Reconstruction and the South Chapter 16

Rebuilding the Nation –There were large problems at the end of the Civil War, including that the South was destroyed. There was a question about what would be done for the people who were freed, and the homeless

Rebuilding the Nation Lincoln massed the Ten Percent Plan before his death, it said that if 10% of the population of the state swore loyalty to the United States the voters could create a new government –There would be no slavery –Confederates who took this oath would receive amnesty.

Rebuilding the Nation Six months later Congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill –This said that 50% of the population would have to swear loyalty, but Lincoln would not sign this law. They wanted to prevent the states from leaving again.

Rebuilding the Nation –There were many freedmen Congress created the Freedmen’s Bureau to help people that were homeless because of the war Set up schools so freedmen could learn to read and write. –Teachers were often northern white women or Northern African American women The Bureau also helped freedmen find jobs and decide fights between whites and blacks

Rebuilding the Nation –On April 14, 1865, 4 days after Lee surrendered for the South, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. He was shot while in the theatre, died a few hours later Vice President Andrew Johnson became President and although he was southern, he did not like Confederates at all.

The Battle over Reconstruction –January 1865, Congressed passed the 13th amendment to abolish slavery. –Johnson wanted to give amnesty to most confederates Black Codes were passed and people said they replaced slavery –Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1866 It gave citizenship to African Americans and all people except Native Americans. –Johnson vetoed it, but he was overturned

The Battle over Reconstruction –The 14th amendment was created to make sure that the Supreme Court did not get rid of the Civil Rights Act It was passed in 1868 This act stated that all people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens

The Battle over Reconstruction –In 1867, “Radical Reconstruction” began The Reconstruction Act of 1867 removed southern governments that refused to approve the 14th Amendment Then the military was sent into these states, they had to write a new constitution and approve the 14th amendment before they would be allowed to rejoin the Union.

The Battle over Reconstruction –African Americans were now elected as sheriffs, mayors, judges and legislators. Southern states opened schools for the first time, they spread taxes more evenly, and gave property rights to women More importantly, they began to rebuild bridges, roads and buildings destroyed by war.

The Battle over Reconstruction –The Republican Party had 3 main groups Scalawags – Southern white that opposed succession Freedmen voters Carpetbaggers- Northern whites who went south to start businesses or gain political office

The Battle over Reconstruction –The Radicals tried to impeach President Johnson saying he committed “treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors” Although the House of representatives voted to impeach Johnson, he was not convicted by the Senate –General Ulysses S. Grant, who was a war hero was elected to the presidency in The 15th Amendment allowed all males the right to vote

The Battle over Reconstruction –Many whites were upset at their lack of power, they turned to violence. They created secret societies such as the Ku Klux Klan to terrorize African Americans Although they started with threats, the Klan would whip, torture, shoot or hang African Americans and white Republicans.

The End of Reconstruction –As people began to forget about the Civil War, Southern states began to ask for the withdrawal of federal troops and full amnesty for former Confederates –By the election of 1876, Republican Rutherford B. Hayes ran against Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. Republicans wanted to continue the reconstruction but the Democrats wanted to end it. Although Tilden won the popular vote, Hayes won the electoral vote.

The End of Reconstruction –With the end of the Reconstruction, African Americans began to lose their power A poll tax, literacy test and grandfather clause were instituted There were also laws that required segregation called Jim Crow laws. –“Separate but equal” was allowed because of the court case Plessy v. Ferguson

The End of Reconstruction –Because of poverty, many African Americans and poor whites became sharecroppers. The Landlord supplied living quarters, tools, seed and food on credit. When harvest time came, the landlord sold the crop and left the farmers with whatever was left over.

The End of Reconstruction –By the 1880’s, new industries appeared in the South, including agriculture, cotton and tobacco farming as well as the textile industry. –The south also began to have new mill such as iron, timber and oil. The leaders of the south were proud that they no longer depended on cotton.