Reconstruction Era “The Decades of Disappointment”

The Freedmen Bureau Est A federal agency intended to help African Americans acquire training and to gain rights denied to them under slavery. A federal agency intended to help African Americans acquire training and to gain rights denied to them under slavery. Establish schooling for African Americans Establish schooling for African Americans Provide a court of law where a black person could legally testify Provide a court of law where a black person could legally testify Negotiate fair labor contracts Negotiate fair labor contracts Family services, aiding African Americans in finding lost family members Family services, aiding African Americans in finding lost family members

Freedman Bureau Had little impact because: Had little impact because: Not enough funding Not enough funding Poor organization Poor organization Opposition from conservatives Opposition from conservatives Apathy of southerners Apathy of southerners Bureau was disbanded in 1872 Bureau was disbanded in 1872

Civil Rights Act of 1866 Passed over President Johnson’s veto Passed over President Johnson’s veto Declared all persons born in U.S. citizens regardless of their previous condition (including race and color) Declared all persons born in U.S. citizens regardless of their previous condition (including race and color) Allowed these citizens to make and enforce contracts, sue and be sued, inherit, lease, purchase property Allowed these citizens to make and enforce contracts, sue and be sued, inherit, lease, purchase property Denying these rights resulted in one being guilty of a misdemeanor and facing fines and prison Denying these rights resulted in one being guilty of a misdemeanor and facing fines and prison

Civil Rights Act of 1875 Established to guarantee African Americans equal treatment in public places and transportation Established to guarantee African Americans equal treatment in public places and transportation Last effort by Congress to protect rights of African Americans for more than half a century Last effort by Congress to protect rights of African Americans for more than half a century Later declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court Later declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court

Important Acts 1865: 13th Amendment 1865: 13th Amendment 1868: 14th Amendment 1868: 14th Amendment 1870: 15th Amendment 1870: 15th Amendment

Other important events In 1867, Congress passed the first of a series of Reconstruction Acts, which sought to prevent laws set up in the south to limit the freedoms of ex-slaves. In 1867, Congress passed the first of a series of Reconstruction Acts, which sought to prevent laws set up in the south to limit the freedoms of ex-slaves. Barred southern states from participating in Congress until they revised their state constitutions Barred southern states from participating in Congress until they revised their state constitutions Each act was passed over the veto of President Johnson Each act was passed over the veto of President Johnson The 1867 Republican convention introduces a party platform that includes civil rights The 1867 Republican convention introduces a party platform that includes civil rights By 1871, the U.S. House of Representatives included five black members By 1871, the U.S. House of Representatives included five black members 1875, Blanche Kelso of Mississippi became the first black Senator to serve a full 6 year term 1875, Blanche Kelso of Mississippi became the first black Senator to serve a full 6 year term

So, much of this sounds like progress... But what happened? But what happened? Wade Hampton, a former leader in the Confederacy, is elected governor of South Carolina in 1876 Wade Hampton, a former leader in the Confederacy, is elected governor of South Carolina in 1876 Another sign of trouble: the election of Another sign of trouble: the election of

Results of 1876 election Rutherford B. Hayes (Rep) Rutherford B. Hayes (Rep) 4,036,572 votes (185 electoral) Samuel J. Tilden (Dem) 4,284,020 votes (184 electoral)

1876 election cont. Results of the election led to the Compromise of Results of the election led to the Compromise of This officially ended Reconstruction by eliminating the threat of a Democratic filibuster in exchange for removing from the South what amounted to an occupying army This officially ended Reconstruction by eliminating the threat of a Democratic filibuster in exchange for removing from the South what amounted to an occupying army

With the end of Reconstruction, what happened? Hate groups had free reign to gather under the old Confederate flag (KKK est. by ex- Confederate soldiers in 1865) Hate groups had free reign to gather under the old Confederate flag (KKK est. by ex- Confederate soldiers in 1865) Lynchings, burnings, murders Lynchings, burnings, murders Jim Crow Laws Jim Crow Laws Tenant Farmer systems Tenant Farmer systems Black Codes Black Codes

1981 lynching of Michael Donald

“The Race Problem” “The Race Problem” What was the best way to integrate newly liberated African Americans into American way of life? What was the best way to integrate newly liberated African Americans into American way of life? What kind of education? What kind of education? What kind of opportunities? What kind of opportunities? What kind of societal aid? What kind of societal aid? What would YOU have done? What would YOU have done?