Agenda: Thursday, October 13

1. Warm Up Lecture with question/answer discussion Marginalia (article on Thaddeus Stevens) Reflection Agenda: Thursday, October 13

2. “Nothing in all history (equaled) this wonderful, quiet, sudden transformation of four millions of human beings from… the auction block to the ballot box.” -William Lloyd Garrison Please interpret the above quote and write down what you think Garrison is trying to say. Warm Up

3. To summarize President Lincoln’s Reconstruction policies • To identify differences between presidential and congressional Reconstruction policies • To identify Andrew Johnson’s views on Reconstruction policies and summarize reasons for his impeachment. • To discuss steps taken by Congress, and Thaddeus Stevens in particular, to protect the rights of former slaves. Objectives

4. Phase One reconstruction

5. Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction: 1. As soon as 10% of a Confederated state took an oath of loyalty to the Union & promise to obey all laws, then civil government would be restored 2. All persons except high ranking Confederate officials would receive pardons & those accused of war crimes 3. Lincoln said “The South never left the Union” sooooo it is the President’s job to deal with the States. 4. Lincoln wanted the Nation to return back to normal as soon as possible… Reason for generous terms… “With malice towards none, and charity for all…” Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan

6. A MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS DISAGREE! Why? What is it about Lincoln’s Plan that makes them angry? Some wanted more done for the ex-slaves – wanted laws to ensure African-American rights Some afraid Democrat’s would gain power & challenge Republicans Some just wanted REVENGE… Destroy the political power of former slave owners These anti-Lincoln groups became known as the: RADICAL REPUBLICANS Reconstruction: Phase One

7. Their Plan for Reconstruction was called the WADE– DAVIS BILL (Congress not the president responsible for Reconstruction) 1. President would pick a governor for each Confederate State. 2. When a majority (not 10%) of people (whites) took an oath, the governor would call for a constitutional convention. 3. The New Constitution would have to say - NO Confederate military or civil officer could hold office - All SLAVERY had to be ABOLISHED! (Is this fair?) Lincoln Vetoes this Bill! Radical republicans

8. PROBLEM: Lincoln dies before issue is settled President Johnson has a Reconstruction plan of his own… a combination of Lincoln’s & Wade – Davis Bill 1. Ex-Confederate states have to swear allegiance to the Union 2. Ratify the 13th Amendment –abolish slavery 3. Was willing to pardon high ranking officials 4. Favored state’s rights on issues such as giving African Americans the right to vote Who does this favor? Radicals or white Southerners? V.P. Andrew Johnson

9. By December of 1865… All ex-Confederate states (except Texas) had complied with Johnson’s plan…. When Southerners came to claim their seats in congress Radical Republicans refused to seat them… REASONS: 1. Many ex-confederate military & civil officials were elected 2. Southern governments enacted “Black Codes” which limited the freedom of blacks in the South… (What are Black Codes?) 3. The Radical Republicans thought the South was trying to re-establish SLAVERY!!!! President Johnson & Reconstruction

10. First they created the: FREEDMEN’S BUREAU This gave blacks: food, clothes, schools, land… With NO southern democrat’s in Congress… Radical Republicans had complete control & could overrule the Presidents veto!!! Congress passed a Civil Rights Law & 14th Amendment that granted citizenship to former slaves… President Johnson will try to campaign against Radical Republicans in the Congressional Election of 1866… HE FAILS!!! Radical Republicans take over

11. The former Confederate States were divided into 5 military districts Each district controlled by a military governor Blacks could vote for new State Constitutions Ex-Confederate military & civil officials could not. Constitution gave blacks the right to vote & hold property Also had to ratify the 13th, 14th & 15th Amendments… (abolish slavery, citizenship, right to vote) ALL this had to be done in order to rejoin the UNION!!!! Radical Republicans Take Over in 1867

12. 1ST They try to take over the Army with the: COMMAND OF ARMY ACT The President could not issue orders without the consent of Congress 2nd They pass the TENURE OF OFFICE ACT Said: Any official appointed by the President and approved by Senate could not be removed without Senate approval… (reason to save Secretary of War Edwin Stanton) Radical Republicans make changes

13. Radical Reconstruction Johnson’s Impeachment • Edward Stanton, Lincoln’s secretary of war, had stayed on in Johnson’s cabinet. • Stanton supported congressional Republicans and prevented Johnson from undermining Congress’s program. In response, Johnson fired him. • The House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act. • The Senate failed to convict by one vote, and Johnson remained in office. • Although no longer in control of Reconstruction, Johnson continued to issue pardons, and by the end of 1868 the rights of almost all Confederate leaders had been restored. The Fifteenth Amendment • During the impeachment trial, Republicans nominated General Grant as their presidential candidate. • The 1868 election was close, but the African American vote in the South gave Grant an electoral college victory. • Republicans pushed through the Fifteenth Amendment, which extended suffrage to all African American males nationwide. • This brought millions of potential new voters to the Republican Party and aimed to protect freedmen from pardoned former Confederates. However, it did not ban denial of suffrage for reasons other than race.

