The Ordeal of Reconstruction The Ordeal of Reconstruction

1865 – 18771865 – 1877

StandardsStandards SSUSH10 The student will identify legal, political, and social

dimensions of Reconstruction. a. Compare and contrast Presidential Reconstruction with Radical

Republican Reconstruction. b. Explain efforts to redistribute land in the South among the former

slaves and provide advanced education (Morehouse College) and describe the role of the Freedmen’s Bureau.

c. Describe the significance of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments.

d. Explain Black Codes, the Ku Klux Klan, and other forms of resistance to racial equality during Reconstruction.

e. Explain the impeachment of Andrew Johnson in relationship to Reconstruction.

f. Analyze how the presidential election of 1876 and the subsequent compromise of 1877 marked the end of Reconstruction.

Lincoln’s 2Lincoln’s 2ndnd Inaugural Address Inaugural AddressMarch 4, 1865March 4, 1865

““With malice towards noneWith malice towards none, with charity for , with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s to bind up the nation’s woundswounds, to care for him who shall have , to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and borne the battle and for his widow and orphan, to do all which may achieve and orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”ourselves and with all nations.”

Assassination of Abraham Assassination of Abraham LincolnLincoln

April 14,1865April 14,1865 Ford’s Theater Ford’s Theater Washington, DCWashington, DC Shot in back of Shot in back of

head by pro-head by pro-Southern actor Southern actor John Wilkes John Wilkes BoothBooth

John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qAeFjCscRYv=6qAeFjCscRY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBLsOQPu23Uv=PBLsOQPu23U

Presidential ReconstructionPresidential Reconstruction

Lincoln’s Lincoln’s “10 Percent Rule” “10 Percent Rule” – as soon as 10 – as soon as 10 percent of voters in a state took an oath of percent of voters in a state took an oath of loyalty to the Union, the state would be loyalty to the Union, the state would be readmitted.readmitted.

If the If the states’ constitution abolished slaverystates’ constitution abolished slavery and and provided educationprovided education for African-Americans, the for African-Americans, the state would regain seats in Congress.state would regain seats in Congress.

Lincoln was willing to grant Lincoln was willing to grant pardons to former pardons to former Confederates (Confederates (amnestyamnesty).).

Lincoln operated on a policy of Lincoln operated on a policy of forgivenessforgiveness as as seen in his 2seen in his 2ndnd Inaugural Address. Inaugural Address.

Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)Became President Became President

after Lincoln diedafter Lincoln diedDemocrat, from Democrat, from

Tennessee (former Tennessee (former Confederate state)Confederate state)

Continued the policy Continued the policy of of Presidential Presidential ReconstructionReconstruction similar similar to Lincoln.to Lincoln.

Radical RepublicansRadical Republicans

Held the “veto-proof” Held the “veto-proof” majority power in House majority power in House and Senate in 1866and Senate in 1866

Led by Led by Thaddeus Thaddeus StevensStevens (right) (right)

Wanted to keep South Wanted to keep South outout of Union as long as of Union as long as possible; opposed possible; opposed Lincoln’s 10% plan.Lincoln’s 10% plan.

Radicals wanted to Radicals wanted to punishpunish the South for the South for causing the Civil War.causing the Civil War.

Freedman’s BureauFreedman’s Bureau Created in March 1865Created in March 1865 Primitive “welfare agency” Primitive “welfare agency”

supported by Radical supported by Radical RepublicansRepublicans

Provided food, clothing and Provided food, clothing and medical care to freed medical care to freed slaves slaves and white refugeesand white refugees

Helped reunite families and Helped reunite families and provided legal provided legal representation to African representation to African Americans.Americans.

Establishment of black Establishment of black colleges including colleges including Morehouse College in Morehouse College in AtlantaAtlanta

Redistribution of Confederate LandRedistribution of Confederate Land

General William T. General William T. Sherman proposed a plan Sherman proposed a plan that would that would redistribute redistribute millions of acres of land to millions of acres of land to former slaves.former slaves.

These lands were either These lands were either abandoned by Southern abandoned by Southern planters or confiscated by planters or confiscated by the federal government.the federal government.

He called this plan He called this plan “40 “40 Acres and a Mule”.Acres and a Mule”.

Civil War AmendmentsCivil War Amendments

During and after the Civil War a series of During and after the Civil War a series of amendments to the Constitution were amendments to the Constitution were passed dealing with former slaves.passed dealing with former slaves.1313thth Amendment Amendment – abolished slavery – abolished slavery1414thth Amendment Amendment – granted citizenship to all – granted citizenship to all

former slavesformer slaves1515thth Amendment Amendment – gave all African-American – gave all African-American

men the right to votemen the right to vote

Southern Resistance to Black Southern Resistance to Black EqualityEquality

Black codes – “laws” Black codes – “laws” that sought to limit the that sought to limit the rights of African rights of African Americans Americans

Black codes:Black codes: Limited blacks in choice Limited blacks in choice

of occupationsof occupations Kept blacks from owning Kept blacks from owning

landland Arrested blacks for not Arrested blacks for not

having a jobhaving a job

SharecroppersSharecroppers With very few With very few

options available for options available for freed slaves, most fell freed slaves, most fell back into field laborback into field labor

Became Became sharecropperssharecroppers

Sharecroppers Sharecroppers earned a very earned a very meager salarymeager salary

A re-enslavement of A re-enslavement of free blacks?free blacks?

