Reconstruction after Civil War

1. Reconstruction andReconstruction and
Changes in the UnitedChanges in the United
StatesStates

2. The ChoicesThe Choices
 Lincoln’s 10Lincoln’s 10
Percent Plan-Percent Plan-
more lenientmore lenient
 10 % of voters10 % of voters
would have towould have to
swearswear
allegiance, andallegiance, and
there would bethere would be
amnesty foramnesty for
mostmost
Confederates.Confederates.
 Wade-Davis Bill-Wade-Davis Bill-
More radicalMore radical
Republicans saidRepublicans said
50% should have to50% should have to
swear allegiance,swear allegiance,
and voting rightsand voting rights
in statein state
conventionsconventions
should be revokedshould be revoked
for those whofor those who
volunteered forvolunteered for
Confederacy.(notConfederacy.(not
signed by Lincoln)signed by Lincoln)

3. Swearing AllegianceSwearing Allegiance
HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATESHEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES
FORCES,FORCES,
No. 372 No. 372
PROVOST MARSHAL’S OFFICE.PROVOST MARSHAL’S OFFICE.
Chester, S.C., Aug. 31, 1865.Chester, S.C., Aug. 31, 1865.
I, Jacob F. Strait, do solemnly swear,I, Jacob F. Strait, do solemnly swear,
in presence of Almighty God, that I willin presence of Almighty God, that I will
henceforth faithfully support and defend thehenceforth faithfully support and defend the
Constitution of the United States and theConstitution of the United States and the
Union of the State thereunder, and that I will,Union of the State thereunder, and that I will,
in like manner, abide by and faithfully supportin like manner, abide by and faithfully support
all Laws and Proclamations which have beenall Laws and Proclamations which have been
made during the existing Rebellion withmade during the existing Rebellion with
reference to the Emancipation of Slaves – “Soreference to the Emancipation of Slaves – “So
help me God.”help me God.”
Sworn to and subscribed before me, atSworn to and subscribed before me, at
Chester S.C., this 31 day of Aug., 1865.Chester S.C., this 31 day of Aug., 1865.
[signed] Jacob F. Strait[signed] Jacob F. Strait
[signed] Edw. Cahill Cap[??], Provost Marshal[signed] Edw. Cahill Cap[??], Provost Marshal
This is a transcript of a primaryThis is a transcript of a primary
source. To the right is an oathsource. To the right is an oath
signed by a former member of thesigned by a former member of the
Confederacy.Confederacy.
Citation:Citation:
Oath of Allegiance for Jacob F.Oath of Allegiance for Jacob F.
Strait. 31 August 1865. Papers ofStrait. 31 August 1865. Papers of
the Gaston, Strait, Wylie andthe Gaston, Strait, Wylie and
Baskin Families. South CarolinaBaskin Families. South Carolina
Library, University of SouthLibrary, University of South
Carolina, Columbia, SouthCarolina, Columbia, South
Carolina.Carolina.

4. Freedman’sFreedman’s
BureauBureau
 Set up to help newlySet up to help newly
freed slaves andfreed slaves and
other refugees of theother refugees of the
war.war.
 Set up schoolsSet up schools
 Helped find jobsHelped find jobs
 Resolved disputesResolved disputes
between blacks andbetween blacks and
whiteswhites
 Provided clothingProvided clothing
““The Freedmen’s BureauThe Freedmen’s Bureau
In the years following the Civil War, the Bureau ofIn the years following the Civil War, the Bureau of
Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (theRefugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (the
Freedmen’s Bureau) provided assistance to tens ofFreedmen’s Bureau) provided assistance to tens of
thousands of former slaves and impoverished whites inthousands of former slaves and impoverished whites in
the Southern States and the District of Columbia.the Southern States and the District of Columbia.
The war had liberated nearly four million slaves andThe war had liberated nearly four million slaves and
destroyed the region’s cities, towns, and plantation-destroyed the region’s cities, towns, and plantation-
based economy. It left former slaves and many whitesbased economy. It left former slaves and many whites
dislocated from their homes, facing starvation, anddislocated from their homes, facing starvation, and
owning only the clothes they wore. The challenge ofowning only the clothes they wore. The challenge of
establishing a new social order, founded on freedomestablishing a new social order, founded on freedom
and racial equality, was enormous.and racial equality, was enormous.
The Bureau was established in the War Department inThe Bureau was established in the War Department in
March 1865 to undertake the relief effort and theMarch 1865 to undertake the relief effort and the
unprecedented social reconstruction that would bringunprecedented social reconstruction that would bring
freed people to full citizenship.freed people to full citizenship.
It issued food and clothing, operated hospitals andIt issued food and clothing, operated hospitals and
temporary camps, helped locate family members,temporary camps, helped locate family members,
promoted education, helped freedmen legalizepromoted education, helped freedmen legalize
marriages, provided employment, supervised labormarriages, provided employment, supervised labor
contracts, provided legal representation, investigatedcontracts, provided legal representation, investigated
racial confrontations, settled freedmen on abandonedracial confrontations, settled freedmen on abandoned
or confiscated lands, and worked with Africanor confiscated lands, and worked with African
American soldiers and sailors and their heirs to secureAmerican soldiers and sailors and their heirs to secure
back pay, bounty payments, and pensions.”back pay, bounty payments, and pensions.”
http://www.archives.gov/research/african-http://www.archives.gov/research/african-
americans/freedmens-bureau/brochure.pdfamericans/freedmens-bureau/brochure.pdf

5.  This is a copyThis is a copy
of a primaryof a primary
source foundsource found
in the U.S.in the U.S.
Archives. It’sArchives. It’s
a report froma report from
a freedman’sa freedman’s
school. Whatschool. What
can youcan you
understandunderstand
from lookingfrom looking
at it?at it?

