5.10+Reconstruction

Reconstruction Era Overview

Postwar Conditions

  • End of Slavery: Gradual collapse with significant numbers escaping to Union territories.

    • Juneteenth: Celebrated June 19, the day Texas freed enslaved people, symbolizing emancipation.

  • Freedpeople's Circumstances: Entered freedom without money, land, or education.

    • Some received land during the war under Sherman’s order, but it was revoked by Johnson.

  • Physical Toll on the South:

    • Loss of livestock, infrastructure destruction, and food shortages, leading to poor health among African Americans.

Political Dynamics Post-War

  • Diverging Goals:

    • Northern Republicans aimed for economic progress.

    • Southern aristocrats sought low-cost labor.

    • Freedmen and freedwomen desired independence and rights.

  • Government Ideology: Belief in limited government and state rights hindered proactive federal solutions.

Lincoln's Reconstruction Policies

  • View of Confederacy:

    • Lincoln believed states never constitutionally left the Union, viewing rebels as a minority.

  • Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (1863): Provided for a lenient reentry of Southern states if 10% of voters pledged allegiance and accepted emancipation.

    • States had to abolish slavery in their constitutions.

  • Wade-Davis Bill (1864): Required 50% loyalty oath, favoring non-Confederates in the new state constitution; pocket-vetoed by Lincoln.

Establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau

  • Agency Creation (1865): Provided aid for destitute individuals post-war and aimed for the resettlement of freedpeople.

    • Focused primarily on education, successfully establishing around 3,000 schools for African Americans.

Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction Efforts

  • Background: A Southern Democrat who faced symptoms of White supremacy; his Reconstruction plan included disenfranchising former Confederate leaders but allowed for individual pardons.

    • Resulted in many back in power by fall 1865.

  • Vetoes: Johnson vetoed critical civil rights and Freedmen's Bureau bills, aggravating tensions with Congress.

    • The Response: Congressional Reconstruction began with increased scrutiny of Southern states.

Congressional Reconstruction (1866 Onwards)

  • Radical Republicans vs. Moderates:

    • Radicals aimed for civil rights and comprehensive reforms, led by Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens.

    • Protecting freedmen through legislative means became paramount.

  • Civil Rights Act of 1866: Defined all African Americans as U.S. citizens, nullifying the Dred Scott decision.

  • Fourteenth Amendment (1868): Established citizenship for all born or naturalized individuals, requiring states to respect citizen rights.

Political Struggle and Outcomes

  • Congressional Authority:

    • Congress maintained that it had ultimate control over Reconstruction decisions, as reflected in reports and election outcomes.

  • Election of 1866: Republicans gained significant power, leading to military oversight of Southern states under the Reconstruction Acts.

  • Johnson's Impeachment (1867): Following a political struggle over the Tenure of Office Act after dismissing Stanton; Johnson escaped removal by one Senate vote.

Changes During Grant's Presidency

  • Ulysses S. Grant's Election (1868): Won with the critical voting support of Black citizens.

  • Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Prohibited voting discrimination based on race, although states found loopholes.

  • Civil Rights Act of 1875: Aimed for equality in public accommodations but poorly enforced due to waning interest in civil rights reform.

Decline of Reconstruction Efforts

  • Republican Dominance: Short-lived in Southern governments; varied in duration across states. Southern setbacks became evident as local Democrats regained control.

  • Corruption during Grant's Administration: Affected by scandals, diverting focus from reforms initiated under Radical control.

  • Economic Crisis of 1873: Shifted Northern focus away from Southern Reconstruction, hindering the rights of Black citizens.

  • Women's Roles: Expanded during the war, but suffrage was not achieved until later despite increased demands for equality.

Conclusion

  • Legacies of Reconstruction: Provided a foundation for future civil rights advancements, yet many issues persisted, setting the stage for ongoing struggles for equality.

Reconstruction Era Overview

  • Postwar Conditions

    • End of Slavery: Collapse with many escaping to Union territories.

    • Juneteenth: Celebrated June 19, marking Texas' emancipation of enslaved people.

    • Freedpeople's Circumstances: Entered freedom without financial resources or education; land granted under Sherman’s order was revoked.

    • Physical Toll on the South: Loss of livestock and infrastructure, leading to health issues among African Americans.

  • Political Dynamics Post-War

    • Diverging Goals:

      • Northern Republicans sought economic progress.

      • Southern aristocrats sought low-cost labor.

      • Freedmen/women desired rights and independence.

    • Government Ideology: Limited government belief hindered federal action.

  • Lincoln's Reconstruction Policies

    • View of Confederacy: States never left the Union; rebels viewed as minority.

    • Proclamation of Amnesty (1863): Lenient reentry for Southern states if 10% of voters pledged allegiance and abolished slavery.

    • Wade-Davis Bill (1864): Required 50% loyalty oath; pocket-vetoed by Lincoln.

  • Establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau

    • Agency Creation (1865): Aid and resettlement for freedpeople; established ~3,000 schools for African Americans.

  • Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction Efforts

    • Background: Southern Democrat with a White supremacist approach; individual pardons permitted.

    • Political Actions: Vetoed civil rights bills, escalating tensions with Congress.

  • Congressional Reconstruction (1866 Onwards)

    • Radical Republicans vs. Moderates: Radicals sought civil rights; key legislation included the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Fourteenth Amendment (1868) establishing citizenship rights.

    • Political Authority: Congress asserted control; 1866 elections favored Republicans.

    • Johnson's Impeachment (1867): Over political clashes regarding the Tenure of Office Act.

  • Changes During Grant's Presidency

    • Grant's Election (1868): Backed by Black voters.

    • Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Prohibited voting discrimination; states exploited loopholes.

    • Civil Rights Act of 1875: Focused on equality in public accommodations but poorly enforced.

  • Decline of Reconstruction Efforts

    • Republican Dominance: Brief and inconsistent; local Democrats regained control.

    • Corruption: Scandals during Grant's administration distracted from reforms.

    • Economic Crisis (1873): Northern focus shifted from Southern Reconstruction.

    • Women's Roles: Expanded during war but suffrage delayed; demands for equality persisted.

  • Conclusion

    • Legacies of Reconstruction: Established groundwork for civil rights advancements, yet issues remained, continuing the struggle for equality.