African Americans, 1865-1992

13th Amendment

1865

Abolishment of slavery

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”

What was the dilemma concerning former slaves?

• they would still need somewhere to stay- but had no property, connections, money

• still no equal rights

• lack of education

• will there be increased violence against them?

• what would they do for work?

What big issues did the USA have concerning the freeing of slaves?

• Uncertain what to do with the freed slaves and the southern rebels they defeated

• White population uncertain how far to go with greater measures of equality

• AAs uncertain about their role and status in post war America, how far to press for equality

Freedmen

Black people were no longer property of their slave owners. Had freedom to roam

Old South

Feeling of nostalgia for pre-civil war Southern states

Sharecropping

System used by white land owners. Slaves stayed on land and worked

Segregation

Black and white people were physically separate in places like schools, public transport

Andrew Johnson

• Democrat from Tennessee

• Didn’t join confederacy but wasn’t against it

• Firm believer in state rights

• Viewed as man that could ‘heal the wounds of the war’

• Clashed with congress over reconstruction

• Believed reconstruction should lie with the executive

• Survived impeaching by 1 vote

• Lasted until 1869- replaced by Grant

Johnson’s approach to AA civil rights

Was opposed to the abolition of slavery but firmly committed to Union

Wanted to tread carefully with South post-war. Quick to pardon confederates

Believed social issues were state issues

1. Inaction on helping AAs

2. Used presidential powers to veto major bills to help AAs (BUT overruled by Congress - 2/3 majority)

What were the Black Codes?

Southern states’ laws to control freed slaves

• Used as a tool to reassert control over AAs

• Aim was to keep plantation system going

Key features of the Black Codes

• Restricted the right of AAs to compete for work with white people

• AAs couldn’t vote

• AAs couldn’t own guns

• AAs had to work for white employer and auctioned off if they didn’t

• Gave states right to return vagrants and unemployed former slaves to forced labour

• Allowed those who attacked AAs to go unpunished

Impact of the Black Codes

• Highlighted what Southern State governments could achieve if allowed by the federal government 

• However, limited impact due to the Congressional Reconstruction AND military rule

Congressional reconstruction

Period of passing measured to promote civil rights before Southern states joined the Union again

• High point for AAs

• Shows positive impact of federal government

Presidential reconstruction

• State assemblies had the confidence to pass highly discriminatory Black Codes

• Johnson was focused more on the Union- not the rights of African Americans

The Freedman’s Bureau

Date: March 1865

Key people: Thaddeus Stevens, Senator Charles Sumner (radical republicans)

Aims: Care for former slaves

Impact: Set up 2 unis, provided food, shelter, hospitals, education

Civil Rights Act, 1866

First U.S federal law to define U.S citizenship and establish that all citizens are equally protected by the law

First Reconstruction Act

1867

• Divided the former Confederate states into 5 military districts.

• Required them to draft new constitutions that included universal male suffrage for Black men to be readmitted into the Union.

14th Amendment

1868

• Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S

• Guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of the law”

15th Amendment

1870

Prohibits states and the federal government from denying a citizen the right to vote based on ‘race, colour, or previous condition of servitude.’

First Enforcement Act

1870

• To protect the voting rights of AAs during the Reconstruction era

• Prohibits acts of violence, intimidation, conspiracy against citizens exercising their constitutional rights, particularly their right to vote

• Gave the President the authority to use military force to enforce its provisions

Second Enforcement Act

1871

• Empowered federal judges and marshals to supervise federal elections

• Provided for federal intervention in congressional elections in towns with over 20,000 inhabitants

• Amended the first act to be more effective: increased penalties for those violated the voting rights

Third Enforcement Act (KKK act)

1871

• Passed to combat the violence and intimidation of the KKK

• Empowered the federal gov to take action against conspiracies, that aimed to deprive citizens of their civil rights

Civil Rights Act, 1875

• Prohibited racial discrimination in public accommodations such as: restaurants, theatres, transportation

• Mandated equal treatment in jury selection

• One of the last major CRA passed during the Reconstruction era

• Declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1883

^{limits its impact}

Strengths of Congressional Reconstruction

• High number of AAs sat in assemblies and took part in public life- 200

• Southern states sent black men to congress - 8 black congressmen in South Carolina

• High no. voter registration and participation - not seen on same level again until 1970s

• Some white southerners advocated for a fairer society - not seen again until 1950s

• Republican party doninated southern elections

• Big political gains overall - charges enshrined in the constitution

Weaknesses of Congressional Reconstruction

• Did not achieve equality (but undeniable progress)

• Supreme court and gov. worked in opposite directions

• No shift in attitude of white southereners

• High levels of violence throughout - 46 people killed in Memphil, 1866.

• Systematic racism - police and politicians

• Success only held together due to military occupation of the South

• Presidential support only from 1869

• Reconstruction gains temporary: 1877 Tilden-Hayes Compromise ended Congressional Reconstruction