14. The Radical Republicans take up the challenge and will try to remove PRESIDENT JOHNSON The House of Representatives will IMPEACH President Johnson on the charges of 11 counts of “high crimes and misdemeanors” The trial in the Senate will begin on March 13, 1867 & will last 2 months 35 to 19 voted to impeach, but needed one more vote (2/3) to find Johnson guilty. Radical Republicans make changes

15. The Main Idea • Republican Reconstruction had significant impact on life in the South. • Objectives • What changes did Republican government bring to the South? • What was life after slavery like for African Americans? • How did Reconstruction affect patterns of land ownership and land use in the South? Republicans in Charge

16. Republican Government Brings Change to the South Scalawags • Scalawag was the name given to southerners who supported the shift in power to Congress and the army. • Many were farmers who had never owned slaves. • Some joined the Republicans to prevent the planter class from returning to power; others were southerners ruined by the war; still others wanted to end the dependence on plantation agriculture. Carpetbaggers • The scalawags allied with carpetbaggers, northerners who came south to take part in the region’s political and economic rebirth. • Scorned as low-class persons who could carry their belongings in a carpetbag, many were educated and came from a variety of backgrounds. • Many bought abandoned land cheaply or formed partnerships with planters.

17. Freedom meant a variety of things, including reuniting with family and the search for employment. Some moved west or north, but most stayed in the South. Life after Slavery for African Americans Most eagerly sought education and began to establish their own institutions, including churches and schools. The churches became centers of community life. A wide variety of other organizations were created, including debate clubs, drama societies, trade associations, fire companies, and mutual aid societies. Freedmen were taking the lead to improve themselves and gain control of their lives.

18. Reconstruction & land ownership Giving away planters’ land to former slaves was considered too extreme. Instead, Congress passed a law setting aside 45 million acres of government-owned land to provide free farms. Southern Homestead Act Under the new sharecropping system the employer provided the land, tools, seed—basically everything but the labor. If able, some switched to tenant farming, renting the land they farmed from the landowner. Independence was difficult. New labor system Southern cities grew rapidly. Atlanta and other cities became business centers, with textile mills and other manufacturing ventures being built. Workers still earned lower wages in the South, and many were locked in a cycle of debt. Industrial growth

19. The Main Idea • A variety of events and forces led to the end of Reconstruction, which left a mixed legacy for the nation. • Reading Focus • What problems caused support for Reconstruction to decline? • What events brought Reconstruction to an end? • What was Reconstruction’s legacy for the South and for the rest of the nation? Reconstruction Collapses

20. Problems with Reconstruction Terrorist Groups • Reconstruction brought violent opposition throughout the South. • The KKK and similar organizations wanted to restore the old political order. • Their methods included threats, house burnings, and killings against not only blacks but whites as well. • State governments were unable to control violence. Enforcement Acts • Three Enforcement Acts were passed, setting heavy penalties for anyone attempting to prevent a qualified person from voting. • They banned the use of disguises and gave the army and federal courts power to capture and punish KKK members. • While the KKK was soon brought under control, other groups continued to operate.

21. Problems with Reconstruction Support declines • White southerners felt the Acts threatened individual freedoms. • Northerners were dismayed that the army was still needed to keep the peace in the South. • State governments were seen as ineffective. • There was widespread poverty and lack of land reform for African Americans. Lost faith • Costly building programs raised taxes and put state governments in debt. • Liberal Republicans helped the Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives. • Economic factors came into play, with the depression that began in 1873 taking more attention.

22. Three Supreme Court decisions seriously weakened the goals and operations of Reconstruction. The Slaughterhouse Cases, United States v. Cruikshank, and United States v. Reese served to limit the impact of the 14th and 15th Amendments. The End of Reconstruction Supreme Court Decisions Violence increased, and southern Democrats grew stronger and bolder. Grant refused assistance since the northern public was “tired out” by South’s continuing problems. By 1876 Redeemers had won back almost all of the states. Redeeming the South The presidential election was disputed with charges of massive voting fraud. With the Compromise of 1877 Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops in the South, and in return, Rutherford B. Hayes became president. The Election of 1876

23. The 14th and 15th Amendments began permanent changes across the United States. Former slaves were now citizens with voting rights. Reconstruction’s Legacy The New South was becoming industrial, but in many ways it remained the same. White southerners deeply resented that the federal government controlled their states. For a century after Reconstruction ended, the South was know as the Solid South, always voting Democratic. It was not until the 1970s that the Republican Party was able to gain ground in the South.

24. Describe how Reconstruction might have been different if Abraham Lincoln had lived. Think about: Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction Lincoln’s relationship with Radical Republicans Lincoln’s ability to negotiate Question to Ponder: please answer