Reconstruction “If this war had smashed the Southern world, it had left the essential Southern mind and will...entirely unshaken.” Wilbur Cash

The Union Reconstructed President Lincoln Assassinated, April 14, 1865 President Lincoln Assassinated, April 14, 1865 John Wilkes Booth John Wilkes Booth President Andrew Johnson President Andrew Johnson Easily allowed South back into Union, with few changes. Easily allowed South back into Union, with few changes. Congressional Reconstruction by Amendment Congressional Reconstruction by Amendment 13 th Amendment – outlawed slavery 13 th Amendment – outlawed slavery 14 th Amendment – made blacks citizens 14 th Amendment – made blacks citizens 15 th Amendment – gave blacks the right to vote 15 th Amendment – gave blacks the right to vote These amendments were initially useless, however, because they were not enforced. These amendments were initially useless, however, because they were not enforced.

The Lives of Freedpeople The Hopes of Freedpeople The Hopes of Freedpeople Find families, legally marry, land, education. Find families, legally marry, land, education. Black Codes and Vagrancy Laws Black Codes and Vagrancy Laws Freedmen’s Bureau – provided emergency assistance to freedpeople. Freedmen’s Bureau – provided emergency assistance to freedpeople. Black Self-Help Institutions – Churches and Schools Black Self-Help Institutions – Churches and Schools Economic Freedom by Degrees Economic Freedom by Degrees Contract Labor Contract Labor Sharecropping Sharecropping Tenant Farming Tenant Farming

Violence and “Redemption” The Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan Mississippi Plan – use violence, poll taxes, literacy tests to intimidate blacks from voting. Mississippi Plan – use violence, poll taxes, literacy tests to intimidate blacks from voting. Force Acts/KKK Act – Grant’s Support Force Acts/KKK Act – Grant’s Support Success of Democrats Success of Democrats “We must render this either a white man’s government, or convert the land into a Negro man’s cemetery” Southern Editor “We must render this either a white man’s government, or convert the land into a Negro man’s cemetery” Southern Editor

Reconstruction, Northern Style Loss of interest in status of freedpeople. Loss of interest in status of freedpeople. Focused on Economic Growth Focused on Economic Growth Grant Administration Grant Administration

The End of Reconstruction Election of 1876 – Republican Candidate Rutherford B. Hayes, Democratic Candidate Samuel J. Tilden. Election of 1876 – Republican Candidate Rutherford B. Hayes, Democratic Candidate Samuel J. Tilden. Compromise of 1877 – Hayes became president, last federal troops ordered out of South, appointed former Confederate general to cabinet, supported federal aid for economic and railroad development in South, and promised to let southerners handle race relations themselves. The message was clear: Hayes would not enforce the 14 th and 15 th amendments, initiating a pattern of executive inaction that lasted to the 1960s. Compromise of 1877 – Hayes became president, last federal troops ordered out of South, appointed former Confederate general to cabinet, supported federal aid for economic and railroad development in South, and promised to let southerners handle race relations themselves. The message was clear: Hayes would not enforce the 14 th and 15 th amendments, initiating a pattern of executive inaction that lasted to the 1960s.

A Mixed Legacy Accomplishments – Constitutional Amendments, Families United, Education. Accomplishments – Constitutional Amendments, Families United, Education. Shortcomings – Blacks still not allowed to vote in south, no economic independence. Shortcomings – Blacks still not allowed to vote in south, no economic independence. In 1880 Frederick Douglass wrote, “Our Reconstruction measures were radically defective... To the freedmen was given the machinery of liberty, but there was denied to them the steam to put it in motion...The old master class retained the power to starve them to death, and wherever this power is held there is the power of slavery.” The wonder, Douglass said, was “not that freedmen have made so little progress, but, rather, that they have made so much; not that they have been standing still, but that they have been able to stand at all.” In 1880 Frederick Douglass wrote, “Our Reconstruction measures were radically defective... To the freedmen was given the machinery of liberty, but there was denied to them the steam to put it in motion...The old master class retained the power to starve them to death, and wherever this power is held there is the power of slavery.” The wonder, Douglass said, was “not that freedmen have made so little progress, but, rather, that they have made so much; not that they have been standing still, but that they have been able to stand at all.”