The Civil War is Over…Now What? “Reconstruction”

Reconstruction Rebuild the nation after war (lasted from 1865-1877) The process of readmitting the former Confederate states to the Union. Lincoln gives amnesty (pardons) to southerners

The South in Ruins Southern soldiers returned home to find their cities, towns, and farms ruined. Railroads and bridges were gone. Starvation due to high food prices and crop failures. Confederate money now worthless – many were bankrupt!

Ten Percent Plan Lincoln wanted to bring the South back into the Union as quickly and painlessly as possible. Offered Southerners an official pardon for all illegal acts supporting rebellion (AMNESTY) They had to swear an oath of loyalty to the U.S. Had to agree that slavery was illegal **Once 10% of voters in a state made these Pledges, they could form a new government and be readmitted to the Union

Lincoln proposed the 13th Amendment in January 1865 – It was ratified on and took effect on December 18, 1865. Slavery was illegal throughout the United States!!

FREEDOM! Many couples held ceremonies to legalize their marriages. Many searched for family members that had been sold away. Placed ads in newspapers looking for their children. Many women began working in the home instead of the fields. Had the freedom to move where they wanted Freedpeople began to demand the same economic & political rights as white citizens.

Freedmen’s Bureau Agency providing money, shelter, food, & education to blacks – created many schools & universities Supplies & medical services Supervising contracts between freedpeople & employers Taking care of lands abandoned or captured during the war

Dark Day in U.S. History April 14, 1865 – President Lincoln became the first American President to be assassinated! Vice President Andrew Johnson was sworn in as President very quickly. As a Democrat, he shocked the Radical Republicans by pardoning wealthy southerners and former Confederate officials. He pardoned more than 7,000 by 1866.

President Andrew Johnson Southerner; approved new Southern state governments with newly elected representatives Problem: These new reps were former Confederate leaders! **Congress refused to readmit the Southern states under these conditions. **The country was still divided

BLACK CODES Every Southern state passed laws – Black Codes – that limited the freedom of African Americans African Americans made to sign work contracts creating working conditions similar to slavery Were required to prove they were employed or risk being arrested and forced to work a year without pay Not allowed to own guns Not allowed to rent property except in the cities

Radical Republicans want a harsher stance for Reconstruction: Wanted to force change in the South & feared too many Southern leaders remained loyal to the former Confederacy!

Congress – Radical Republicans 14th Amendment: due process, citizenship & equal protection for everyone (except Native Americans) Military Reconstruction Act: troops in the south – (5 districts) to keep control until southern states rejoined the union

1868 Ulysses S. Grant Johnson is the first President to be impeached One vote short to convict – but his Presidency is weakened! Grant becomes President Congress passes the 15th Amendment: Gave the right to vote to African American men Went into effect in 1870 WOMEN still did not have the vote!!

African American Leaders During Reconstruction, more than 600 African Americans won election to state legislatures. 16 of these were elected to Congress. Hiram Revels became the first African American in the US Senate Ironically, he took the seat previously held by Jefferson Davis Blanche Bruce was the 1st to be elected to a full 6 yr. term in the Senate

Ku Klux Klan Secret society that used violence & terror against blacks Did not want the blacks voting

Compromise of 1877 R Hayes vs. D Tilden (Pres. Election) 20 electoral votes missing Hayes will get the votes if he pulls troops out of the south. He does & ends Reconstruction

Redeemers Democrats gained control once again of state governments in the south – they were called “Redeemers” They got rid of many social programs, cut funding for public schools, and limited the civil rights of African Americans

Poll Tax & Jim Crow Laws Redeemers set up the poll tax in an effort to deny the vote to African Americans Poll Tax – a special tax people had to pay before they could vote Passed laws requiring voters to pass literacy tests in order to vote Grandfather Clause – any man (father or grandfather) allowed to vote BEFORE 1867 did not have to pay the poll tax or pass literacy test That meant MOST white men were exempt! Redeemers introduced legal segregation called JIM CROW LAWS Forced separation of whites & African Americans in public places Plessy vs. Ferguson – Supreme Court ruled that segregation was legal in the “separate but equal” ruling African Americans forced to use separate public schools, libraries, parks, restaurants, etc.

Sharecropping Whites would rent land & materials to blacks; pay back with crops Result: rent was too high; blacks went into debt