Notes: Reconstruction defined

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Notes Reconstruction defined
R E C O N S T R U C T I O N
1865 TO 1877

• 1. The Aftermath
• 2. Problems
• The South
• Freedmen
• Leadership
• 3. President Andrew Johnson
• 4. Power Struggle Johnson vs. Congress
• Presidents plan gentle---1865 to 1867
• Radical Republicans---opposed Johnson
• Congresss plan harsh---1867 to 1876
• South followed Johnsons plan until??????

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Notes Presidential and Congressional Recons

• What went wrong?
• Black Codes---1865 to 1866
• Johnson vetoed Civil Rights Act for Freedmen
• Congress impeached Pres. Johnson---1868
• Election of 1868 President Grant enforces
  Congresss harsh plan
• Reconstruction Act of 1867
• 4. Revolutionary changes
• Civil War Amendments
• 13th, 14th and 15th
• Effects of Emancipation on Freedmen
• Freedmens Bureau
• New South

• Abolished slavery
• gained citizenship
• right to vote

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R E C O N S T R U C T I O N

• Human toll of the Civil War The North lost
  364,000 soldiers. The South lost 260,000
  soldiers.
• Between 1865 and 1877, the federal government
  carried out a program to repair the damage to the
  South and restore the southern states to the
  Union. This program was known as Reconstruction.
• Freedmen (freed slaves) were starting out their
  new lives in a poor region with slow economic
  activity.
• Plantation owners lost slave labor worth 3
  billion.
• Poor white Southerners could not find work
  because of new job competition from Freedmen.
• The war had destroyed two thirds of the Souths
  shipping industry and about 9,000 miles of
  railroad.

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South after war 1
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Lincoln speech
LINCOLN'S 2ND INAUGURAL SPEECH
Lincolns speech
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 nations wounds.to do all
which may achieve and cherish a just and a
lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all
nations.
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PRESIDENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION

• Johnsons plan to readmit the South was
  considered too gentle.
• Amnesty Presidential pardon
• Rebels sign an oath of allegiance
• 10 of the population
• Even high ranking Confederate officials
• Write new state Constitutions
• approve the 13th Amendment
• reject secession and states rights
• submit to U.S. Government authority
• No mention of
• Education for freedmen
• Citizenship and voting rights

Presidential Reconstruction
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pardon
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John Picture background info
PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON

• Remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War.
• Lincoln chose him as his VP to help with the
  Souths Reconstruction.
• Supported Lincolns Plan
• Engaged in a power struggle with Congress over
  who would lead the country through
  Reconstruction.
• Would be impeached but not removed from office.

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Plans compared
CONGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION
Reconstruction Act of 1867--76 (Harsh)

• Amnesty Presidential pardon
• oath of allegiance---50
• high ranking Confederate officials
• loose voting rights if you dont sign oath
• Write new state Constitutions
• Ratify 13, 14 15 Amendments
• reject secession and states rights
• submit to U.S. Government authority
• Help for Freedmen
• Freedmens Bureau for education
• 40 acres and a mule
• Divide the South into 5 military districts

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Radical Republicans
RADICAL REPUBLICANS
Charles Summner
Thaddeus Stevens

• Wanted to the see the South punished.
• Advocated political, social and economic equality
  for the Freedmen.
• Would go after President Johnson through the
  impeachment process after he vetoes the Civil
  Rights Act of 1866.

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Quotes of Radicals
RADICAL REPUBLICANS
Thaddeus Stevens, in Congress, 1866 Strip a
proud nobility of their bloated estates, send
them forth to labor and you will thus humble the
proud traitors. Thaddeus Steven, in Congress,
1867 I am for Negro suffrage in every rebel
state. If it be just, it should not be denied
if it be necessary, it should be adopted if it
be a punishment of traitors, they deserve it.
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Gov of Miss
One former Confederate Was amazed to see a
government which was intent on killing usnow
generously feeding our poor and distressed.
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BLACK CODES

• Similar to Slave Codes.
• Restricted the freedom of movement.
• Limited their rights as free people.