6. Lincoln assassinatedLincoln assassinated
 It occurred 5 days after LeeIt occurred 5 days after Lee
surrendered to Grant atsurrendered to Grant at
Appomattox. It was Good Friday,Appomattox. It was Good Friday,
April 14, 1865.April 14, 1865.
 John Wilkes Booth and hisJohn Wilkes Booth and his
conspirators wanted to bringconspirators wanted to bring
chaos to the Union, so thatchaos to the Union, so that
Confederate forces would beConfederate forces would be
encouraged to fight again.encouraged to fight again.
Pictured from top
clockwise: Ford’s
Theatre balcony,
John Wilkes Booth,
and three
conspirators.

7.  Ironically, the single shotIronically, the single shot
from this derringer wouldfrom this derringer would
end Lincoln’s idea ofend Lincoln’s idea of
trying to reunite thetrying to reunite the
country more peacefullycountry more peacefully
and give racial equality.and give racial equality.
It would take anotherIt would take another
100 years for that.100 years for that.
Pistol on display at Ford’s Theatre,
where Lincoln had been watching Our
American Cousin.

8. The South PostwarThe South Postwar
 PhysicalPhysical
destruction- Mostdestruction- Most
of the war tookof the war took
place in the South.place in the South.
 FinanciallyFinancially
destroyed-destroyed-
worthless $,worthless $,
closed banks, lossclosed banks, loss
of fortunesof fortunes
 Wounded soldiersWounded soldiers
returningreturning
 4 million freedmen4 million freedmen
with no jobs orwith no jobs or
educationeducation
Illustration showing Jackson from the August 8,
1863, edition of The Illustrated London News.

9. Problems That Would Arise FromProblems That Would Arise From
The RuinsThe Ruins
 About 4 million formerAbout 4 million former
slaves were now freeslaves were now free
(“Freedmen”) but had(“Freedmen”) but had
little opportunity for jobslittle opportunity for jobs
or any hope of providingor any hope of providing
for their families.for their families.
 Hundreds of thousandsHundreds of thousands
of veterans were alsoof veterans were also
created by the war.created by the war.

10. Lincoln’s Successor,Lincoln’s Successor,
Johnson’s planJohnson’s plan
 A majority of voters from eachA majority of voters from each
southern state had to pledge loyaltysouthern state had to pledge loyalty
to the United Statesto the United States
 Each state also had to ratify theEach state also had to ratify the
Thirteenth Amendment (1865) whichThirteenth Amendment (1865) which
had banned slavery throughout thehad banned slavery throughout the
nationnation

11. The South’s Black CodesThe South’s Black Codes
 A way that Southerners could restrictA way that Southerners could restrict
newly freed African Americansnewly freed African Americans
 Most of these state or local laws saidMost of these state or local laws said
theythey couldn’tcouldn’t vote, own guns orvote, own guns or
serve on juries.serve on juries.
https://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/122/recon/code.h
tml
https://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/122/recon/code.html
Mississippi’s Black
Codes of 1865

12. Congress Takes ActionCongress Takes Action
 Members of Congress known as RadicalMembers of Congress known as Radical
Republicans vowed to take control ofRepublicans vowed to take control of
ReconstructionReconstruction
 Two main goals:Two main goals:
 They wanted to break the power of wealthyThey wanted to break the power of wealthy
planters who had long ruled the Southplanters who had long ruled the South
 They wanted to ensure that freedmenThey wanted to ensure that freedmen
received the right to votereceived the right to vote

13. Republicans Start To TakeRepublicans Start To Take
ControlControl
 They passed the CivilThey passed the Civil
Rights Act (1866)Rights Act (1866)
however, fearing thehowever, fearing the
Supreme CourtSupreme Court
would declare itwould declare it
unconstitutional, theyunconstitutional, they
proposed the 14proposed the 14thth
AmendmentAmendment

14. 1414thth
AmendmentAmendment
 Defined citizens as “all persons bornDefined citizens as “all persons born
or naturalized in the United States”or naturalized in the United States”
 Guaranteed citizens “equal protectionGuaranteed citizens “equal protection
of the laws”of the laws”
 Forbade states to “deprive anyForbade states to “deprive any
person of life, liberty or propertyperson of life, liberty or property
without due process of law”without due process of law”

15. Radical ReconstructionRadical Reconstruction
 Under the Reconstruction Act (1867)Under the Reconstruction Act (1867)
Congress threw out any state’s governmentCongress threw out any state’s government
that did not ratify the 14that did not ratify the 14thth
AmendmentAmendment
 To rejoin the Union, states had to write newTo rejoin the Union, states had to write new
constitutions and ratify the 14constitutions and ratify the 14thth
AmendmentAmendment

16. Johnson Is Impeached andJohnson Is Impeached and
Nearly RemovedNearly Removed
Republicans decided to removeRepublicans decided to remove
Johnson from office after he tried to limitJohnson from office after he tried to limit
what they could do with Reconstructionwhat they could do with Reconstruction
They decided to impeach him, or bringThey decided to impeach him, or bring
formal charges against him, but they didformal charges against him, but they did
not hold up.not hold up.

