Chapter 16: Era of Reconstruction (1865–1877) (copy)

Reconstruction Era

Period after the Civil War (1865–1877) focused on the governance of the South and reintegration into the Union.

Radical Republicans

Congressional group that aimed to punish the South for secession and advocate for the rights of newly freed blacks.

What were the goals of Radical Reconstruction 

The goals of Radical Reconstruction included enforcing civil rights for freed slaves, restructuring Southern society, and ensuring that Southern states adhered to new laws and amendments aimed at protecting the rights of African Americans.

Reconstruction Act (1867)

Legislation that placed Southern states under military rule and barred Confederates from voting.

Carpetbaggers

Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often resented by the local population.

Scalawags

Derogatory term for white Southern Republicans during the Reconstruction Era.

Ku Klux Klan

Violent group founded in 1866 that represented white Southern resentment during Reconstruction.

Black codes

Laws passed in Southern states after the Civil War to restrict the rights of newly freed African Americans.

The Presidential Election of 1876 resulted in...

one of the most disputed elections in American history, leading to the Compromise of 1877 and the end of Reconstruction.

One of Freedmen's Bureau’s key successes after the Civil War was:

Providing education and social services to newly freed African Americans.

Which of the following best explains why the Reconstruction era came to an end in 1877?

The Reconstruction era ended mainly due to political compromise, notably the Compromise of 1877, which resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election and led to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South.

Key details of the election of 1876

• The Candidates: Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel J. Tilden.

• The Conflict: Tilden won the popular vote, and the electoral vote stood at 184 to 166, with 20 electoral votes disputed across Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oregon.

• The Resolution: Congress created a special 15-member Electoral Commission that awarded all 20 disputed votes to Hayes, giving him a 185 to 184 victory.

Compromise of 1877 Key terms of the deal

• Withdrawal of Troops: President Hayes agreed to remove the remaining federal military troops from South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana.

• Southern Governance: Republicans accepted "home rule," allowing Southern Democratic ("Redeemer") governments to take full control of the South.

• Concessions: Hayes agreed to appoint a Southern Democrat (David M. Key) to his cabinet as Postmaster General and promised federal support for internal improvements and a southern transcontinental railroad.

• Included the withdrawal of federal troops from Southern states, granting Southern Democrats control over regional governance, and promises of federal support for infrastructure development.

Impacts and Consequences Compromise of 1877

• End of Reconstruction: The removal of federal troops effectively terminated the 13-year Reconstruction era.

• Rise of Jim Crow: Without federal protection, Southern states systematically disenfranchised African American voters and instituted Jim Crow segregation laws.

Election of 1876 vote disputes

Florida (with four electoral votes) and Louisiana (with eight) reported returns that favored Tilden, while Hayes led in South Carolina (with seven). However, the elections in each state were marked by electoral fraud and threats of violence against Republican voters. The most extreme case was in South Carolina, where an impossible 101 percent of all eligible voters in the state had their votes counted, and an estimated 150 Black Republicans were murdered. One of the points of contention revolved around the design of ballots. At the time, parties would print ballots or "tickets" to enable voters to support them in the open ballots. To aid illiterate voters, the parties would print symbols on the tickets, and in this election, many Democratic ballots were printed with the Republican symbol of Abraham Lincoln on them. The Republican-dominated state electoral commissions subsequently rejected enough Democratic votes to award their electoral votes to Hayes.The 1876 presidential election was characterized by widespread voter intimidation, electoral fraud, and political manipulation that led to controversy and legal battles over the results, culminating in the Compromise of 1877.

Popular Vs Electoral vote

The popular vote represents the individual votes cast by citizens, while the electoral vote reflects the votes allocated to each state's electors, determined by their congressional representation, comprising both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Compromise of 1877

• An informal deal allowed Hayes to take office in exchange for specific concessions to Southern Democrats:

  • The withdrawal of all remaining federal troops from the South.

  • The appointment of a Southern Democrat (David M. Key) to the cabinet.

  • Federal aid for internal improvements and a Southern transcontinental railroad.

Impact on Reconstruction

Federal troops left the South, ending federal protection for African Americans and leading directly to the rise of Jim Crow laws and white supremacist control.This withdrawal marked the conclusion of Reconstruction efforts, allowing systemic racial discrimination to reemerge and establishing a segregated society.

After the Civil War, many African Americans became farmers who had to give up part of their crop to pay for the land they rented from white landowners. What is this system called?

This system is called sharecropping.

Thirteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. The Thirteenth Amendment was ratified in 1865 and marked a significant step in the fight for civil rights by ensuring that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude would exist within the United States, except as punishment for a crime.

Ratified definition

The term "ratified" refers to the formal approval of an amendment or treaty by a legislative body or authority, signifying its acceptance and enforcement within the governing framework.

Fourteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that established national citizenship and equal protection under the law. It granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves, and provided that states could not deny any person life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

Fifteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that guaranteed voting rights regardless of race. It prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

When voters or citizens swear an allegiance (or a loyalty oath)

It means they formally and publicly promise devotion, obedience, and support to a government, country, monarch, or constitution.

Ten Percent Plan

Lincoln's proposal allowing Southern states to rejoin the Union if 10% of voters swore allegiance.

Lincolns Ten Percent Plan

• The Rule: A Southern state could be readmitted to the Union as soon as 10% of its 1860 voting population swore an oath of allegiance to the United States Constitution.

• The Requirements: In addition to the loyalty oath, those voters had to accept the end of slavery (emancipation).

• The Result: Once the 10% threshold was met, those voters could form a new state government and send representatives back to Congress.

• Pardons: The plan offered a full pardon to most Southerners, except for high-ranking Confederate military officers and government officials.

Wade-Davis Act

Radical Republican measure demanding a majority of Southern voters to take an 'ironclad' oath for reentry into the Union.

The Wade-Davis Bill (1864)

• The Counter-Proposal: Radical Republicans opposed Lincoln’s plan because they thought it was too lenient.

• The Rule: They passed a bill requiring 50% of a state's voters to swear an "ironclad" loyalty oath (proving they had never voluntarily supported the Confederacy) before the state could rejoin the Union.

• The Result: President Lincoln blocked (pocket-vetoed) the bill because he believed a 50% requirement would make ending the war and reuniting the country much harder.

Freedman’s Bureau

Federal agency established to aid freed slaves during Reconstruction. It provided food, housing, education, and medical care, and attempted to negotiate labor contracts. It did not provide land ownership, which was a major disappointment for many freedmen. The Freedman's Bureau aimed to assist former enslaved individuals in transitioning to freedom and to integrate them into society.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Legislation granting citizenship and rights to freedmen and extending the Freedman's Bureau. It aimed to ensure equal protection under the law for all citizens, prohibiting discrimination based on race.

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

The political process that led to Johnson's impeachment for violating the Tenure of Office Act. It involved the House of Representatives approving articles of impeachment against him, primarily for his opposition to Congressional Reconstruction efforts.

Tenure of Office Act

A federal law passed in 1867 that restricted the President's power to remove certain officeholders without the Senate's approval, which was used as a basis for the impeachment of Andrew Johnson.

Civil Rights Act of 1875

Legislation ensuring equal treatment for African Americans in public accommodations and jury service. A federal law prohibiting racial discrimination in public places and facilities.