Reconstruction 1867-1876

Reconstruction Begins Union General Gordon Granger took command of Texas He issued a decree on June 19, 1865 – African Americans called this day Juneteenth “The People of Texas are informed that…all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves…The freedmen are advised to remain at their present home and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts, and that they will not be supported in idleness (inactivity), either there or elsewhere.”

Juneteenth Celebration

Reconstruction Begins The war ended but the United States remained divided Reconstruction – the U.S. government’s plan to restore the South to the Union after the Civil War Lincoln wanted to reunite the country and restore the South to the Union He died before he could put his plan into action The task fell to Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson’s Plan Johnson wanted to carry out Lincoln’s plan Government would not punish the South but they had to meet certain conditions to re-enter Union Texas and other southern states had to: 1. set up temporary governments 2. end slavery 3. declare secession illegal 4. all adult white males had to take an oath of loyalty to the U.S.

Struggle for African American Rights Texas government declared the end of slavery New government made a set of laws called “black codes” to limit the rights of African Americans Black codes prevented African Americans from serving on juries or holding public office Black codes forced them to work

Black Codes

Freedman’s Bureau Freedman’s Bureau established in 1865 as outside help for African Americans: 1. protected freedmen from violence and black codes 2. provided food and health care 3. helped adults obtain jobs 4. set up schools for their children Some whites resented the bureau and attacked and killed some bureau officials

Freedman’s Bureau

Congressional Plan for Reconstruction Republicans disliked the course of Reconstruction – too lenient on South Texas had elected former Confederate leaders into high offices Texas had not approved two amendments to the U.S. Constitution Amendment – a formal change Texas did not ratify the 13th or 14th amendments

Congressional Plan for Reconstruction Civil War Amendments: 13th Amendment – banned slavery (1865) 14th Amendment – gave citizenship to African Americans (1865/1868) 15th Amendment – allowed African American males to vote (1869)

Civil War Amendments

Congressional Plan for Reconstruction Congress placed the South under the control of the army The state’s elected officials left office All white males had to take an “ironclad oath” in order to vote in election White Texans resented actions by Congress Secret societies formed, Ku Klux Klan, who terrorized African American voters

Ku Klux Klan Late 1860’s

Constitution of 1869 Texans elected delegates to a convention to write a new state constitution It gave Texas a strong central government African Americans and former Confederates could now vote Governor could appoint judges/officials Required all children to attend school Edmund Davis became governor of Texas President Grant readmitted Texas to the Union on March 30, 1870

End of Reconstruction Many Texans criticized Governor Edmund Davis – accused him of stealing election Governor Davis created a state police force to capture outlaws He postponed elections and raised taxes New taxes were used to build roads and schools and defend frontier He encouraged more settlement in Texas Lost the governor election to Richard Coke Davis had a hard time accepting defeat

Edmund Davis Richard Coke

End of Reconstruction Texans raised more cotton than ever by the end of Reconstruction Production of wheat and corn increased due to railroad expansion By 1873, 1,500 miles of track that joined Texas to other parts of the U.S. Texans developed more industries A few factories produced textiles and iron Wool and cotton mills opened Most of Texas was still small farms

End of Reconstruction The system of slave labor ended with Civil War The sharecropper system replaced slavery Sharecroppers were farm workers who worked someone else’s land and gave ½ the value of the crops to the landowner In 1873, about 100,000 immigrants moved to Texas from southern states in search of cheap land and a new beginning

Constitution of 1876 Texans did not trust the strong central government and resented the Constitution of 1869 In 1875, Texans held a convention to write a new constitution which: 1. cut the governor’s power to appoint officers 2. limited elected leaders to 2-yr terms 3. all males received the right to vote Constitution of 1876 approved and remains in effect today in Texas