17. Grant Is Nominated forGrant Is Nominated for
PresidentPresident
RepublicansRepublicans
nominate Ulysses S.nominate Ulysses S.
Grant for President.Grant for President.
SouthernSouthern
governments allowedgovernments allowed
African AmericanAfrican American
men to vote, and as amen to vote, and as a
result Grant easilyresult Grant easily
won the election.won the election.

18. The Fifteenth AmendmentThe Fifteenth Amendment
 Proposed in 1869Proposed in 1869
 Forbade any state to deny any citizenForbade any state to deny any citizen
the right to vote because of “race,the right to vote because of “race,
color, or previous condition ofcolor, or previous condition of
servitude”servitude”

19. Three Groups Step In As LeadersThree Groups Step In As Leaders
In The SouthIn The South
First were theFirst were the scalawagsscalawags::
 Seen as traitors by someSeen as traitors by some
 They were white businesspeople who hadThey were white businesspeople who had
opposed secession in 1860opposed secession in 1860
 They wanted to forget the war and just rebuild theThey wanted to forget the war and just rebuild the
South.South.

20. Second, were theSecond, were the carpetbaggerscarpetbaggers::
 Northerners who came to the southNortherners who came to the south
after the war hoping to get rich from theafter the war hoping to get rich from the
South’s miserySouth’s misery
Third, were African AmericansThird, were African Americans
 They became sheriffs, mayors, andThey became sheriffs, mayors, and
legislators in the new governmentlegislators in the new government

21. Hiram RevelsHiram Revels
 The first AfricanThe first African
American in the U.S.American in the U.S.
Senate was fromSenate was from
Mississippi. He hadMississippi. He had
not been a slave. Henot been a slave. He
had been a minister,had been a minister,
and he later becameand he later became
President of AlcornPresident of Alcorn
University.University.

22. The Rise of Vigilante GroupsThe Rise of Vigilante Groups
 These groups were radical in theirThese groups were radical in their
way of thinkingway of thinking
 The KKK (Ku Klux Klan) frightened,The KKK (Ku Klux Klan) frightened,
threatened, and killed Africanthreatened, and killed African
AmericansAmericans..

23. Ending Federal ReconstructionEnding Federal Reconstruction
 Grant’s administration gained a reputationGrant’s administration gained a reputation
for corruption.for corruption.
 The 1876 election was decided byThe 1876 election was decided by
Congress. Rutherford B. Hayes hadCongress. Rutherford B. Hayes had
promised to end Reconstruction, so he gotpromised to end Reconstruction, so he got
the votes needed.the votes needed.

24. A Cycle of PovertyA Cycle of Poverty
 SharecroppingSharecropping
 Freedmen and poor whites who went toFreedmen and poor whites who went to
work on large plantationswork on large plantations
 They rented and farmed a plot of landThey rented and farmed a plot of land
 Planters provided seed, fertilizer, and toolsPlanters provided seed, fertilizer, and tools
in return for a share of the crop at harvestin return for a share of the crop at harvest
timetime

25. Getting around the 15Getting around the 15thth
AmendmentAmendment
 Southerners passedSoutherners passed poll taxes-poll taxes- requiring votersrequiring voters
to pay a fee each time they voted.to pay a fee each time they voted.
 They imposedThey imposed literacyliteracy teststests that required votersthat required voters
to read and explain a section of the Constitution.to read and explain a section of the Constitution.
A grandfather clause allowed someone whoseA grandfather clause allowed someone whose
grandfather had voted to get around taking thegrandfather had voted to get around taking the
test. Guess who was grandfathered in?test. Guess who was grandfathered in?
 SegregationSegregation became the law in the Southbecame the law in the South
 Law that would separate whites and blacksLaw that would separate whites and blacks

26. PlessyPlessy v. Fergusonv. Ferguson
 The Supreme Court ruled thatThe Supreme Court ruled that
segregation was legal as long assegregation was legal as long as
facilities for blacks and whites werefacilities for blacks and whites were
equal.equal.

27. South begins to industrialize bySouth begins to industrialize by
the 1880’sthe 1880’s
 Textile industry takes advantage of aTextile industry takes advantage of a
resurgence of cotton productionresurgence of cotton production
 Other industries take advantage of naturalOther industries take advantage of natural
resourcesresources
 Lumber millsLumber mills
 Iron millsIron mills