Notes # 11 “Life during Reconstruction”

Fighting in Washington The Radical Republicans managed to get the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments passed, thereby freeing the African Americans and giving them the right to vote. Also, several Civil Rights Acts were passed to further the protection of the freed slaves.

However, the Radical Republicans did not get everything they wanted.

Fighting in Washington • As a result of President Andrew Johnsons lenient policies towards the

south, we will learn that though the African Americans were freed from slavery, they were not treated as equals.

Fighting in Washington • On February 24th 1868, the Republican Congress impeached President

Johnson. Impeachment is a process in which Congress can remove the President if he is convicted of violating the law. The House of Representatives impeaches the President, putting him on trial. The Senate then tries the President too find him innocent or guilty.

• Congress accused Johnson of changing his cabinet officials with other people who were pro-south, instead of his originals that were tough on the south that Lincoln had appointed before his assassination.

• The Senate; however, found him innocent.

The New South• Though the Radical Republicans had tried too bring measures to the

South to ensure that Freed slaves would stay free, due to the light enforcement under President Johnson, southern governments continued to try and undermine the freed slaves.

Poll Tax • In an attempt to prevent slaves from voting, a Poll Tax was created in

the south.• A Poll Tax required people to pay to vote. This prevented many African

Americans from voting, for many were poor.

Literacy Test • A literacy test required voters to prove that they could read and had

some education. • Most African Americans had little education and many could not read,

which prevented them from voting. • Though not all white southern voters could read either, there were

different tests that favored white southerners over African Americans.

Grandfather PolicyThe Grandfather policy tried to get around the 15th Amendment which gave voting rights to African American males.

The Grandfather policy stated that a person could only vote in the south if their grandfather had previously voted years ago.

Obviously, this meant that African Americans could not vote, for their grandfathers were slaves.

Jim Crow Laws

•These were laws made by southern governments during Reconstruction that would continue until well into the 1960s and 1970s.

•They attempted to create as much segregation (separation) as possible in the south between whites and colored people, mostly African Americans.

•Many things in the south had a white, and colored station to them.

•Though considered by supporters of Jim Crow Laws to be “Separate but Equal”, most of the time the facilities for Coloreds were not as good as the whites.

•Some things, such as restaurants, were even forbidden territory to colored people, or some allowed colored people to eat in the back alley.

Ku Klux Klan (Reconstruction Klan, not Modern Klan)

•Established by ex- Confederate soldiers to fight against Union Reconstruction methods.

•Attacked Republicans from the north.•Attacked Carpetbaggers and Scalawags who were trying to help African Americans.•Attacked African Americans.

Fighting the Klan

• Enforcement Acts 1870 – 1871• Passed under the Presidency of Grant. (General Grant)• These laws prosecuted anyone who tried to go against

African American rights, like voting and holding political office.• Though the KKK is still around today, these Acts were

able to suppress the majority of their activities for some time. (We will later be learning about when the KKK grew stronger later in American history).

Getting ready for the Test • Take a look at Notes # 9, 10, and 11. Also, remember Lincolns plan for

Reconstruction. • Make sure you know the facts about each plan• Make sure you know about key figures and events, like Carpetbaggers and

Scalawags.• Make sure you know about the 13, 14 and 15 Amendments.