Chapter 15: Reconstructing the Union

1865 - 1877

Reading:

Monday: p. 480 487

Tuesday: p. 487 496 (488, 489)
Wednesday: p. 497 505 (502, 503)
Thursday: Complete any unfinished reading and do Learning Curve
Friday: Ch. 17 Quiz

Due: All assignments for this chapter are due on Friday November 17th.

Assignment #1: Read the assigned text, answer the questions, and do the vocabulary.

Assignment #2: Condense the weeks reading into a minimum 2 page typed summary.
Be specific and detail oriented. Bold especially important people or
terms. Hint: Summarize each section as you read it.

Assignment #3: Using the electronic edition of your textbook, answer questions in
Learning Curve for Chapter 15 until you have reached 250 points. The
window for this assignment will close on Sept. 17th.

Create Note Cards for the following People, Terms, Events, etc.:

Reconstruction Thaddeus Stevens

10 Percent Reconstruction Plan 14th Amendment
Radical Republicans 15th Amendment
Wade-Davis Bill Ulysses S. Grant (As President)
13th Amendment Civil Rights Act of 1875
Andrew Johnson Ku Klux Klan
Freedmen Reconstruction Act
Freedmans Bureau Scalawags
Black Codes Carpetbaggers
Mississippi Plan Force Acts
p. 480 487

1. How did Lincoln and Johnson approach Reconstruction differently?

a. Lincoln and Johnson both supported the Ten Percent Plan, which allowed each
rebellious state to return to the Union as soon as 10 percent of its voters had taken a
loyalty oath and the state had approved the Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery.
However, Johnson lacked Lincoln's moral sense and political judgement. He was a War
Democrat who disagreed with the Republicans. Lincoln wanted to help the South rejoin
the Union but his primary concern was the Union. The South would rejoin the Union on
his terms. On the other hand, Johnson, who had long talked tough against southern
planters, allied himself with ex-Confederate leaders, forgiving them when they appealed
for pardons. This delighted southerners, but disgusted northerners and freed-men who
called him ""a traitor to the loyal people of the Union." Emboldened by Johnson, ex-
Confederates began to rise back to positions of power. When Georgians elected
Alexander Stephens to represent them in Congress, many Republicans saw this as the
last straw.

2. Under what circumstances did the Fourteenth Amendment win passage, and what problems
did its authors seek to address?
a. The Fourteenth Amendment won passage due to public opinion and the republican
majority in congress. The Fourteenth Amendment sought to address the problems of
racism in the South, where many African-Americans were still being treated as slaves
because of black codes. It declared that all African Americans were citizens, were due
the same rights as any other white citizens and had the right to equal protection.

3. How and why did federal Reconstruction policies evolve between 1865 and 1870?
a. Reconstruction policies became more radical as Republicans holding a majority in House
and Congress passed bills and amendments, such as the Ten-percent plan, the Wade-
Davis Bill, Freedman's Bureau, Civil Rights Act, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments, all of which advocated for free, black men who were former slaves.

4. Abolitionists and womens suffrage advocates were generally close allies before 1865. What
divisions emerged during Reconstruction and why?
a. Although some abolitionist were for women's rights; at this moment in time they saw
women's rights as a lesser priority, Frederick Douglas, an advocate for Women's rights
focused on suffrage for blacks over suffrage for women.
p. 487 496

5. Why did sharecropping emerge, and how did it affect freed people and the southern
economy?
a. Sharecropping emerged after Reconstruction when newly freed African-Americans
became wage-workers. Cotton planters lacked money to pay wages, so sometimes they
offered a share of the crop. Freedmen, in turn, paid their rent in shares of the harvest.
Sharecroppers typically turned over half of their crops to the landlord. In a credit-
starved agricultural region that grew crops for a world economy, sharecropping was an
effective strategy, enabling laborers and landowners to share risks and returns. But it
was a very unequal relationship. Starting out penniless, sharecroppers had no way to
make it through the first growing season without borrowing for food and supplies.
Sharecroppers were furnished with provisions by country storekeepers, but in exchange
effectively lost ownership of their shares. As cotton prices declined in the 1870s, more
and more sharecroppers fell into permanent debt. By 1890, 3 out of every 4 black
farmers in the South were tenants or sharecroppers. Sharecropping had terrible effects.
With farms leased on a year-to-year basis, neither tenant nor owner had much incentive
to improve the property. Sharecropping committed the South inflexibly to cotton, a crop
that generated the cash required by landlords and furnishing merchants. The result was
a stagnant farm economy that blighted the South's future.

6. What policies did southern Reconstruction legislators pursue, and what needs of the postwar
South did they seek to serve?
a. They preferred policies that restrained the states from abridging citizens' rights, rather
than policies that directly involved the federal government in individual lives. The actual
policies adopted by Congress showed the influence of both these schools of thought,
through the moderates, as the majority faction, had the upper hand. And one thing both
groups had come to agree on by 1867 was the necessity to enfranchise black voters,
even if it took federal troops to do it.

