1. The Ordeal of Reconstruction, 1865–1877
Chapter 22
The Ordeal of Reconstruction, 1865–1877

2. Chapter 22 Learning Objectives The Ordeal of Reconstruction
After mastering this chapter, you should be able to:
Define the major problems facing the nation and the South
after the Civil War.
Describe the responses of both whites and African Americans
to the end of slaver.
Analyze the differences between the presidential and
congressional approaches to Reconstruction.
Explain how the blunders of President Johnson and the
resistance of the white South opened the door to the Republicans’
radical Reconstruction.
Describe the intentions and the actual effects of radical
Reconstruction in the South.
Indicate how militant southern white opposition and
growing northern weariness with military Reconstruction
gradually undermined Republican attempt to empower
Southern blacks.
Explain why the radical Republicans impeached
Johnson but failed to impeach him.
Explain the legacy of Reconstruction and access
its successes and failures.

3. I. The Problems of Peace Both North and South suffered many dead
Southern industry stopped as a result of destruction and inflation
Agriculture slowed because of loss of slaves, livestock
Took 10 years to recover to pre War levels
Infrastructure was destroyed
Sherman ruined hundreds of miles of railroad tracks
Confederate politicians and military leaders were jailed until pardoned in 1868 by Johnson
South had to rebuild or North would have to provide for South
Most southerners did not acknowledge defeat
Charleston, SC
Atlanta, GA

4. II. Freedmen Define Freedom
Reactions to Emancipation
Many slave-owners resisted letting slaves go free
Some slaves stayed loyal to owners, others sought vengeance
Many sought family members, got married, moved to towns
Juneteenth (June 19) Texas slaves not told of Emancipation until June 19, 1865
Exodusters
Freed blacks who left South for Kansas
Black churches became focal point of new communities
African Methodist Episcopal (AME), Baptist
Education became very important
American Missionary Association helped to provide teachers

5. III. The Freedmen’s Bureau
Freedman’s Bureau Created March 3, 1865; led by Oliver Howard
Provide food, clothing, medical care, education
Most successful with education
Supposed to give 40 acres, mule and tools, but did not

6. Lincoln’s 10% Reconstruction Plan
Lincoln argued states still existed
Wanted southern governments restored quickly
Wanted to prevent Confederate officials from joining government
Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan (1863)
If 10% of Southerners took oath to Constitution and US, would be readmitted
Let South rule itself
South must abolish slavery
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds.” – Second Inaugural Address

7. Radical Republicans Radical Republicans wanted to punish south
Thaddeus Stevens
Radical Republicans wanted to punish south
Want equality for freedmen and prevent re-enslavement of blacks
Angered by Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan
States needed to be re-created
Congress can decide how South is governed
Wanted south ruled like a conquered province
Led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner
Wade-Davis Bill (1864)
50% of southerners must declare loyalty
To vote or hold office could not have served in Confederate government or army
New state constitutions must be made
South under military rule until requirements met
Lincoln did not sign bill (pocket veto)
Showed division between President and Congress
Charles Sumner

8. IV. Johnson: The Tailor President
Andrew Johnson
Former Democrat from Tennessee
Self made man, champion of poor whites versus planter aristocrats
Refused to secede with Tennessee
Made Lincoln’s Vice President on 1864 Union Party ticket to attract Democrat votes
Not trusted by Republicans
Became President when Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865
Johnson planned to use Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction, not Congress
Radical Republicans thought Johnson would want harsh treatment of southern planters

9. V. Presidential Reconstruction
Johnson tells south
Took away right to vote from Southern politicians, military leaders and wealthy landowners unless received pardon
Repudiate (refuse to pay) war debt
Nullify ordinances of secession
Adopt 13th Amendment freeing slaves
Southern attempts to recreate pre-War Southern society moves moderate Republicans to Radicals
SC does not recognize illegality of secession
MS does not ratify 13th Amendment
Johnson pardoned many Confederates
Many elected into new southern governments
Vice President of CSA (Alexander Stephens), 6 CSA Cabinet members, 58 members of CSA Congress, 4 Generals, 5 Colonels
Most were Democrats and Republicans did not want to give up control
South got more representatives in Congress because now blacks counted in population
12 additional congressmen

10. VI. The Baleful Black Codes
Primary purpose to maintain stable and subservient labor force
Forced to work for low wages with restrictive, coerced labor contracts
Laws to restrict freedom of blacks
Could not vote
Could not marry whites
Could not serve on juries
Some denied blacks right to own land
Vagrancy laws
Tried to force blacks to stay on plantations
Sharecropping
Blacks did not have land to work on
Whites did not have money to pay for labor
Tennant would work farm and pay rent with part of crop
Created cycle of poverty in South

11. VIII. Johnson Clashes with Congress
Johnson vetoes bill to extend Freedman’s Bureau in February 1866
Civil Rights Bill (March 1866)
Gave blacks citizens and attacked black codes
Allowed federal government to protect civil rights of all citizens
Johnson vetoes because he thought it violated state’s rights principle
Angered Moderate Republicans
Moderates join with Radicals to pass Freedman’s Bureau and Civil Rights bills over Johnson’s veto in April 1866
Congress takes dominant role in government
continually overrode Johnson’s veto
Feared laws being undone in future, so made movement to passing an Amendment

