Ch. 22 Ordeal of Reconstruction, 1865-1877

Theme: Johnson’s political blunders and Southern white recalcitrance led to the imposition of congressional military Reconstruction on the South. Reconstruction did address difficult issues of reform and racial justice in the South and achieved some successes, but was ultimately abandoned, leaving a deep legacy of racial and sectional bitterness.Theme: During Reconstruction, the Constitution was strengthened with the Fourteenth (citizenship and equal protection of the laws) and Fifteenth black voting rights) Amendments, but it was also tested with the conflicts between the President and Congress that culminated in a n impeachment process.Theme: Southern resistance to Reconstruction began immediately with the sending of ex-rebels to be seated in Congress and continued with the creation of violently oppressive groups like the Ku Klux Kan. Although forced to make some concessions, Southern “ Redeemers” successfully outlasted the Congressional Reconstruction efforts.

I. Conditions after the Civil WarA. The country was a singular nation

now.1. New political and economic centers—

all in north/west2. Stronger federal government

B. Rebuilding the South1. Economic ruins2. Impact of Emancipation on southern

life3. Federal Intervention

a. Scalawags/Carpetbaggersb. 13th Amendmentc. Freedman’s Bureau

C. Republicans lead the North1. President Johnson is new leader2. Stronger alliance between business

and govt.3. Motivated by racism (of black free

man) and revenge (of Democrats)

II. Presidential Reconstruction: A Moderate Approach

A. Lincoln’s 10% Plan 1. 10% of voters in 1860 election,

obey emancipation, and state.2. Response of GOP: Wade Davis

Bill, 1866a. 50%, Iron-clad Oath,

constitutional convention, and Feds OK otherwise “conquered provinces”

b. Revealed differences between Congress and Johnson

c. Also revealed early split in GOP

B. Johnson’s Plan1. Similar to Lincoln2. Disenfranchised some whites,

pardons others, and state conventions with 13th.

3. Veto Freedman Bureau, 1866

III. Congressional Reconstruction

A. GOP Resentment to White Supremacy1. Ex-Confeds in Congress!2. Black Codes3. KKK violence

B. Civil Rights Bill, 1866 (Transition from Presidential to Congressional Recon.)

1. Response to Johnson’s Reconstruction2. Black citizenship and destroy BC3. Became 14th Amendment, 18664. 1866 Midterm elections -2/3 GOP

a. T. Stevens and Ch. Sumnerb. Moderates in majority

5. Military Reconstruction Act, 18676. Reconstruction Act, 1867 (“5, 14th, Full”)

C. Johnson is Impeached, 18671. Office of Tenure Act

a. Edwin Stanton, Sec War

2. Purchase of Alaska, 1867D. 15th Amendment, 1869

1. No Women!2. Intimidation and loopholes

Impeachment Trial by Theodore R. Davis in Harpers Weekly

Interesting note: Johnson did not attend but did winelection as a Senator in 1874 and made an emotionalreturn to the Senate as junior Senator from Tennessee.

IV. End of ReconstructionA. Civil Rights Act, 1875B. National Concerns

1. Panic of 18732. Women’s Rights3. Political corruption4. Gilded Age5. Purchase of Alaska

C. Compromise 18771. 1870 ex-Confederacy back2. Hayes (GOP) v. Tilden (Demo)

D. Impact1. Decline of Ex branch2. Rise of Solid South3. “Invisible Empire of the South”:

State Governmentsa. Infringement of privilegesb. Jim Crow Lawsc. Lynchings

Thomas Nast, Harpers Weekly, 1876.The disputed presidential

election returns from FL, SC, andLA are represented by the new

Sport of football, introduced in 1876By the Ivy League. Until 1881, the

Ball was not passed!

Putting Things in Order(Put the following events in correct order by numbering them 1 to 5)

1. ____ Constitution is amended to guarantee former slaves the right to vote

2. ____ Lincoln announces a plan to rapidly restore southern states to the Union

3. ____ Northern troops are finally withdrawn from the South, and Southern state governments are re-constituted without federal constraint

4. ____ An unpopular antiradical president escapes conviction and removal from office by one vote

5. ____ Johnson’s attempt to restore the South to the Union is overturned because of congressional hostility to ex-Confederates and southern passage of the Black Codes

Answers

1. 4

2. 1

3. 5

4. 3

5. 2