reconstruction

Reconstruction Overview

  • Question of Change: Examine the extent to which Reconstruction revolutionized the lives of freed people and whether it can be classified as a revolution.

Parts of Reconstruction

  • Presidential Reconstruction (1865-1867)

    • Led by President Andrew Johnson, focused on moving forward rather than punishment.

  • Congressional Reconstruction (1867-1877)

    • Controlled by Radical Republicans, emphasizing justice and stricter measures against the South.

Historiography of Reconstruction

  • Original Interpretations (Dunning School):

    • Portrayed Blacks and the North as responsible for the ruin of the South; Whites as reasserting the natural order.

    • Southern historians reframe narratives around slavery and Reconstruction.

  • Aim: Understand if Reconstruction brought about revolutionary changes in the U.S.

Perspectives to Consider

  • Viewed as a second part of the Civil War.

  • Considered an attempted or failed revolution.

  • Suggests a counter-revolution followed the changes brought by Reconstruction.

  • Notion that while the North won the war, the South won the peace.

  • Aim: Assess the revolutionary impact of Reconstruction.

Key Issues in Reconstruction

  • How to reconstruct the nation?

    • Divisions within the Republican party:

      • 10% Plan: Supported by moderates like Johnson; required 10% of voters to take a loyalty oath.

      • Wade-Davis Bill: Supported by radical Republicans; insisted on a majority taking an oath.

  • Aim: Understanding the strategies for national reconstruction.

Freed People’s Concerns

  • Questions Addressed:

    • What do 4 million freed people want?

      • Land: Seeking ownership of land formerly worked on.

      • Education: Desire for learning opportunities.

      • Reunion with Families: Importance of reconnecting with loved ones.

      • Freedom of Movement: Opportunities to travel freely.

  • Aim: Determine how these demands were met during Reconstruction.

Presidential Reconstruction (1865-1867)

  • Leadership and Actions:

    • Transition from Lincoln to Johnson; both maintained a forgiving stance toward the South.

    • Johnson issued pardons to Confederate soldiers, emphasizing reconciliation rather than accountability.

  • Aim: Explore how Johnson’s policies shaped the nation’s reconstruction.

Successes and Challenges

  • 13th Amendment (1865):

    • Abolished slavery, with a loophole allowing involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.

  • Black Codes:

    • State laws aimed at circumventing the 13th Amendment, attempting to reestablish a form of slavery.

  • Aim: Evaluate the effectiveness of these amendments and the subsequent backlash from local governments.

Examples of Potential Progress

  • Field Order 15:

    • Land redistribution by General Sherman to former slaves, with the order later revoked by Johnson.

  • Davis Bend Plantation:

    • A successful plantation run by former slaves, indicating potential success of freed individuals.

  • Aim: Analyze specific instances that illustrate the possibilities for freed people in a changed society.

Labor and Economic Systems

  • Sharecropping:

    • Many freed individuals entered sharecropping agreements.

    • Contracts often favored plantation owners, leading to cycles of high debt and poverty for sharecroppers.

  • Aim: Understand how economic strategies affected the lives of freed people post-Reconstruction.

Government Initiatives

  • Freedmen’s Bureau:

    • Government agency aimed at providing education and job assistance, faced resistance and vetoes from President Johnson.

  • Civil Rights Act of 1866:

    • Intended to establish birthright citizenship, which was also vetoed by Johnson.

  • Aim: Assess the governmental efforts to assist freed people; analyze the opposition to these initiatives.

Establishment of Higher Education

  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs):

    • Institutions like Howard University established from 1865 onwards to educate freed people.

  • Aim: Note the importance of education in the lives of freed individuals.

Racial Violence and Its Consequences

  • Racial Massacres:

    • Notable incidents in Memphis and New Orleans in 1866 prompted a shift towards greater protections for freed people.

  • Aim: Investigate the impact of violence on Congressional attitudes toward Reconstruction policies.

Congressional Reconstruction (1867-1877)

  • Radical Republican Control:

    • Following the elections of 1866, Radical Republicans began to take over Reconstruction, enacting military oversight of the South.

  • Military Reconstruction Acts:

    • Established U.S. military presence to enforce changes in the South.

  • Aim: Explore the shift in power dynamics during Congressional Reconstruction.

Constitutional Amendments

  • 14th Amendment:

    • Established birthright citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law.

  • Aim: Understand the significance of the 14th Amendment in ensuring rights for freed individuals.

Political Participation

  • Black Voting Rights:

    • Rise of Black political representation, with first Black senators and around 2,000 elected during Reconstruction.

    • Notable figures include Hiram Revels as the first Black senator.

  • Aim: Assess the significance of Black political participation during and after Reconstruction.

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

  • Formation and Goals:

    • KKK formed around 1868 as a vigilante group aimed at denying rights to Black individuals.

  • Government Response:

    • Force Act aimed to suppress the KKK, yet conviction rates remained low.

  • Aim: Review KKK's impact on southern society and Reconstruction efforts.

Legislative Changes

  • 15th Amendment:

    • Enshrined voting rights regardless of race but did not include women.

  • Civil Rights Act of 1875:

    • Outlawed public segregation, reflecting efforts to ensure civil rights.

  • Aim: Evaluate legislative advances towards equality during Reconstruction.

Southern Perspectives

  • Narratives of Oppression:

    • Southern viewpoints often framed Northerners and Blacks as oppressive forces.

    • Resistance to perceived "negro domination" following Reconstruction.

  • Aim: Analyze Southern narratives regarding Reconstruction's legacy.

Election of 1876

  • Political Controversies:

    • Disputed electoral votes led to Compromise of 1876, resulting in the end of Reconstruction.

  • Aim: Understand how the political landscape changed as a result of this election.

Post-Reconstruction Reality

  • Consequences of Northern Withdrawal:

    • Rise of white supremacy movements from 1877 to 1896.

    • Erosion of voting rights and enforcement of segregation policies.

  • Aim: Consider the long-term implications of the end of Reconstruction on freed peoples' rights.

Constitutional Amendments and Their Impact

  • 14th Amendment:

    • Defined citizenship and provided a framework for civil rights laws.

    • Overturned Dred Scott decision.

  • 15th Amendment:

    • Guaranteed voting rights for male citizens regardless of race or prior servitude.

  • Aim: Connect the impact of these amendments to the revolutionary changes in the lives of freed people.