The Ordeal of Reconstruction

1. The Ordeal of Reconstruction Chapter 22

2. The Problems Of Peace • Major questions facing the country • How would the south be rebuilt • How would the liberated Blacks be converted to free citizens • How would southern states be reintegrated into the Union • Who would direct reconstruction, the southern states, the President or Congress • What to do with confederate leaders?

3. Major Problems InThe South • Social and economic system had collapsed. • Key Southern cities were devastated. • Banking system had collapsed under run-away inflation. • Factories were destroyed • Transportation system completely broken down • Agriculture, major economic force of the south, totally collapsed. • Southern rich were suddenly much poorer. • Many Southerners were beaten but still defiant and were not yet emotionally prepared to reintegrate with the north.

4. Freedmen Define Freedom • Immediately after war, freedom for Blacks depended on where the army was • Many in South rejected validity of Emancipation Proclamation • Reaction of Blacks • Blacks hit the road • Exodusters • Black schools • Black churches

5. The Freedmen’s Bureau • Congress creates the Freedmen’s Bureau March, 1865. • Purpose? • Greatest success? • Failed to provide land, as authorized • Blacks and labor contracts

6. Freedmen’s Bureau School

7. Southern View of Freedmen’s Bureau

8. Southern View of Freedmen’s Bur. • Southerners resented the Bureau as northern intrusion. • Pres. Johnson didn’t support it. Why? • It died in 1872. • One of many failures of reconstruction. Plenty to eat and nothing to do.

9. Johnson: The Tailor President • He had started from very humble beginnings. • Never attended school. • Enters politics in Tenn. • Champion of poor whites and mountain whites. • As Tenn. Congressman he refused to secede with Tenn. • Forced to flee Tenn.

10. Johnson: The Tailor President • Appointed War Governor after Tenn. partially redeemed by Union Army. • Appointed VP when Lincoln needs to cement the Union Party and keep the vote of border states and Union democrats. • Dogmatic believer in State’s Right and the Constitution. • See John Tyler

11. Presidential Reconstruction • Lincoln plan proposed before war over. • What is Lincoln’s basic theory • What is the basic condition for states to be redeemed? • Who does Lincoln think should be in charge or reconstruction? Why? • How does Congress feel about his plan? Why? • Lincoln’s 10% Plan. Details

12. Congress Reacts • Congress disagreed with Lincoln’s approach. • Congressional Republican theory? • Who in charge of readmission?. • Radical Republican Goals. • Congress passes the Wade-Davis Bill in 1864 • What does it say? • What happened to this bill?

13. Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction • Johnson agreed with Lincoln’s 10% plan. Recognized several 10% governments. • Introduced his plan 8/1865. • Disenfranchised southerners with property over $20,000. • They could petition him for a pardon • called for special state conventions • to repeal declarations of secession, • repudiating confederate debts and • ratifying 13th Amendment prohibiting slavery • Who deals with former slaves? • How does Congress React? Why?

14. Black Codes • New states passed Black Codes • Harsh • Purpose? • Southern concerns and motives? • Consequences • For blacks • politically

15. Congressional Reconstruction • 1865. States readmitted by Johnson start sending Congressmen to Washington. • Many are former Confederate politicians and Generals. • Republicans outraged • Why? • Congress’ reaction? • This sets up a monumental show-down with Johnson

16. Johnson Clashes With Congress • Johnson reacts strongly to Congress • What is his concern? • Johnson announces that South had satisfied his conditions and Union was restored. • Vetoed extension of Freedman’s Bureau. • Civil Rights Act. • What does the Act do? • What does Johnson do to the bill. What does Congress do in response?

17. Fourteenth Amendment • Why does Congress propose? • What does it say? • Conferred Civil Rights except the vote on Freedmen. • Reduced representation in Congress of states that did not give the freedmen the vote. • Disqualified from federal and state office former confederates who had previously sworn oath to Const. of the US and, thus, had violated it. • Repudiated the confederate debt. • Extended Due Process to all citizens. • Ratified in 1868

18. Johnson’s Back-firing Campaign • 1866 Johnson and Congress battle over whether reconstruction would continue with or without the 14th Amendment. • The battle-ground became the Congressional elections. • Johnson hoped for a majority in favor of his soft approach. • Republicans sought a congress that was veto-proof. • Johnson goes on a “give-‘em-hell” campaign swing to try to marshal votes. • Johnson’s efforts backfire. Why? • Result?

19. SWINGING AROUND THE CIRCLE WITH JOHNSON

20. Republican’s In Charge • Republicans now in the driver’s seat, but split between the radicals and the moderates. • Radicals led by Charles Sumner in the Senate and Thaddeus Stevens in the house. • Aims of Radicals? • Aims of Moderates? • Moderates had the upper hand • Eventual policies showed influences of both • Both recognize that federal power necessary to ensure enfranchisement of blacks.

21. Military Reconstruction • Reconstruction Act (March 1867) • What did it do? • Temporarily disenfranchised many southerners—10,000 • Stringent conditions for the readmission of the seceded states • States required to ratify Fourteenth Amendment to come back in • State constitutions must guarantee vote for slaves • Stopped short of giving blacks land or requiring education. • Johnson vehemently opposes. What does he do in response?

22. Military Reconstruction Act

23. Military Reconstruction • 15th Amendment passed 1869 (ratified in 1870). • Why necessary after Reconstruction Act? • Military reconstruction questionable constitutionally. Why? • By 1870 all states readmitted under terms of Reconstruction Act. • Last federal troops leave in 1877.

24. Radical Reconstruction In The South • Evolution of attitude toward black enfranchisement. • Blacks voting, but many whites weren’t. • Union Leagues • 14 Black Congressmen; 2 Black Senators. Height of black political power until mid 20th Century. • Carpetbaggers and Scalawags. • Assessment of reconstruction governments in the South

25. Ku Klux Klan • KKK (Invisible Empire of the South) • Used intimidation, fear and force to get upstart Blacks and carpetbaggers to get back in their place. • Founded by Nathan Bedford Forrest. • Undermined the civil rights given to blacks. • Force Act • Effective?

26. Johnson Impeachment • Radical Republicans frustrated with Johnson and out for his hide. • Tenure in Office Act (1867). Provisions? • How does Johnson violate the act? • Constitutionality of act? • House vote for impeachment • Factors impacting the Senate vote

27. The Purchase Of Alaska • One of Johnson’s few successes was the purchase of Alaska. • Why were Russians looking to unload Alaska? • Sec. of State Seward agrees to purchase for 7.2 Mil in 1867. Dubbed Seward’s Folly. • Why was US willing to purchase?