Reconstruction

1. Reconstruction Georgia High School Graduation Test Study Slides Taken straight from the state-issued study booklet (In other words, this is what the state wants you to know for the test!!!) Created and Compiled by Angel Cleary Grovetown High School

2. Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address March 4, 1865 If 10% of Southerners say sorry, then they can rejoin.

3. Ford’s Theater (April 14, 1865) Lincoln Assassinated Here 6 weeks later

4. The Assassin John Wilkes Booth: the killer. A Southern man who was angry about the Emancipation Proclamation

5. WANTED!! All conspirators were found and hung: they had actually plotted to kill multiple Union officials at the same time. The only person who succeeded was Booth.

6. Reconstruction • The nation was torn by war – thus the period after the war is called –’reconstruction’ because the nation – and especially the South, had to be rebuilt • Lincoln didn’t want to punish the south. But he died…. • Andrew Johnson was VP – he became president • Tried to stay true to Lincoln’s wish to not punish the South

7. Freedmen’s Bureau • A congressional Act under Lincoln to aid freed blacks created the bureau • At first Helped find jobs, get food, get housing, medical emergencies, helped families reunite • Later, helped set up contracts between Southern land owners and freed blacks • Helped prevent workers from being taken advantage • Public education provided for black children • Fisk University and Atlanta Clark Universities founded • Lincoln wanted it to last 1 full year • It did help many blacks gain a footing in the South for a year after the war School created by the FB

8. Morehouse College • Started in Augusta in 1867 under the name ‘Augusta Institute’ • Later bought land in ATL and changed name to Morehouse • In ATL it received help from the FB • Today is all-male, black top-rated University

9. Presidential Reconstruction is the time under Andrew Johnson – he enacted Executive Orders quickly while Congress was out of session – he knew the Northern Congressmen would want revenge “ Presidential” (moderate) Reconstruction Moderate Reconstruction Plan • First, southerners who swore allegiance to the Union were pardoned (forgiven of crimes) • Then, former confederate states were allowed to write a new state constitution (that didn’t include provisions for slavery) • Southern states had to void, or cancel, their secession and ratify the Thirteenth Amendment passed under Lincoln, which outlawed slavery • Only then could states hold state government elections and elect new leaders

10. President, I will not pretend. I do not like you. “ Radical” Reconstruction • A group of “radical’ Republicans, led by Thaddeus Stevens, wanted tougher actions against the South • Especially because Johnson didn’t give Blacks full citizenship rights • And because they wanted to punish the South for the damage they caused by starting the Civil War Radical Reconstruction Plan • Put Southern states under military rule (think dictatorship) for ten years (this actually happened) • Forced them to write their Constitutions again • Southern states had to GUARANTEE equal rights for Blacks in their constitutions • Blacks allowed to vote in state elections • But Southerners who had supported the Confederacy were temporarily barred from voting • All Southern States also had to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, which made Blacks citizens of their states (also passed under Lincoln) Well, how do you think this made Southerners feel?

11. Thaddeus Stevens led the Senate Radical Republicans. He was from Pennsylvania near Gettysburg. The South had damaged his personal property there, and he wanted to make the South pay for this. Presidential Impeachment I want revenge. • Radicals hated that Pres. Andrew Johnson, vetoed some Radical Reconstruction laws • He was just trying to follow Lincoln’s moderate reconstruction plan • So, led by Thaddeus Stevens, Radical Republicans impeached, or brought him up on charges, Johnson for ‘violating an Act of Congress’ (a law passed years before that said a President couldn’t fire certain appointees, which Johnson had done) • However, by ONE VOTE, the Senate voted not to remove him from office. • His Presidency ended in 1868 – and he accomplished nothing till the end – called a lame-duck session WWLD????!!!

12. Freedmen Scalawags South During Reconstruction • 4 millions former slaves who wanted their new found civil rights • Wanted more schools provided by the Freedmen’s Bureau • Voted for Republican leaders, some black, in reconstruction elections • Poor White Southern farmers who sided with Republicans • Saw federal projects like railroads and schools benefitting them and their families • Angry that they had to pay high taxes to pay for federally mandated projects • Imposed Blacks Codes • Had curfews, could not gather after sunset, could be sold into ‘forced labor’ (essentially slavery) for being a vagrant (standing around not working) • Angry that could not vote but that blacks COULD in state and congressional elections • After elections, were angry that most southern states now had Republican governments • Did not want to give up lands to the Freedman’s Bureau to be redistributed to blacks (this never actually happened but Northern Radicals talked about it) Plantation Owners Carpetbaggers • White and some Black well-educated Northerners who moved to the south after the Civil War • Allied with Scalawags and Freedmen in Southern states to dominate southern governments for a few years • Many purchased land and hired newly freed slaves to work there

13. Southern Anger • Southern Whites enacted Black Codes anyway to combat Presidential Reconstruction • In many cases, Blacks were protected by the occupying Union military • The KKK was formed at this time in protest to Northern laws • Led secret raids on Blacks and Whites in the South • Many areas became violent as Whites refused to follow Radical Reconstruction laws

14. Civil Rights Act of 1875 Hay • From 1866 to 1877 Northern Moderates slowly won elections and took over from Radical Republicans • Before Reconstruction ended – Radicals passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875 guaranteeing Blacks would have full voting participation and outlawing segregation of any kind!!!! • Ulysses S. Grant was the Pres. Who signed this bill • But guess what happened? • Reconstruction ended and Southern states sued and the Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional in 1883

15. RECONSTRUCTION Ends Compromise of 1877 • Republican Rutherford B. Hayes ran against Democrat Samuel Tilden • It was a NEAR tie in electoral college numbers • violence erupted at voting polls • Southerners wanted Tilden or Blood • corruption and double (illegal of course) voting occurred • Blacks in the South were harassed and intimidate by KKK and Whites preventing them from voting • Congress had to do a recount and choose • In a backroom deal, Southern Congressman agreed ‘unofficially’ to let a Republican President win if the North would remove its troops from the South • Hayes won and the North removed their troops. • Reconstruction was over. Hayes Tilden

16. Reconstruction Proposal Directions • Each person has been assigned to a Reconstruction group that actually existed after the Civil War • As a group, come up with a plan for Reconstruction, based on the beliefs of the group to which you’ve been assigned • Your group’s plan must include at least 5 bullet statements about what you want to accomplish • You can write any laws you want, just remember to follow the goals of your political or social group • EXAMPLE: Northern Radicals wanted to punish the South; Southerners wanted laws to keep Blacks from participating in government and society • Then, as a group, circle the TOP 3 bullet statements within your group to present to the class forum • Each group will read the TOP 3 to the class. • The class will vote like Congress did, and choose laws for the country’s Reconstruction program. • We will write each law on the board for our Reconstruction plan.