Chapter 15: Reconstruction - Meaning of Freedom PDF

Chapter 15: “Meaning of Freedom” Reconstruction 15.1 - The Meaning of Freedom Blacks and the Meaning of Freedom African American don’t gain any other freedoms Cant vote, own land, etc Families in Freedom Many people try to reconnect with their old families They are able t...

Chapter 15: “Meaning of Freedom” Reconstruction 15.1 - The Meaning of Freedom Blacks and the Meaning of Freedom African American don’t gain any other freedoms Cant vote, own land, etc Families in Freedom Many people try to reconnect with their old families They are able to reconnect families trees (hard because many were separated during this time) Black women are forced into work (black men aren’t paid as much as white) Church and School African Americans abandon white controlled churches and create their owns “African American Methodist Church” and “African American Baptist Church” Begins to desire getting an education - learning simple math and becoming literate - Better jobs ex. Working in a store - Prevent from being taken advantage of - Understanding contracts, etc. Political Freedom Slavery hasn’t really been abolished until the black man has the ballot - Fredrick Douglass African Americans are enslaved to white men ideals Masters without Slaves Southern slave owners have to adjust to new lives South loses ⅕ adult men during the war Confederate money is useless Landowners lose wealth (only have land left, not slaves) Landowners turn ro sharecropping The Freedmen’s Bureau Only last for five years (1865 - 1870) Created by Congress one month before war ends Given too much responsibility but not given funds Land reform - give land to freed African Americans Take land from Confederate generals and give 40 acres to each freed families Open up schools from freed slaves (only success) - 3000 schools for both kids and adults Create court system for freed slaves Mediate tension between former masters and former slaves Provide support for older slaves The Failure of Land Reform President Andrew Johnson gives almost all land back to previous owners → widespread sharecropping - Work on someone else’s land and give half of crops to land owner - Many slaves stayed and worked for previous owners (if they were fair) Crops would fail very easily (hail, rain, etc.), not a consistent jobs - Sharecroppers don’t make a lot of money Someone plantations start using Chinese immigrants Andrew Johnson A few years of Residential Reconstruction 10 years of Radical Reconstruction - Congress is in charge Andrew Johnson is a Democrat from Tennessee (lincoln’s vice president) - Lincoln wanted to welcome Southern states Doesn’t join Tennessee when they join the Confederacy Doesn’t like the upper class and supports farmers and workers Licnoln dies - Congress is out of session - president was a Southern Democrat ! The Failure of Presidential Reconstruction Johnson gives war pardon to everyone who takes an oath of loyalty - They get all their rights back and property (except for slaves) Confederate leaders are not given same pardon - Must write the president a personal letter for a pardon (immediately granted) Allow Confederacy to choose new state governments - Must formally end slavery in their states’ constitution - Formally unsecede from the Union Too easy, too simple → Southern states continue to elect Democratic pro-slavery leaders → increased resentment between North and South Black Codes Causes most resentment from the North (increased tension) Can’t serve on juries, can’t sue white men, etc Irritates Northerners The Radical Republicans More radical than most republicans Most opposed to Southern Black Codes Led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner When Congress comes back to session, they begin to take control - Demand that state governments be dissolved - New governments can’t include Confederate leaders (rebel) - Black men must have the right to vote The Origins of Civil Rights Pass the civil rights Act of 1866 - Those born in the US are citizens - Southerners not allowed in Congress yet → only the North votes Andrew Johnson believed reconstruction is over Congress overrides the veto and it passes (all freed slaves gain citizenships) The Fourteenth Amendment Gives birthright citizenship Amendment is very difficult to undo (must pass a new amendment) - Still has to be ratified by the states Also classified African American as a full person for representation (not ⅗) Increased spread of racist propaganda in the North The Reconstruction Act 1866 - Congress is up for reelection Larger majority of Congress is against Johnson Tennessee is only Southern state to ratify 14th amendment Congress overrides Johnson veto and passes the Reconstruction Act - New state governments - Allow African Americans to vote - Ratify 14th amendment - Until these are meant, Southern government are run by Northerners Impeachment and the Election of Grant Impeachment - president is put on trial No president has been found guilty AND lost their job (Nixon quit) Andrew Johnson becomes president after Lincoln - Unliked by Congress Congress passes Tenure of Office Act - The president can’t fire people without Senate approval - Was never applied to any other president Worries that Andrew Johnson will fire radical Republican It’s a trap (they know that Johnson will break this law) → impeachment Johnson tries to fire Stanton → breaks the law → Congress impeaches him - One vote short of being found guilty (new Johnson would find a way to retaliate) Republicans nominate Grant for the presidency - Against Hertiao Seymour Grant barely wins the presidency The 13th, 14th and 15th amendment are passed The Fifteenth Amendment You cannot deny African American men from voting You can make restrictions and rules but not specifically based on race - Literacy test, grandfather clause 15.3 - Radical Reconstruction in the South “The Tocsin of Freedom” Surge of African American men in politics (before Jim Crow laws are passed) Places like South Carolina (high black pop.) → vote in African American senators The Black Officeholder 2000 African American men elected to office after the civil war Carpetbaggers and Scalawags South is controlled by Northern Republicans (governments are forced into states) Carpetbaggers - Northern Republicans who travel to the South and are elected to office Scalawags - white Southern Republicans - Seen as traitors (South now hates Republicans) Build free public schools, etc. 15.4 - The Overthrow of Reconstruction Reconstruction’s Opponents The South is tired of reconstruction (schools and developments cost money → increased taxes) - Passed all the amendments, but still not back in union (everyone is worn out) “A Reign of Terror” Secret organizations (KKK) - 90s clan is different from the early clan Don’t like African Americans in politics and scalawags Congress passes Enforcement Act - Clan is a terrorist group - President can use the military to arrest clan members The Liberal Republicans 1872 election - split of the Republican party Republicans still support Grant Liberal Republicans and Democrats support Greeley Grant wins by a large margin (largest margin in the 1800s) The Triumph of the Redeemers Southern states that are admitted to Union can now elect their own governments Redeemers - Southern Democrats that want to redeem the South(Confederate leaders hold office) The Bargain of 1877 Republican - Rutherford B. Hayes Democrats - Samuel Tilden Louisiana, Florida and Virginia votes are disputed (could determine president) