4.8 Grant and Reconstruction-Abandonment

1. 4.8 Grant and Reconstruction-Abandonment Why did the US Gov’t cease Reconstruction procedures in the south? Why is Grant considered one of the Worst US presidents in US History?

2. 1868 Presidential Election • Grant vs. Seymour • 1st time use of running mates

3. 1868 Presidential Election • Grant was a well respected candidate by both sides. • Father of four and good military leader. • Personal problems- drinking, post traumatic stress from war, not a strong or smart political leader. • Inherited problems from Johnson’s term.

4. 1868 Election Results

5. 1st Term Problems • Grant had numerous scandals and problems occur under his watch • Whiskey Ring: Grant’s secretary attempted to evade IRS taxes • Tammany Hall: New York “Boss” Tweed took advantage of immigrants and low-wage workers • Gold Price Fixing: Grant was unaware, Fisk/Gould Scandal • Indian Rebellion: Whites encroach on Indian territory (Gold) • Belknap: Secretary of War who didn’t always support Grant

6. 1st Term Problems • In the south politicians take advantage of this president and further alienate African Americans by: Literacy Test Voters must take a test demonstrating an ability to read and write State examiners could deliberately pass whites and fail blacks Poll Tax Citizens had to pay a tax to the state before being allowed to vote. Most blacks could not afford to pay the tax due to their serfdom status Grandfather Clause A person who’s grandfather voted before 1867 could vote without a literacy test Only whites had grandfathers who voted before 1867

7. Election of 1872 • Despite all these issues Grant wins re-election in 1872.

8. Amnesty Act of 1872 and Panic of 1873 • Choose one of the following: Look it up online or in a US history textbook, explain the key ideas related to the event. • Amnesty Act of ‘72- (Who is receiving Amnesty?) • Public opinion had changed by this point and Congress had shifted in leadership = the north was more interested in personal pursuits than helping slaves. • Most troops were withdrawn from the south and 160,000 former Confederates received restored voting rights. • Panic of 73- • Brought on by changes globally (Germany changing currency off of silver standard • Brought on by US use of Greenback (promissory notes from Civil War period)

9. Election of 1876 • Democratic Candidate: Samuel Tilden • Republican Candidate: Rutherford B. Hayes • Republicans accused Democrats in the south of ignoring African American votes. • Democrats accused Republicans of ignoring Tilden voters (particularly in a Florida precinct). • In Florida, Louisiana, Oregon, South Carolina each submitted two sets of electoral returns from voting with different results! • Congress created a committee (The Electoral Commission) to try and work out the contested election.

10. Why didn’t the Federal Gov’t stop Racial Segregation & Jim Crow Politics in the South? • The commission became bogged down in he-said/she-said politics between Democrats and Republicans. The acrimony was so severe, people feared a 2nd Civil War… • In order to establish the next president and avert a crisis, Democrats and Republicans met at the Wormley Hotel (Washington D.C.). • The Democrats agreed to accept Rutherford B. Hayes’ election IF Republicans agree to withdraw federal troops from the South, provide funding for Southern improvements (railroads, building repairs etc.), & include a Southern politician in the Cabinet.

11. The Compromise that ended Reconstruction • Compromise of 1877: Federal troops withdrawn from the south , Republican leaders in the South lost power, Reconstruction comes to an end… • What impacts do you think will come about due to this deal? • What dangers could this lead to for black people in southern states?

12. Disputed Election of 1876 • Read Digital History and make a power-point slide for the Disputed Election of 1876 • Your slide must have an Image; at least 3-5 bullet points and explanation of the major ideas in the reading. • Feel free to look up additional information. • Don’t put too much text on a slide; abbreviate your ideas into short blurbs