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan Founded in 1866 to Founded in 1866 to

resist new black resist new black freedomsfreedoms

Opposition to Opposition to Republican policiesRepublican policies

Used terror to incite Used terror to incite fearfear

Wearing ghost sheets, Wearing ghost sheets, burning crossesburning crosses

Beginning of the Ku Klux Klan Beginning of the Ku Klux Klan VideoVideo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3jK02cwDwYv=i3jK02cwDwY

Johnson Clashes with CongressJohnson Clashes with Congress Johnson (Democrat) Johnson (Democrat)

vetoes legislation vetoes legislation passed by the Radical passed by the Radical Republicans.Republicans.

Radicals have veto-Radicals have veto-proof majorityproof majority and and pass legislation pass legislation despite Johnson’s despite Johnson’s vetoes.vetoes.

This led to increasing This led to increasing tension between tension between President Johnson President Johnson and Congress.and Congress.

South Divided into Military DistrictsSouth Divided into Military Districts

1867 – 1867 – Radicals in Congress pass the Military Radicals in Congress pass the Military Reconstruction ActReconstruction Act over Johnson’s veto. over Johnson’s veto.

Act divided the 10 southern statesAct divided the 10 southern states that had not that had not been readmitted in to been readmitted in to 5 military districts.5 military districts.

Each district was commanded by former Union Each district was commanded by former Union generals generals to ensure the states’ cooperation in to ensure the states’ cooperation in ReconstructionReconstruction.. District Commanders:District Commanders:

GEN John Schofield (1GEN John Schofield (1stst District – VA) District – VA) GEN Daniel Sickles (2GEN Daniel Sickles (2ndnd District – NC, SC) District – NC, SC) GEN George Meade (3GEN George Meade (3rdrd District – GA, AL, FL) District – GA, AL, FL) GEN Adelbert Ames (4GEN Adelbert Ames (4thth District – MS, AR) District – MS, AR) GEN Philip Sheridan (5GEN Philip Sheridan (5thth District – TX, LA) District – TX, LA)

Southern Military DistrictsSouthern Military Districts

Johnson ImpeachedJohnson Impeached Republican Congress passed the Republican Congress passed the

Tenure of Office ActTenure of Office Act of 1867 that of 1867 that required Presidents to secure consent required Presidents to secure consent of Senate before removing cabinet of Senate before removing cabinet members.members.

Johnson dismissed Secretary of War Johnson dismissed Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (right) despite the Edwin Stanton (right) despite the Tenure of Office Act due to his stance Tenure of Office Act due to his stance as a Radical Reconstructionist.as a Radical Reconstructionist.

Congress immediately voted to Congress immediately voted to impeachimpeach Johnson for violating Tenure Johnson for violating Tenure of Office Actof Office Act

Impeach – Impeach – to bring up on charges in to bring up on charges in violation of the powers grantedviolation of the powers granted

After promising to stop obstructing After promising to stop obstructing Republican policies, Republican policies, Johnson was Johnson was acquittedacquitted by 1 vote in Senate by 1 vote in Senate

Election of 1868Election of 1868

Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant

1868 – Former commander of 1868 – Former commander of the Union troops, U.S. Grant the Union troops, U.S. Grant is elected Presidentis elected President

Highly popular President who Highly popular President who enforced Reconstruction enforced Reconstruction policiespolicies

Administration was tarnished Administration was tarnished by numerous corruption by numerous corruption scandalsscandals

Election of 1876Election of 1876

Election of 1876Election of 1876

Democrat Samuel Tilden Democrat Samuel Tilden (top right) won the popular (top right) won the popular vote over Republican vote over Republican Rutherford B. Hayes (bottom Rutherford B. Hayes (bottom right).right).

Republicans claimed voter Republicans claimed voter fraud in 3 Southern states fraud in 3 Southern states that Tilden won.that Tilden won.

When the votes were When the votes were recounted in these states, recounted in these states, Hayes end up the “winner” Hayes end up the “winner” in all 3.in all 3.

Compromise of 1877Compromise of 1877

In order to avoid conflict over the election of In order to avoid conflict over the election of 1876, Northern Republicans and Southern 1876, Northern Republicans and Southern Democrats came to an agreement called the Democrats came to an agreement called the Compromise of 1877.Compromise of 1877.

Republican Hayes would be “given” the Republican Hayes would be “given” the Presidency by 1 electoral vote.Presidency by 1 electoral vote.

In return, all remaining federal troops were In return, all remaining federal troops were removed from the Southern states, effectively removed from the Southern states, effectively ending Reconstruction.ending Reconstruction.

Failures of ReconstructionFailures of Reconstruction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxkU6XYntpgv=hxkU6XYntpg

Ticket out the DoorTicket out the Door

Explain how any TWO of the following led to Explain how any TWO of the following led to the failure of Reconstruction:the failure of Reconstruction:

Black CodesBlack CodesAndrew JohnsonAndrew JohnsonSharecroppingSharecroppingRadical RepublicansRadical RepublicansMilitary DistrictsMilitary Districts