Grant and the failure of Reconstruction 1868-1877

What was Grant's background and why would this be a disadvantage?

Civil War hero - no political experience Had actively thought against the South and led the US Army's supervision of Confederate States between 1865-1868 - how well would he be received by the Ex-confederate states who had been devastated during the Civil War?

Who were the Redeemers?

Ex-Confederates (Democrats) who sought to return political and economic control of the South to white southerners after the Civil War

Who were carpetbaggers?

Northerners who moved south looking for easy money

Who were scalawags?

white southerners who joined the Republican Party

What did 'Grantism' mean?

Came to stand for the corruption and scandals that mired Grant's presidency

What caused the Panic of 1873?

Bad railroad investments by banker Jay Cooke led to his bank's closure and triggered a 5 year depression

What were the consequences of the Panic of 1873

Within 2 years 18,000 businesses went bankrupt
Caused a major dispute over the currency and both major parties had to figure out how to repay the federal debt caused by the Civil War

What was 'the money question'?

Dispute over whether the federal government would repay the National debt using greenbacks/easy money (preferred by farmers and manufacturers) or using silver/gold coin/sound money (preferred by Congress and Investors)

Why did the money question divide the 2 major parties?

Democrats were in favour of using 'easy money' whereas Republicans were doubtful- demand for easy money had increased following depression

Who were the Liberal Republicans?

Republicans who wanted less government involvement; not concerned with civil rights and critical of Radical Reconstruction-believed in economic policies such as a free trade

Why did the Liberal Republicans oppose Reconstruction?

Felt that issues such as government corruption were more important priorities and disapproved of the use of 'bayonet rule' in the South

What was the 1870 Enforcement Act?

Protected the right to vote

What was the Ku Klux Klan Act 1871?

Countered terrorist activity in the South

What were the Amnesty Acts?

returned the right to vote and the right to hold federal and state offices to about 150,000 former Confederates

Why were the Amnesty Acts introduced?

Introduced after the election of 1872 to subdue the Liberal Republicans from further opposition

How was the Democrat party divided in the lead up to the election of 1876?

Bourbon Dems- traditional elite planter class vs. 'New South'-Businessmn for industrialised south

What was the Vicksburg Slaughter 1874?

300 African Americans killed by white people (rising violence/intimidation in South)

What did the 1875 'Mississippi Plan' entail?

Democrats armed members who dispersed Republican meetings,marched through African American areas and patrolled voter registration (depriving the Republicans of black votes needed to win elections)

What did 'Redemption' in the South entail?

Some states introduced Constitutional conventions to reverse Republican polices, cut funding or social programmed and restored vagrancy,rewrote criminal law to restore a black labour force

What was the Force Act 1870?

Heavy penalties for anyone using force,bribery or intimidation to prevent citizens from voting

When did Congress lapse the Freedmen's Bureau?

1872

How many African Americans held office during Reconstruction?

Around 2000

What 3 southern states were NOT under white control by 1867?

Florida,South Carolina,Louisiana

By what margin had Tilden won the popular vote?

3%

How many electoral votes did Tilden have?

184

How many electoral votes did Hayes have?

165

How did Congress decide the outcome of the election f 1876?

Established an electoral Commisssion- 7 Democrats and 8 Republicans-voted in favour of Hayes

What did the negotiation of 1877 entail?

Democrats would drop filibuster and treat Freedmen fairly (did not happen).
In return Hayes would:
-Withdraw remaining troops from South (done immediately)
- Dems to take control of remaining 3 states
- Federal Government to provide support to build railroads and internal improvements

What were Hayes' policies to the South when campaigning?

Moderate Southern policy + favoured Home Rule