7. Compare the results of African Americans community building with their struggles to obtain
better working conditions. What links do you see between these efforts?
a. African American's community building was a great success. Independent churches
quickly became central community institutions, becoming national denominations such
as the National Baptist Convention and the African Methodist Episcopal Church. They
also served as schools, social centers, and meeting halls. The flowering of black
churches, schools, newspapers, and civic groups was one of the most enduring
initiatives of the Reconstruction era. The African American's struggles to obtain better
working conditions was less successful, as many became mired in the vicious cycle of
sharecropping. Although they could now earn wages and formed unions to try to obtain
better working conditions, their efforts were not always too successful. The link
between these two efforts, however, is that freed-men were taking advantage of their
freedom and using it. They would not sit back. After 400 years of oppression, they
seized the opportunity and fought for their own rights, both as workers and members of
their community.
p. 497 505

8. How did ex-Confederates, freed people, Republicans, and classical liberals view the end of
Reconstruction?
a. Republicans reacted to the end of Reconstruction by splitting in two. The Liberal
Republicans broke off from the Republican Party as a result of the depression and rising
criticism of postwar activist government. They were led by influential intellectuals,
journalists, and businessman who believed in classical liberalism free trade, small
government, low property taxes, and limitation of voting rights to men of education and
property. They urged a policy of laissez faire, in which government "let alone" business
and the economy. Unable to block Grant's denominations for the presidency in 1872,
they broke away and formed a new party. Their candidate was Horace Greeley, a
veteran reformer and abolitionists. Grant won reelection, but they had shifted the terms
of debate. The agenda they advanced - smaller government, restricted voting rights, and
reconciliation with ex-Confederates - resonated with Democrats. These Liberal
Republicans were also known as classical liberals. They claimed that freedmen were
unfit to vote. Ex-Confederates in the South seized power. They mostly believed that
Reconstruction governments were illegitimate "regimes," and led by the planters, they
staged a massive insurgency to take back the South. They viewed the end of
Reconstruction as an opportunity to reclaim power. They seized power both through the
ballot box and force, ending Reconstruction through paramilitary groups that terrorized
Republicans, killing political leaders. This movement was called "Redemption." Freed
people obviously were unhappy with the end of Reconstruction, but there was nothing
they could do. Northerners were prioritizing the economy over civil rights and the rise of
the KKK and the Democratic Party in the South ended Reconstruction.

9. What was the job of the Freedmens bureau? How did they try to accomplish their job? Were
they effective?
a. Worked to provide food and medical care, to help the freedmen to resettle, to ensure
justice for the freedmen, to manage abandoned or confiscated property, to regulate
labor, to establish schools, and to employ them

10. Describe the events that led to the election of Rutherford B. Hayes to the presidency.
a. The presidential election of 1876 between Democrat Sam Tilden and Republican
Rutherford B. Hayes. Tilden won the popular election but did not secure enough
electoral votes to win. The House of Representatives decided the election. In exchange
for the Democrats backing Rutherford B Hayes the Republicans agreed to remove
federal troops from the South. This agreement became known as the Compromise of
1877 and brought Reconstruction to an end.
11. Did reconstruction fail or succeed? And why? (Be specific)
a. The Reconstruction Era was an attempt to rebuild the United States of America,
particularly the southern region. However, it was deficient and the bad results
outweighed the good. Some of the deplorable consequences of Reconstruction were
that the southern plantation values decreased, Black Codes and Jim Crow laws were
established, and the sharecropping system was constituted. Reconstruction was a
failure because of South's resistance to uphold the Civil War Amendments passed by
Congress. Also Reconstruction was unsuccessful because of the decrease in the
Southern economy.
Reconstruction (1865-1877) Period after the Civil War during which Northern political leaders
created plans for the governance of the South and a procedure for former
Southern states to rejoin the Union; Southern resentment of this era lasted well
into the twentieth century.

10 Percent Plan (1863) a state could be reintegrated into the Union when 10 percent of the
1860 vote count from that state had taken an oath of allegiance to the U.S. and
pledged to abide by emancipation, citizens of former Confederate states would
be given the opportunity to swear allegiance to the government in Washington
(high-ranking Confederate military and civilian authorities would not be offered
this opportunity), the state was afforded the chance to form its own state
government, a state legislature could write a new constitution but it also had to
abolish slavery forever, if all processed Lincoln would recognize the
reconstructed government
Wade-Davis Bill (1864) bill made re-admittance to the Union for former Confederate states
contingent on a majority in each Southern state to take the Ironclad oath (they
were not now disloyal to the Union nor had they ever been disloyal), pocket
vetoed by Lincoln

Radical Republicans Congressional group that wished to punish the South for its secession from the
Union; pushed for measures that gave economic and political rights to newly
freed blacks in the South and that made it difficult for former Confederate
states to rejoin the Union.

Andrew Johnson (1865) "amnesty and pardon" to any Southerner who would swear allegiance to
the Union and the Constitution, ex-Confederate leaders should not be eligible
for amnesty (like in Lincoln's plan) as well as individuals (almost always
plantation owners) whose property was worth over $20,000, state needed to
abolish slavery before being readmitted, state required to repeal secession
ordinances be remittance, ratify 13th amendment, disowned Confederate
debts
Freedmen The first kind of primitive welfare agency used to provide food, clothing,
medical care, and education to freedman and to white refugees. First to
establish school for blacks to learn to read.