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BLACK CODES

• As southern states were restored to the Union
  under President Johnsons plan, they began to
  enact black codes, laws that restricted
  freedmens rights.
• The black codes established virtual slavery with
  provisions such as these
• Curfews Generally, black people could not gather
  after sunset.
• Vagrancy laws Freedmen convicted of vagrancy
  that is, not working could be fined, whipped, or
  sold for a years labor.
• Labor contracts Freedmen had to sign agreements
  in January for a year of work. Those who quit in
  the middle of a contract often lost all the wages
  they had earned.
• Land restrictions Freed people could rent land
  or homes only in rural areas. This restriction
  forced them to live on plantations.

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Black codes 1
BLACK CODES
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Gov of Miss
Mississippi Governor, 1866 The Negro is
free Whether we like it or not we must
realize that fact now and forever. To be free,
however, does not make him a citizen or entitle
him to social or political equality with the
white man.
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BLACK CODES
St. Landrys Parish, Louisiana, 1865 Section 1
Be it ordained by the police jury of parish of
St. Landry, That no negro shall be allowed to
pass within the limits of said parish without a
special permit in writing from his employer.
Whoever shall violate this provision shall pay a
fine of 2.50, or in default thereof shall be
forced to work four days on the public road or
suffer corporeal punishment.
Black codes 2
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BLACK CODES
St. Landrys Parish, Louisiana, 1865 Section 2
Be it ordained That every Negro who shall be
found absent from the residence of his employer
after 10 oclock at night, without a written
permit from him employer, shall pay a fine of
5.00, or in default thereof, shall be compelled
to work 5 days on the public road or suffer
corporeal punishment.
Black codes 2
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BLACK CODES
St. Landrys Parish, Louisiana, 1865 Section 3
Be it further ordained, That no Negro shall be
be permitted to rent or keep a house within said
parish. Any Negro violating this provision shall
be immediately ejected and compelled to find an
employer and any who shall rent, or give the
use of the any house to any Negro, in violation
of this section, shall pay a fine of 5.00 for
each offence.
Black codes 3
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BLACK CODES
St. Landrys Parish, Louisiana, 1865 Section 4
Be it further ordained, No Negroes shall be
allowed to congregate in public meetings between
the hours of sunset to sunrise and by special
permission of the police chief may a public
meeting of Negroes occur. However, church
services are not included in this law. Pay a
fine of 5.00, work 5 days on the road crew or
receive corporeal punishment
Black codes 3
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BLACK CODES
St. Landrys Parish, Louisiana, 1865 Section 5
Be it ordained, No Negro who is not in the
military service shall be allowed to carry
firearms, or any kind of weapons, within said
parish, without the special written permission of
his employers. Subject to 5.00 fine, road work
or corporeal punishment.
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BLACK CODES
St. Landrys Parish, Louisiana, 1865 Section 6
Be it ordained, That it shall be the duty of
every citizen to act as a police officer for the
detection of offences and the apprehension of
offenders, who shall be immediately handed over
to the proper police officer or captain.
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Johnsons Veto

• President Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of
  1866
• Gave to Freedmens Bureau for schools and
  granted citizenship to the Freedmen
• Congress believed Johnson was working against
  Reconstruction and overrode his veto.
• Pres. Johnson impeached
• Led to the 14th Amendment

An inflexible President, 1866 Republican
cartoon shows Johnson knocking Blacks of the
Freedmens Bureau by his veto.
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Impeachment process
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS
Impeachment Bringing charges against the
President. Two steps involved 1st Step U. S.
House of Representatives hold hearings to decide
if there are crimes committed. They then vote on
the charges and if there is a majority, then,
charges are brought against the President. 2nd
Step U.S. Senate becomes a courtroom. The
President is tried for the charges brought
against him. The Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court is the judge. Once trial is completed,
Senators must vote to remove President with a
2/3s vote.
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JOHNSON'S IMPEACHMENT

• Brought up on 11 charges of high crimes and
  misdemeanors.
• Tenure in Office Act Law Congress passed.
  President cant fire any of his cabinet members
  without consulting Congress.
• fired Edwin Stanton
• Missed being removed from office by 1 vote

• Presidency would suffer as a result of this
  failed impeachment.
• President would be more of a figure-head.
• Saved the separation of powers of 3 branches govt.

