Introduction

Introduction

End of Civil War: Context

Reconstruction: 1865-1877

Political reconstruction: How to re-shape political system & participants?

Social reconstruction: How to re-connect the people; improve lives of freed slaves?

Effects in South

Conclusions/Questions

End of Civil War: Context

South in shambles: economy wrecked, infrastructure a mess

Key issue: millions of freed slaves

most devastating war US had (will ever have been) involved in

How to re-connect the people; improve lives of freed slaves?

War a spur to northern economy

Political Reconstruction

2 plans presented:

Lincoln/Johnson: more conciliatory towards white South

"radical" Republican (Congress) plan: more punitive towards white South

Reconstruction plan dominates national politics: 1865-1867

Causes huge rift between pres. Johnson & Congress

Lincoln/Johnson Reconstruction Plan

"10% Plan" - 10% of 1860 voters pledge allegiance to Constitution & 13th amendment (emancipation)

state conventions to ratify plan

Accepted "black codes"

"radical" Republican Plan (Congress)

14 Amendment (guaranteed civil rights to African-Americans) ratification

Military rule & occupation 1867-1877

Extension of Freedmen’s Bureau

15th Amendment (guaranteed right to vote)

Social Reconstruction

Freedmen Bureaus set-up before war ended: education, land, opportunity for freed slaves

Freedmen Bureaus: mixed record of accomplishments & corruption

14th-15th amendments: bring southern blacks into the political process: many elected to legislatures, Congress while southerners remained disenfranchised

Issue: How to erase "civil war" mentality, tradition of racism?

Reconstruction: Effects in South

Helped millions of freed slaves: received education, chance to participate in politics

Caused huge white animosity at Republicans, "carpetbaggers & scalawags"

Rise of Ku Klux Klan, racial politics

Once troops gone, situation reverts back to "proto-slavery"

End of Reconstruction

Deal made to resolve 1876 pres. election

Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) & Samuel J. Tilden (Democrat) both short of electoral vote majority

A few states votes’ in question due to irregularities (2 sets of returns from FL, SC, LA)

Election commission set-up to decide election

Deal: Hayes takes office & military reconstruction ended, rr subsidies for southern RR line, bi-partisan presidential patronage

Conclusions/Questions

Did Reconstruction really re-construct the nation?

What does the period say about the post-Civil War nation? South? North?

If you had been around at the time, which would position would you have favored? Why?