Freedmens Bureau (1865) temporary agency created after the Civil War, worked to provide food
and medical care, to help the freedmen to resettle, to ensure justice for the
freedmen, to manage abandoned or confiscated property, to regulate labor, to
establish schools, and to employ them

Black Codes (1866) passed by all Southern state legislatures, hindered the freedom of
blacks, set of regulations limited movement by blacks, prohibited interracial
marriage, insisted that blacks obtain special certificates to hold certain jobs
Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868) Regarded the seceded states as conquered provinces, promoted
much of the major reconstruction legislation, including the fourteenth
amendment. A Radical Republican in the HOR, a friend of the blacks and
defended the runaway slaves in court without fee and was buried in a black
cemetery.

13th Amendment (1865) outlawed slavery and other forms of involuntary servitude

14th Amendment (1868) granted citizenship to blacks with no interference in their civil and
political rights, all citizens were guaranteed the right to vote, citizenship would
be the same in all states, states that did not give freedmen the vote would have
reduced representation in Congress, former Confederate officials could not
hold public office, forbade the payment of the confederate debt

15th Amendment (1870) stated no American could be denied the right to vote on account of race,
color, or previous condition of servitude

Ulysses S. Grant became the first president after the Civil War; previously a Union General who
(As President) defeated General Lee at Appomattox Court House, which ended the Civil War;
during presidency several scams passed through Congress; the Panic of 1873
(over speculation) came about in his reign

Civil Rights Act (1866) declared blacks to be citizens and forbade the states to discriminate
of 1875 between citizen because of race or color, in cases where these rights were
violated, federal troops would be used for enforcement

Ku Klux Klan This group was founded in Tennessee in 1866; its oftentimes violent actions
during the Reconstruction era represented the resentments felt by many
Southern whites towards the changing political, social, and economic
conditions of the Reconstruction era.

Mississippi Plan The Mississippi plan of 1890 changed the suffrage provisions of the state
constitution by instituting residency, literacy, and other requirements that
effectively disenfranchised blacks and many poor whites.
Reconstruction Act (1867) act placing Southern states under military rule and barring former
supporters of the Confederacy from voting.

Scalawags Term of derision used in the South during the Reconstruction era for white
southern Republicans.

Carpetbaggers Northerners who moved to the South during the Reconstruction era; traditional
elements of Southern society were deeply resentful of profits made by them
during this period

Force Acts (1870-1871) the government banned the use of terror, force or bribery to
prevent someone from voting because of their race. Other laws banned the KKK
entirely and brought forth military help to enforce these laws.
Summary

Reconstruction (1865-1876)
At Wars End
Cities were rubble
Economic life was at halt, businesses and banks had failed
Agriculture meant green weeds
The slave labor system collapsed
It was 1870 when the South produce a large staple crop of cotton like the previously had
South was still defiant
Key Questions that the country was asking themselves
How to bring the South back into the union?
How do we rebuild the South after its destruction?
How to we integrate and protect newly emancipated black freedmen?
What branch of government should control the process of Reconstruction?
Lincolns 10 Percent Plan
He felt like the union could be unified again if there were no feelings of animosity
His plan was the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction.
Pardon would be given to any Confederate leader who sweet an oath to the Union and
Constitution, and that also agreed to emancipation.
Any state could be readmitted once at least 10 percent of its voters has sword loyalty
oaths.
States also had to form new state constitutions that outlawed slavery.
Radical Republicans
Leader- Thaddeus Stevens
Wade Davis Bill
Most Republicans in congress felt that Lincolns plan was too light on the southern
rebels
They announced that 50 percent of a states voters has to swear oath and loyalty to the
union
On non-Confederate would be allowed to vote and hold political offices
Lincoln refused to sign the bill stating that it was too harsh on the south, but then hes
assassinated.
Johnsons Reconstruction
At first, the Radical were excited by Johnsons deep hatred of the planter class.
To the surprise of all, Johnson issued a Reconstruction plan very similar to the 10 percent
plan.
It had he 10 percent clause
But it took the political rights away from the
Former Confederate Leaders
Owned more than 20000 in taxable property
Slave holding plantation owners
However, Johnson had the right to give pardons, personally.
Some sort of political corruption?????
The South Under Johnson
Within eight months, all of the confederate states has requalified to the Union under
Johnsons reconstruction plan
They ratified the 13th amendment
Drafted new state constitutions that states secession was forbidden
Did not include voting rights to the free blacks in their constitutions
Former confederate leaders were back to state legislative bodies.
 Freedmens Bureau
Created to help newly freed blacks transition to a life of freedom by
Starting schools
Negotiating labor contracts
Securing loans
Helping find and purchase land
Providing legal aid
 Return of Southern Defiance
The Southern States also began passion black codes to regain control of freed blacks
These codes were meant to restrict the freedoms of the freed blacks
Freed blacks were not allowed to borrow money to purchase land
Freedmen were forced to sign labor contracts that were illegal to break
Blacks were not allowed many legal rights, such as testifying against whites in court.