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Impact and Challenges of Reconstruction in the US

Explore the transformative period of Congressional Reconstruction post-Civil War, including the struggle for civil rights, political developments, the rise of black officeholders, and opposition faced. Understand the complexities, achievements, and setbacks of this pivotal era in American history.

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Impact and Challenges of Reconstruction in the US

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  1. Reconstruction Pt. 2 Congressional Reconstruction

  2. Election 1868 • Rep. US Grant • Reconstruction main issue • Racist election • Grant wins close race

  3. 15th Amendment • 1869 • Fed. & state gov’t can’t deny vote b/c of race. • Women not included. • Abolitionists 40 yr. struggle over.

  4. Citizenship • 1790 only white immigrants can become citizens. • 1857 Dred Scott - blacks could never be citizens. • New laws apply to North too.

  5. Change in Constitution’s Focus • B of R linked civil rights to states. • Reconstruction showed rights needed federal enforcement. • Vulnerable minorities could claim freedom and protection in Constitution.

  6. Radical Reconstruction • Majority black men registered to vote. • 1870 all Southern states readmitted w/ new Rep. constitutions & black politicians.

  7. Black Officeholder • Black vote most of Rep. support. • Whites highest office. • 2000 AA did hold office • Shift in Southern power & US gov’t. • 14 House, 2 Senate (both MS) • 700 in state leg. and many more in local

  8. AA Politicians

  9. Black US Senators • Hiram Revels (MS 1870) • Blanche Bruce (MS 1875-1881) • Edward Brooke (MA 1967-1978) • Carol Moseley Braun (IL 1993-1998) • Barrak Obama (IL 2005-2008) • Roland Burris (IL 2008-2011)

  10. Black Officeholders • Black w/ White allies meant blacks treated fairly. • Courts, road repair jobs, taxes, relief • SC & LA educated & wealthy • Some northern blacks • Most former slaves - leadership • soldiers, ministers, teachers, craftsmen

  11. Carpetbaggers • Northerners in Rec. govts. • “Reap spoils of South” • Some corrupt • Many former soldiers • Investors – land & RR • Opportunity to make $ & rebuild South • Freedmen’s Bureau – help former slaves • Teachers & agents

  12. Scalawags • Most southern born white Republicans. • “Traitors” to race & region • Wartime Unionists • Help to prevent Cons. coming to power • Small but important swing vote

  13. Southern Republicans in Power • Huge challenges/ some great accomplishments • 1st state public school • Civil Rights Laws • Assist poor & needy • Economic recovery?

  14. Mixed Results • Economy didn’t grow enough • AA locked in poverty • Biracial democratic gov’t worked • Public facilities & schools • Racism removed from laws • Conservative elite excluded – 1st time

  15. Reconstruction’s Opponents • South’s traditional leaders • Gov’t corrupt, inefficient, “black supremacy” • Fraud small compared to North • Whiskey Ring & Tweed Ring • 10’s of millions of $ • Tax increases • Most whites can’t accept black equality

  16. Opposition • Military rule bitterly opposed • Carpetbaggers • Scalawags • Ku Klux Klan 1866 • Promote white supremacy • Resist through terrorism

  17. Violence • Goal – Restore white supremacy & disciplined reliable labor force. • Reconstruction must be overthrown • Challenge to Reconstruction govt’s & DC

  18. “A Reign of Terror” • Early on local & unorganized • Blacks assaulted & murdered • After 1867 Rep. govt’s violence increases • Politics • Secret societies to destroy Rep. Party • Attack local leaders, blacks, officials

  19. Terror • Ku Klux Klan – Military arm of Dem. Party • 1866 TN social club • Respectable citizens • Criminal conspiracy • Attack Republicans B & W

  20. Ku Klux Klan

  21. Victims • Wartime Unionists, politicians, teachers, party organizers. • AA leaders, buy land, defied white supremacy • York County SC, 11 murders & 100’s whippings. (whole male pop. Klan)

  22. KKK • Mass terror & insurrections • 1871 Meridian MS 30 blacks & 1 white judge murdered. • 1873 Colfax LA (Bloodiest) armed white attack town

  23. So. Govt’s Ask for Help • 1870-1871 3 Enforcement Laws • Outlawed terrorist societies • Allowed president to use army • Fed. authority expanded • Denying rights now a federal crime not state

  24. Grant vs. Klan • 1871 sent fed. marshal's & troops • 100’s arrested • Trials • 1872 Klan gone & peace 1st time

  25. Republicans Changing • Commitment to reconstruction weakening • Radicals dead or gone • Commitment to black rights going • North attitude • South solve own problems w/o DC • Slaves free, citizens, vote now leave them alone

  26. Liberal Republicans • Mad at Grant corruption • Immigrants & working men vs. (elite) education & talent • Machines kept them from office • Curtail fed. power

  27. Horace Greeley 1872 • So. Corruption = So. Returned to “natural leaders” • Put CW & Rec. in the past & unite • Dems endorsed him too. • Lost big. • New policy for South (Lib. Rep. & Dems unite)

  28. The North’s Retreat • After 1872 Lib. Rep. attack Reconstruction • Increased racism in North • 1874 The Prostrate State – James Pike • Report on SC • total political corruption, extravagance • “mass of black barbarism” • Problems from “Negro Government” • Solution- restore whites to power

  29. Newspapers Change Position • Against blacks participating in govt • Visual expression in engravings • Image change • CW vets, good citizens, victims • Caricatures as wild animals • Racism convenient explanation for failure of reconstruction.

  30. Depression 1873 • Economy Rep. new priority • Dems benefited in south (really hurt) • 1874 elections Dems control House (1st CW) • Civil Rights Act 1875 • Last law of outgoing congress • Outlawed racial discrimination in public places

  31. The Triumph of the Redeemers • By mid 1870’s Dems control TN, NC, TX • Redeemers • Saved white south • Corruption • Misgovernment • Northern & black control

  32. Grant won’t stop Violence • 1875-1876 violence in daylight • 1875 MS rifle clubs drill in street • Openly assault & murder Rep. • Northern public “tired out” by So. problems • MS Dems destroy ballots & drive blacks • Dems win landslide & end Reconstruction • SC did same

  33. 1876 A Disputed Election • Rep. Gov. Hayes OH • Dem. Gov. Tilden NY • Only SC, FL, LA under Rep. control • Close & both parties claim victory

  34. 1877 Electoral Commission • 15 men-Sen., Reps., SC justices • Republican 8-7 majority • Hayes chosen to win all 3 states = next pres. • Bargin?

  35. Bargain of 1877 • Behind the scenes • Hayes recognize Dem. control of south • Fed. aid for TX to CA RR • Dems. promise to accept election results • Respect civil & political rights of AA

  36. Results • Hayes President • Orders troops back to bases • So. Dems wont recognize blacks as citizens

  37. Post Script • Black continue voting & hold office in some states into 1890’s. • When Rep. controlled – blacks had a lot of political power & fed. protected rights of all Americans. • It ended.

  38. 100 yrs will pass before nation would try again to bring rights to descendents of former slaves. • 1950’s & 1960’s Civil Rights = 2nd Reconstruction

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