“The Politics of Reconstruction”

Reconstruction Part II 1870-1877

Recap from yesterday: What is one issue the United States had to deal with after the Civil War? What was the goal of each of the following Reconstruction Plans? Lincoln’s Johnson’s Radical Republicans (Congress) Which 3 amendments were passed during Reconstruction? What did they do?

By 1870, all Confederate states had rejoined the Union By 1870, all Confederate states had rejoined the Union. The new Republican state governments attracted new types of people. 1. Scalawags: White southerners, who supported Reconstruction 2. African Americans can vote because of the 15th amendment.

Black & White Political Participation

Black Senate & House Delegates

Tension between the North & South Southerners didn’t like Carpetbaggers: People who moved from North to South to take advantage of South’s misfortune (make $$)

Life for Freed Slaves Many freed slaves were sharecroppers. A landowner gives a poor farmer a portion of land to farm, tools + seed. BUT, the sharecropper has to give up most of his crop – never can make enough money to buy land Effects: It kept freed slaves financially dependent on landowners. How was this similar and different to slavery?

Chart: Sharecropping Cycle of Poverty

Other problems for Freed Slaves 1.The Ku Klux Klan: group of white Southerners who terrorized African Americans Aimed attacks at symbols of black freedom- teachers, schools, churches, voting places. 2. Jim Crow Laws- restricted freedoms of blacks; kept them from getting political, economic or social power – segregation of all public places Discrimination Segregation: Separation of the races Integration: Mixing the races

Example of a Jim Crow Law

Federal Government’s Response Federal government passed Enforcement Acts: made it a federal offense to interfere with a citizen’s right to vote Also known as- the KKK Acts Jim Crow Laws & KKK

Plessy vs. Ferguson Who was involved? Homer Plessy -African American shoemaker Judge John Howard Ferguson When did it happen? 1896 What did the court decide? Separate but equal is ok. Why is this important? Said segregation is ok- American schools will remain segregated until 1954. Separate is not really equal!

How did Reconstruction End? Redeemers: wealthy, white Southerners who wanted to “redeem” or repair the South by regaining power in Congress (they held power before the War) After Reconstruction, the south is nicknamed the “Solid South” because they always vote for the Democratic party.

1876 Election Results Based on election results, did the Civil War bring an end to Sectionalism?

Samuel Tilden received 51 % of the popular vote (mainly southern states) and Republicans said a recount was needed because of errors After “recounting” Rutherford B. Hayes (a Republican) is found to be the winner. Democrats in Congress protest the election – think there was cheating A Compromise is needed!

The Compromise of 1877 Rutherford B. Hayes becomes President In return he agrees to remove federal troops from the South RECONSTRUCTION IS OVER!!!

Quick Study: Effects of Reconstruction