progress. High speed-limit signs or freeway signs might show events that helped African Americans to achieve their goals. Include symbols, pictures, and labels for at least two events from each phase of Reconstruction.