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13th Slavery Abolished
13th AMENDMENT
Slavery Abolished
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude,
except as a punishment for crime, whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist
within the United States, or any place subject to
their jurisdiction. The Congress shall have
power to enforce by appropriate legislation, the
provisions of this article.
14th
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Civil Rights What Blacks want
CIVIL RIGHTS
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14th Rights of Citizens
14th AMENDMENT
Rights of Citizens
All persons born in the U.S. are citizens of
this country and the state they reside in. No
state shall make or enforce any law which
deprives any person of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law, nor deny to
any person within its jurisdiction to the equal
protection of the laws. The Congress shall have
power to enforce by appropriate legislation, the
provisions of this article.
14th
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15th Voting Rights
15th AMENDMENT
Voting Rights
The right of citizens of the United States to
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State on account of race,
color, or previous condition of servitude. The
Congress shall have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation.
14th
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Voting rights
CIVIL WAR AMENDMENTS

• 13th AmendmentAbolished slavery(1865)
• 14th Amendment Provided citizenship equal
  protection under the law. (1868)
• 15th Amendment Provided the right to vote for all
  men which included white and black men. (1870)

Giving the Black man the right to vote was truly
revolutionary..A victory for democracy!
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The 14th and 15th Amendments

• In 1867 and 1869 Congress passed the 14th and
  15th Amendments, granting African American males
  citizenship, equality under the law and the right
  to vote.
• In 1867 and 1868, voters in southern states chose
  delegates to draft new state constitutions. One
  quarter of the delegates elected were black.
• The new state constitutions guaranteed civil
  rights, allowed poor people to hold political
  office, and set up a system of public schools and
  orphanages.
• In 1870, southern black men voted in legislative
  elections for the first time. More than 600
  African Americans were elected to state
  legislatures, Louisiana gained a black governor,
  and Hiram Revels of Mississippi became the first
  African American elected to the Senate.

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Black Congressmen

• First Black Senators and representatives in the
  42st and 42nd Congress.
• Senator Hiram Revels, on the left was elected in
  1870 to replace the seat vacated by Jefferson
  Davis.

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The Taste of Freedom

• Freedom of movement Enslaved people often walked
  away from plantations upon hearing that the Union
  army was near.
• Exodusters moved to Kansas and Texas
• Freedom to own land Proposals to give
  white-owned land to freed people got little
  support from the government. Unofficial land
  redistribution did take place, however.
• Freedom to worship African Americans formed
  their own churches and started mutual aid
  societies, debating clubs, drama societies, and
  trade associations.
• Freedom to learn Between 1865 and 1870, black
  educators founded 30 African American colleges.

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(No Transcript)
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FREEDMEN ON EMANCIPATION
emancipation
I felt like a bird out of a cage. Amen. Amen.
Amen. I could hardly ask to feel any better than
I did that day.The week passed off in a blaze
of glory Men are taking their wives and
children, families which had been for a long time
broken up are united and oh! Such happiness. I
am glad I am here.
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FREEDMEN ON EMANCIPATION
emancipation
The end of the war, it come just like
that---like you snap your fingers.Soldiers, all
of a sudden, was everywhere---coming in bunches,
crossing and walking and riding. Everyone was
a-singing. We was all walking on golden clouds.
Hallelujah! Everybody went wild. We all felt
like heroes, and nobody had made us that way but
ourselves. We was free. Just like that, we was
free.
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FREEDMEN ON EMANCIPATION
emancipation
Right off colored folks started on the move,
recalled a freedman. They seemed to want to get
closer to freedom, so theyd know what it
was---like it was a place or a city.
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NO MORE AUCTION BLOCK
No more auction block for meNo more, No moreNo
more auction block for meMany thousand gone.. No
more auction block for meNo more, no moreNo
more auction block, whiplash for meMany thousand
gone. An oh, the one thingThat we did wrongNo
more, no moreStaying in the wildernessA day too
longNo more, no more And oh, the one
thing..That we did right..Oh yes, oh yes Was the
day.That we began to fightOh yes, oh yes.. My
Lord. And its no more auction block for me.No
more, no more, no moreAuction block for
me.Many, many thousand gone...
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FREEDMEN'S BUREAU

