Reconstruction: What We Weren't Told...(ok – we probably were, but we just didn't realize it)

Reconstruction? What is that?!?

Who: The (former) Confederate States of AmericaWhat: To rebuild their government and landWhen: After the Civil War (1863-1877)Where: The southern United StatesWhy: Because the war destroyed their buildings and government and to be successful in the reunited union the US rebuilt them How: You're about to find out!

Ten Percent Plan

The Ten Percent Plan (yes, like 10%) was created by Lincoln to allow states back into the union. Once 10% of the population swore allegiance to the union then the state could set up a democratic government. This actually happened during the war in an attempt to shorten the war.

Wade-Davis Bill

Congress' reconstruction bill passed in July of 1864. This counteracted Lincoln's because it required 50% to swear allegiance to the union before the restoration could begin. Then they could start a constitutional convention (state, not federal). This was sent to Lincoln to pass, but he didn't like it so he pocket vetoed it. Congress then overrode the veto with a 2/3 vote. The bill did not require black suffrage (right to vote).

(a brief note, Lincoln then was killed and Andrew Johnson became President – this is kind of important)

The Thirteenth Amendment

This first of the famous Civil War amendments (13, 14 and 15) that abolished slavery. New states were required to ratify this to be admitted to the union.

Black Codes

Many state legislators passed these laws with suppressed the rights of blacks. These codes were very similar to the codes of slavery. This upset blacks and northerners.

Congress Wakes Up

Angered over the black codes and the lack of support for education, jobs, legal help, and relief for blacks Congress passed two bills. The first was the extension of the Freedmen's Bureau which gave blacks job, education, legal help. The second was a bill to outlaw black codes.

The Fourteenth Amendment

The second of the three Civil War amendments. This was in response to the fear the Johnson would not enforce the legislation that eliminated Black Codes. It gave blacks Constitutionally supported Civil Rights.

Congress Tries Some Reconstruction

Through a series of acts in 1867 and 1868 Congress took out Presidential reconstruction for their own. Called Radical Reconstruction because of the radical republicans in Congress. The First Reconstruction Act was passed over a veto and created military rule in the south. Afterwords acts were passed for quick readmission for states that allowed black suffrage.

Hey Mr. President – You're Out, maybe...

Congress did not agree with Johnson's ideas and worked to remove him from office in 1868. They passed the Tenure of Office Act which restricted the right of the President to remove people from his cabinet without approval. Johnson removed the Secretary of War and got impeached. Johnson won the trial and was not removed from office.

40 Acres and a Mule

The Freedmen's Bureau was given authorization to distribute 40 acres and a mule to black farmers to get them back on their feet. There were 40,000 doing so in 1865, but Congress failed to pass the bill. Therefore, most people had their 40 acres and their mules taken from them.

Sharecropping

Also known as the Contract Labor System, sharecropping was a way to give planters a way to have crops, homes and money. The land owners also got part of the crops and no up front cost – saving them money. This did put blacks back in slave type roles and did not necessarily help them. The problem with this is that bad crops, the land owner's debts, and costs ate away at the profit – sometimes leaving them with nothing.

Carpetbaggers

The class of people who came from the North to the South to get government aid for private enterprise. Some were scalawags or Whig Planters.

Education

The southern democrats set up the first system of education. Now education is being set up for both blacks and whites.

(1868 - Grant wins the election in a landslide)

Greenbackers

Supporters of paper money without the gold standard to back up its value. The concept was popular among expansion minded industrialists. The system was opposed by Grant however and he vetoed the greenbacker's bill and went to specie (gold/precious metal) payments instead.

The Fifteenth Amendment

The last of the Civil War amendments. Passed by Congress in 1869, the Fifteenth Amendment to allow all male citizens, white or black, the right to vote in elections. This was not supported by some women because it did not call for women's suffrage. The south defeated this through poll taxes, literacy tests, land requirements, etc.

White Supremacy: The Ku Klux Klan

The Klan was formed to drive white supremacy to the south. They raided black's homes along with white abolitionist's homes as well. They tried to throw elections leading to the Force Acts or the Klan Acts which made interfering with voting rights a crime and allowed the President to enforce them. They caused race riots.

The Compromise of 1877

The election of Hays and Tilden in 1876 was so close it called in a special Electoral Commission of 15 people – 7 republicans, 7 democrats, and 1 independent. The independent resigned and was replaced by a republican which threw the vote in favor of Hays. The democrats were ready to filibuster the vote until election day so that the House would vote and Tilden would win. However, a deal was made that withdrew the troops and gave the south their own rule. In return the election would go to Hays and he would win.

Jim Crow Laws

Jim Crow laws were restrictions on black civil rights. This was because blacks had little political power. These came because of the Compromise of 1877 and that left the enforcement of the Civil War amendments.

This ends the reconstruction period.

Extreme effort was used to ensure accurate accounts of all events described. However, it is not the responsibility of the author if any facts are misleading or incorrect.