Reconstruction


 * RECONSTRUCTION MODULE**


 * Learning Objectives**:

Why did many southerners act as if they had not lost the Civil War? [Hitler after WWI] What made them think they could get away with this behavior?

Examine the means by which white southern Conservatives attempted to regain control in the South. Indicate the outcome of their efforts.

Examine the events and forces that brought a weakening of the northern commitment to Reconstruction and an end to the Reconstruction era.

How much responsibility do white southerners bear for the "failure" of Reconstruction? Do white northerners deserve any criticism? How could Reconstruction efforts have been improved?


 * Reconstruction (Library of Congress)**

Library of Congress American Memory timeline has great material http://memory.loc.gov/learnfeatures/timeline/civilwar/civilwar.html Click on "Presentations" Click on "American Memory Timeline" Click on "The Civil War and Reconstruction"

The following are the three main divisions. Read the division overview first. Then read the following primary sources:

The Freedmen:

Report of the Board of Education for Freedmen, 1864 Startling Revelations from the Department of South Carolina Letter to the Editor of the "Anglo-African" Mrs. Emma Falconer Addresses and Ceremonies at the New Year's Festival to the Freedmen, 1867 Call for the First Anniversary of the American Equal Rights Association Education Among the Freedmen

Reconstruction and Rights:

Southern Treatment by the Federal Government Interview with Mr. William P. Jones, Reagan, Texas The Absolute Equality of All Before the Law Proceedings of the First Anniversary of the American Equal Rights Association On the Regeneration of the South Senators Debate Equal Rights

The Travails of Reconstruction:

The Yankee Element of Designing Politicians Throwing Off the Yoke of Carpetbag Government Leroy Dean Discusses Vigilantes in Texas The Story of Immokalee [Florida] The Goodings Describe Reconstruction in South Carolina George Ogden Recalls Reconstruction in the South Judge J.H. Yarborough Recalls the End of the Civil War

Place Reconstruction in the context of more recent U.S. history.

The civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr., has been called the Second Reconstruction.

Consider also the powerful feelings that arise even today over the issue of affirmative action.

Map of Reconstruction zones: []

The Battle Over Reconstruction (EDSITEment) http://edsitement.neh.gov/curriculum-unit/battle-over-reconstruction

America's Reconstruction: People and Politics After the Civil War []

Why we need a national monument to reconstruction

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/opinion/why-we-need-a-national-monument-to-reconstruction.html?_r=1


 * Many players**:

North and South Blacks and whites Republicans and Democrats President and Congress.


 * No guidelines to follow**

We the people: pardoning power; President We the States: republican governments: Congress


 * Place of ex-slaves in southern society**

Prodigal son comparison Post World War II comparison: former Nazi leaders


 * Presidential Reconstruction Plans**

a. **Lincoln's Reconstruction Plan**

Lincoln's 10% plan Many in Congress thought this plan too lenient Wade–Davis congressional bill proposed 50% loyalty figure Lincoln vetoed it Lincoln was assassinated (April 1865) Andrew Johnson took over From Tennessee Former slave owner himself

b. **Johnson's Reconstruction Plan**

Johnson: "treason is a crime; criminals must be punished" Northerners hoped he would remove Old South leaders from power Through most of 1865, Johnson alone controlled Reconstruction policy Congress recessed shortly before he became President (April) Congress did not meet again until December Johnson implemented his own plan Formed new state governments in the South Permitted them to pass black codes Southern lack of repentance and actual defiance Used his power to grant pardons to white leadership class Abandoned the ex-slaves (freedmen) to hostile whites Congress reconvened in December 1865 Angered at lenient presidential Reconstruction policy


 * Congressional reconstruction plan**

Congress believed it had constitutional role in Reconstruction Saw Constitution as a compact of states Congress shall decide on whether to readmit Southern states to Union Congress controlled by Republican party Congressional Republicans wanted the Southern states that came back into the Union to be Republican. Southerners would gain power: Slaves now counted as a whole person; five fifths— More representatives in House More clout in electoral college

Radical Republicans (former abolitionists) wanted to go farther than most Transform southern society Keep out Southern states until this transformation

Congressional Republican plan: **14th Amendment to Constitution** Their minimum condition Compromise between conservatives, moderates, and radicals Amendments could not be easily overturned 14th Amendment. Freedmen became citizens States could not halt freedmen's constitutional "privileges and immunities" States could not deny freedmen "equal protection of the laws" States could not take away freedmen rights without "due process of law" All these conditions later helped the black civil rights movement In 2000 election, Supreme Court accepted "equal protection" argument In 2010, "anchor babies" issue connected to this amendment.


 * Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson**

Johnson Impeachment Trial (Famous Trials) http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/impeach/impeachmt.htm My Website Spotlight blog post http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2011/12/website-spotlight-andrew-johnson.html

Johnson removed Secretary of War Stanton. Congress accused Johnson of violating Tenure of Office Act This was only a pretext Congress actually mad at Johnson for impeding Reconstruction He urged southern states to reject 14th Amendment.

Impeachment process House brought articles of impeachment Senate acquitted Johnson Important precedent: President not impeached for mere political or personal reasons


 * Southern Republican party**

Coalition consisted of mutually contradictory parts:

1. Freedmen (ex-slaves)

2. Carpetbaggers: White northerners who moved south after the Civil War

3. Scalawags: White southerners who supported the North during Civil War

All were offensive to most whites in the south. Most southern whites were Democrats.

Ku Klux Klan prevented Republicans (both white and black) from voting.


 * Election of 1876/Compromise of 1877**

On This Day: Rutherford B. Hayes Named Winner Over Samuel Tilden in 1876 Presidential Election []

Graphic showing election results []

[Much discussed during the 2000 election controversy in Florida]

Republican Rutherford B. Hayes v. Democrat Samuel Tilden

Twenty disputed electoral votes

Fifteen person commission to decide:

House: Democrats (3); Republicans (2)

Senate: Democrats (2); Republicans (3)

Supreme Court: Initially: Democrats (2), Republicans (2), Independent (1) Independent left: Illinois elected him to the Senate He was replaced by a Republican Finally: Democrats (2); Republicans (3)

Final compositon of the Committee: Republicans (8) and Democrats (7)

All 20 disputed votes given to the Republican Hayes

Hayes won national electoral vote 185-184 and became President

Loser Tilden decided not to fight the verdict; but demanded concessions

Republicans agreed to end Southern Reconstruction This so-called Compromise of 1877 effectively ended Reconstruction