• 1865, Congress created the Freedmans Bureau to
  help former slaves get a new start in life. This
  was the first major relief agency in United
  States history.
• Bureaus Accomplishments
• Built thousands of schools to educate Blacks.
• Former slaves rushed to get an education for
  themselves and their children.
• Education was difficult and dangerous to gain.
• Southerners hated the idea that Freedmen would go
  to school.

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Letter by a Teacher teaching freedmen on the
importance of education, 1869 It is surprising
to me to see the amount of suffering which many
of the people endure for the sake of sending
their children to school. Men get very low wages
here---from 2.50 to 8.00 month usually, while a
first rate hand may get 10.00, and a peck or two
of meal per week for rations-----and a great many
men cannot get work at all. The women take in
sewing and washing, go out by day to sour, etc.
There is one woman who supports three children
and keeps them at school she says, I dont
care how hard I has to work, if I can only send
Sallie and the boys to school looking
respectable.
Importance of Educ to freedmen
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Freedmens Bureau 2
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Freedmens Bureau 3
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Freedmens Bureau 4
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Freedmens Bureau 5
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Letter for teachers 1
Letter to the Editor of the National
Era Creswell, Texas, November 29, 1867 W.V.
Tunstall, School Board, Houston, Texas To the
Editor We need immediately 500 teachers for
colored schools in Texas. The colored people in
this state cannot supply the demand. There are
but a few white Republicans who can engage in the
profession of teaching and Rebels (Southern
whites) will not teach them. Therefore, our
only prospect is to get teachers among the
educated colored people of the North or Christian
white people who are willing to endure privations
among the heartless whites of the sunny South.
The late elections have opened the South, I
trust, for the introduction of civilization.
Send us teachers.
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Forsyth, Georgia, July 22, 1867 Dear Sir, I write
to inform you of a most cowardly outrage that
took place last Saturday night. Our teacher whom
we have employed here was shot down by a crowd of
Rebel Ruffians for no other cause than teaching
school. General, this is the second teacher
that has been assaulted. The rebels make their
brags to kill every Yankee teacher that they
find. We do not know what we may do if the
military does not assist us. The Freedmen are
much excited at such an outrage. George H.
Clower, William Wilkes, Freedmen
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• Once Johnson is impeached, Congress passes
  Reconstruction Act of 1867.
• The South would be reconstructed under the
  Radical Republicans plan.
• Republicans would elect Grant as their President
  and he would carry out the Radical Reconstruction.

The Strong Government, 1869-1877. Grant
enforcing the Reconstruction Act of 1867 and
forcing the South to change.
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Military Reconstruction
Each number indicates the Military Districts
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Abolitionists vs Womens rights

• Women rights supporters refused to support the
  14th Amendment giving African American Men
  citizenship unless women were added to it.
• Abolitionists would not support womens rights

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New South

• New South
• Becomes industrialized
• Cities rebuilt
• Railroads
• Schools, over a thousand
• Hospitals, 45 in 14 states
• Diversify economy.

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Funding Reconstruction

• Rebuilding the Souths infrastructure, the public
  property and services that a society uses, was
  one giant business opportunity.
• Roads, bridges, canals, railroads, and telegraph
  lines had to be rebuilt.
• Funds were also needed to expand services to
  southern citizens. Following the Norths example,
  all southern states created public school systems
  by 1872.
• Congress, private investors, and heavy taxes paid
  for Reconstruction. Spending by Reconstruction
  legislatures added another 130 million to
  southern debt.

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14th Rights of Citizens
14th AMENDMENT
Rights of Citizens
All persons born in the U.S. are citizens of
this country and the state they reside in. No
state shall make or enforce any law which
deprives any person of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law, nor deny to
any person with its jurisdiction to the equal
protection of the laws. The Congress shall have
power to enforce by appropriate legislation, the
provisions of this article.
14th