American Yawp Chapter 15

Lincoln's Reconstruction

• Definition: Reconstruction refers to the economic, political, and physical rebuilding of the United States, especially the South, after the Civil War.

• Lincoln's Vision:

  • President Abraham Lincoln had a vision of a forgiving Reconstruction, emphasizing healing and unity.

  • In his second inaugural address, he advocated for "malice toward none" and aimed to bind up the nation's wounds for lasting peace.

• Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction:

  • Lincoln's plan allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union if 10% of their voters pledged allegiance to the U.S.

  • States like Louisiana, Tennessee, and Arkansas reintegrated under this plan.

Emancipation and Equality

• Emancipation Proclamation:

  • Issued during the Civil War, it declared freedom for slaves in rebelling states.

  • Initially aimed to stop the spread of slavery rather than end it entirely.

  • Slaves in loyal Border States remained enslaved, revealing limitations of the proclamation.

• 13th Amendment:

  • Passed to abolish slavery, it allowed Congress to enforce this constitutional change.

Transition to Andrew Johnson

• Johnson's Background:

  • Andrew Johnson, a Democrat and a Southern sympathizer, succeeded Lincoln after Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth.

  • His policies continued Lincoln's more lenient approach toward the South.

• Presidential Pardons:

  • Johnson pardoned Southern individuals with less than $20,000 in property, excluding wealthier former Confederates from accountability.

Black Codes and Resistance

• Black Codes:

  • Laws enacted to control and oppress the newly freed black population; aimed to maintain racial superiority.

  • Examples included mandatory employment laws that forced blacks to work on plantations, reminiscent of slavery conditions.

• Radical Republicans:

  • A faction in Congress that sought to punish the South and ensure equal rights for blacks.

  • Their power allowed them to pass significant legislation despite Johnson's vetoes.

Legislation During Reconstruction

• Civil Rights Act of 1866:

  • Required equal rights for all individuals in the U.S.

  • Johnson's veto was overridden by Congress, showcasing their power.

• 14th Amendment:

  • Granted citizenship to former slaves and mandated equal treatment by states.

  • Southern opposition arose, fearing it would lead to black suffrage.

• 15th Amendment:

  • Guaranteed the right to vote regardless of race, passed to solidify black voting rights.

Political Dynamics and Challenges

• Military Reconstruction:

  • The First Reconstruction Act dissolved Southern state governments and placed military districts under military control to enforce the amendments.

  • Resulted in some black politicians being elected to Congress.

• Carpetbaggers and Scalawags:

  • Northern migrants (carpetbaggers) and Southern collaborators (scalawags) took advantage of the new political landscape.

  • Together, they represented unfamiliar political changes to many Southerners.

Johnson's Impeachment and Aftermath

• Impeachment of Johnson:

  • Radical Republicans pursued impeachment due to his obstruction of Reconstruction efforts.

  • Johnson survived but remained politically weakened, allowing Republicans to pass amendments.

• End of Federal Troops in the South:

  • Withdrawal of federal troops occurred after the 1876 election compromise, leading to the resurgence of racism and oppression.

Economic Hardships and Sharecropping

• Freedmen's Bureau:

  • Established to support newly freed blacks, aimed at land distribution, but initial intentions failed due to Johnson's restoration of confiscated lands to plantation owners.

• Sharecropping:

  • Former slaves worked land in a system that mimicked slavery without actual ownership, leading to cycles of poverty.

Resurgence of Racial Intimidation

• Night Riders and Social Control:

  • Vigilante groups enforced racial norms through intimidation, leading to a return to oppressive social structures.

• Ku Klux Klan:

  • A prominent group that emerged to terrorize blacks and supporters of Reconstruction, seeking to restore white supremacy.

Legislative Responses to Racial Violence

• Enforcement Acts:

  • Passed to combat violence against blacks and enforce Constitutional protections.

  • Allowed federal military protection and intervention.

The Collapse of Reconstruction

• Democratic Opposition:

  • “Redeemers” aimed to restore Southern governance and suppress black rights and aspirations.

• Compromise of 1877:

  • Resulted in the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, leading to the end of Reconstruction and the imposition of Jim Crow laws.

• Restoration of White Supremacy:

  • Following the compromise, legislation like literacy tests and poll taxes reestablished barriers to black voting, enabling whites to regain control of Southern political structures.