Ch. 15

1. Ch. 15 Reconstruction: 1865-1877

2. For Midterm I, you should know: • Major Events Timeline, on p. 585 in textbook • Focus Questions on p. 586 • Key terms, p. 625 • Review table for the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, p. 625

3. The Meaning of Freedom • Freedman’s Bureau-1865-1870 • Established schools, provided medical care, provided aid to poor and aged, settled disputes between whites and blacks • Summer 1865-Johnson ordered Sherman Homesteads returned to their original owners. • As a result, most former slaves became sharecroppers. By 1880, it was the most common form of agricultural labor.

4. The Making of Radical Reconstruction • Pres. Johnson-Believer in state’s rights • Thought confederates should be pardoned • Restored political and property rights to Southern whites who took an oath of allegiance • Only one confederate was executed for war crimes, Henry Wirz(p. 601) • Southern States passed Black Codes (See Voices of Freedom, p. 7)

5. Presidential Reconstruction Fails • Northern Republicans gain control of Congress • Passed Civil Rights Act in 1866, first major law in U.S. history to override a presidential veto • Passed 14th Amendment (which guaranteed black citizenship and ended the 3/5ths compromise) Southern states refused to ratify this amendment • Passed Reconstruction Act in March 1867 (over Johnson’s veto) which divided the South into five military districts • Passed Tenure of Office Act in March 1867, barring President from removing officeholders • Johnson put on trial for Impeachment for violating the Tenure of Office Act in 1868 • Johnson agreed to stop interfering with Reconstruction policy if acquited. (Was acquited by 1 vote!)

6. Why Radical Reconstruction? • Demands by former slaves for the right to vote • Radicals’ commitment to the idea of equality • Widespread disgust with Johnson’s policies (like pardoning confederates) • Desire to fortify the Republican Party in the South • The determination to keep ex-Confederates from office

7. Election of 1868 • Grant won (several Southern states were not allowed to vote) • 1869-1870-Since Grant narrowly won the election, Northern Republicans enfranchised blacks by passing the 15th Amendment • Did not give women, Chinese, Native Americans the right to vote • Enfranchised black men in both North and South

8. Radical Reconstruction in the South • By 1870, all Southern states readmitted to Union under new constitutions • Southern elites were excluded from political power • Replaced by black officeholders, Northerners (carpetbaggers) and whites who turned Republican (scalawags)

9. The Overthrow of Reconstruction • Ku Klux Klan established in 1866 • Murdered white Republicans and blacks • Colfax Massacre, 1871 (p. 617) • Congress’ Enforcement Acts outlawed terrorist actions in 1870 and 1871 • 1871-Grant sent troops to arrest Klansmen • Klansmen later let go without punishment • 1875, 1876 Democratic Rebellions • Grant refused to send troops • Unlike KKK, these whites murdered in daylight without hoods, stuffed ballot boxes and prevented Republicans from voting

10. Election of 1876 • Democratic rebellions caused distorted election results • Election too close to call • Bargain of 1877-Republican Hayes elected in exchange for end of Radical Reconstruction

11. The Segregated South • Funding to black (and white) schools was cut • New laws authorized the arrest of virtually any person without employment and greatly increased the penalty for petty crimes • Convicts rented out to plantation owners • Death rates in prison were high • Widespread violence against blacks • 40,000 to 60,000 blacks emigrated to Kansas to escape poor economic and social conditions