The Reconstruction

The Reconstruction • “Freedmen” – freed slaves in tough situation: • Most stayed (either by choice or force) on plantation • U.S. Army freed all slaves eventually • Some fled North • Some rioted against former masters • New social structure for blacks is shaky • Churches grow and become pillar of black community • Freedman’s Bureau created to help blacks adjust to free life – provided food, clothing, education • Improved literacy, failed in most other areas • Disliked by Southerners, Pres. Johnson

President Andrew Johnson • Tennessee Democrat chosen by Lincoln to balance ticket in 1864 election • Was only Southern Congressman to not secede • Disliked by both North and South • Stubborn, confrontational, short-tempered white supremacist

The Reconstruction Plan • Lincoln’s plan: “The 10% Plan” • Southern states could rejoin the U.S. after 10% of the voters take oath of loyalty and respect for emancipation • Plan seen as very forgiving • Radical Republicans wanted to punish South • Propose Wade-Davis Bill – up to 50%, add laws to protect freed blacks • Lincoln vetoes – why?

The Reconstruction Plan • Lincoln assassinated • Johnson adds some changes: • Former Confeds cannot vote • Secession ordinances repealed • U.S. repudiated Confed debts • States must ratify the 13th amendment • Outlaws slavery • South’s social structure & workforce demolished and disassembled

The Black Codes • White Southerners pass “Black Codes” • Laws designed to keep freed blacks under control of their white employers • “Contracts” forcing blacks to work for whites • Very discriminatory • Blacks given little rights, punishable offenses • Northerners outraged

Battle for Congress • North dominated Congress during war • Passed many major bills during war • Dec 1865 – Johnson allows all Southern states to rejoin the U.S. • Southern politicians return to Congress • Could gain more representation now than before • Three-Fifths Compromise eradicated now

Johnson vs. Congress • Johnson vetoed all Republican bills • Civil Rights Bill – grants blacks citizenship, weakens Black Codes • Congress creates 14th Amendment • Blacks get citizenship • Didn’t guarantee suffrage • States lose Congressional representation if blacks were denied voting • Confederate leaders banned from federal offices • Johnson battles Congress with “round the circle” speeches – backfires • Ratified by states in 1868

Congressional Reconstruction • Republicans now in control of Reconstruction • Split: Radicals vs. Moderates • Radical Reps: • Led by Sen. Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens • From Sumner-Brooks Affair (1856) • Wanted a slow Reconstruction to institute major social and economic changes to South • Moderate Reps: • Wanted a more “hands-off” approach to Reconstruction • Both groups wanted black suffrage

The Reconstruction Act • Passed March 1867 • Divides South into 5 military districts • Army occupied each to maintain order • Southern states not fully readmitted to U.S. until: • 14th Amendment is ratified • Black suffrage guaranteed • Radical Reps pass 15th Amendment in 1870 to ensure suffrage cannot be removed

Progression of Black Rights • 13th amendment – abolishes slavery • 14th amendment – makes ex-slaves citizens • 15th amendment – protects black suffrage

14th Amendment • “The right to vote at any election… is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged… (if violated) the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.”

15th Amendment “The rights of citizens of the U.S. to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the U.S. or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude” What is controversial about the language used in the 14th and 15th amendments?

Women Suffrage • 14th amendment refers tocitizens as “males” • 15th amendment claims voting can’t be denied by race, color, or previous servitude • Women outraged, feel left out, see opportunity • Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony lead women’s movement • Fought to keep these amendments from entering Constitution without guaranteeing women’s suffrage • Failed – amendments passed

Reconstruction in Action • Blacks begin to organize, create Union League • Web of associations working together to help black communities, consolidate political power, etc. • Many white southerners temporarily unable to vote leads to blacks gaining power politically • Hiram Revels becomes first black Senator (1870)

White Southerners infuriated • Blacks freed, serving over whites in Congress and state legislatures • “Scalawags” – whites who were sympathetic towards North • “Carpetbaggers” – Northerners who moved to South after the war • Some came to help, some came to profit, some swindled • Underground movement among White Southerners gaining strength…

Southern White Retaliation • The Ku Klux Klan • “The Invisible Empire of the South” • Formed in Tennessee (1866) • Thrived on fear, unknown membership • Threatened, lynched, murdered blacks • Effective in slowing down black progress • White Southerners use political tricks to disenfranchise blacks • Started “literacy tests” as requirement to vote • Targets illiterate blacks – problem? • Add “grandfather clauses” to protect illiterate whites • Allows voting rights to any citizen who’s grandfather could vote

Congress vs. Johnson • Johnson impeding Congressional Reconstruction • Radical Reps plot to impeach Johnson • Pass Tenure of Office Act (1867) • President needs Senate approval to fire anyone who had been previously appointed to him • Rational: Senate approves appointees when hired, thus should approve when fired • Johnson wants to replace Sec. of War Edwin Stanton • Appointed by Lincoln • Conspiring against Johnson with Radical Republicans • Lose-lose for Johnson, Win-Win for Congress: • Allow Stanton to stay – Radical Reps happy • Fire Stanton – breaking the law, could be impeached

Impeachment? • Johnson fires Stanton in 1868 • Congress votes to impeach Johnson on “high crimes and misdemeanors” • Generally due to all of Johnson’s misdoings during Reconstruction, specifically due to firing Stanton • Impeachment trials: • Johnson remains silent • His lawyers argue he was acting under Constitution, not Tenure of Office Act • Senate needs 2/3 to support impeachment, fall short by one vote • Johnson remains in office • Radical Republicans claim the non-guilty verdict as a “dangerous precedent”

Purchase of Alaska • Russia willing to sell Alaska • William H. Steward – Johnson’s Sec. of State • Expansionist, pushed for purchase of Alaska • Unpopular campaign • “Seward’s Folly”, “Seward’s Icebox” • Eventually gains enough support in Senate • Purchased for $ 7.2 million • Seward scorned for purchase • Adds to Johnson’s unpopularity • Vindicated long after death – gold and oil discovered

Legacy of Reconstruction • Reconstruction just as bad as the war for South • Loss of infrastructure, economy, political power, massive physical destruction • Causes decades of animosity • South felt beaten down, humiliated • Civil War referred to as “War of Northern Aggression” • Emancipation gives somewhat false hope to blacks • Progress made with 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments • But in some cases, had it better in “antebellum” times • Violence, tricky politics keep blacks down • Significant progress not made again until the 1950s and 60s

The Reconstruction