12. VII. Congressional Reconstruction
Election of 1866
Johnson’s ‘Round the Circle campaign to win Congress failed, Republicans get 2/3ds majority that would prevent any future vetoes
Congress led by Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens
Joint Congressional Committee to make a plan for Reconstruction
Moderate Republicans joined Radical Republicans to oppose seating Southern congressmen
angered when Confederate leaders were re-elected to Congress
Southern states were no longer states
President didn’t have authority to determine membership in Congress or readmission of states
Radicals wanted to keep federal control over south until economic and social systems were changed
Moderates wanted faster reconstruction and wanted to protect individual rights instead of federal government keeping direct control
Both insist on right to vote for freedmen

13. Fourteenth Amendment
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws

14. Fourteenth Amendment Defines citizenship in US
Must allow all adult males to vote or representation in Congress would be reduced
Guaranteed Federal debt, but, No Confederate war debt could be paid
Pardons of Confederate officials require 2/3 vote of Congress
Tennessee ratifies 14th Amendment all other southern states refuse

15. X. Republican Principles and Programs
Election of 1866
Johnson’s ‘Round the Circle campaign to win Congress failed, Republicans get 2/3ds majority that would prevent any future vetoes
Congress led by Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens
Joint Congressional Committee to make a plan for Reconstruction
Moderate Republicans joined Radical Republicans to oppose seating Southern congressmen
angered when Confederate leaders were re-elected to Congress
Southern states were no longer states
President didn’t have authority to determine membership in Congress or readmission of states
Radicals wanted to keep federal control over south until economic and social systems were changed
Moderates wanted faster reconstruction and wanted to protect individual rights instead of federal government keeping direct control
Both insist on right to vote for freedmen

16. XI. Reconstruction by the Sword
Congress divided south into 5 military districts
Demanded south abolish slavery, protect civil rights, ratify 14th Amendment
Denied right to vote or hold office to Confederates – all others can vote regardless of color
South feared freed slaves would take over
Did not give land or education to blacks
Intended to have blacks control votes for readmission
Military governments
Challenged Constitutional principles
Ex Parte Milligan (1866) said military courts can’t be used if civilian ones are available
Governed south until last troops left in 1877, ending Reconstruction
Fifteenth Amendment (1870)
Forbids US or any state denying right to vote based on race, color or previous condition of servitude

17. XII. No Women Voters
1867- Freedman Bureau register blacks to vote in South
735,000 blacks, 635,000 whites registered – picked Republicans for state conventions
many Southern republicans were poor whites who resented sacrifices made during “rich man’s war”

18. XIII. Black Reconstruction
Hiram Revels {R}
Senator, Mississippi
XIII. Black Reconstruction
Southern states were forced to enfranchise blacks before some areas in North
Union League
Pro-Union organization that develops into a political organization
Built black churches, organized to protect freedmen’s safety
Over 600 blacks were elected to state legislatures
Helped whites develop Southern state constitutions
Black political participation increased
14 Representatives and 2 Senators served
White supporters of Reconstruction
Scalawags – whites who supported Union
Carpet Baggers – Northerners who moved south to help modernize Southern economy
Both accused of corruption and profiteering
Raised taxes to pay for building of infrastructure, schools, protected property rights for women
Political corruption common North and South
Blanche Bruce {R}
Senator, Mississippi

19. XIV. The Ku Klux Klan
Radicals only controlled South if blacks were voting
Ku Klux Klan (KKK) “Invisible Empire of the South”
Formed by planters and Confederate soldiers
Led by Nathan Bedford Forrest, former Confederate general
Created as guerilla army to resist Northern control
Tried to stop black voting with violence and terrorism
Targeted people who voted or white people who helped blacks
Wanted to influence elections and recreation of Southern society
Grant tried to ban KKK, but southern governments don’t enforce it
Force Acts (1870), (1871) authorized use of US military to stop KKK activities
South openly resisted allowing blacks to vote using literacy tests and other means

20. XV. Johnson Walks the Impeachment Plank
President Johnson vetoed many laws passed by Congress
Congress responded by trying to take away power from President
Tenure of Office Act (1867)
Said President needed consent of Senate to fire federal official
Wanted to keep Edwin Stanton in office because he was helping Radical Republicans
Johnson fired Secretary of War Stanton without permission in 1868 to challenge the law as violation of separation of powers
House impeached Johnson for violating Tenure of Office Act
Senate failed to convict by one vote in May 1868
Some voted no because feared precedent it would establish or didn’t want Vice President Ben Wade to become President or didn’t want to violate checks and balances

21. XVII. The Purchase of Alaska
US bought Alaska from Russia in 1867
Russians couldn’t defend the land and believed all the fur had already been taken from the land
Wanted create buffer between British Canada and Russia
Secretary of State William Seward purchased it for $7.2 million
Most thought it was a waste of money
“Seward’s Folly”; “Seward’s Icebox”
Made because Russia supported the Union in the War
Also hopeful gold, furs and fish would be available

22. XVIII. The Heritage of Reconstruction
Bitterness towards reconstruction left tension between north and south; blacks and whites for generations
Republicans wanted to protect political gain as well as blacks freedoms
Resulted in development of Solid South for Democrats
Republicans underestimated effort needed to establish freedom for blacks and end white resistance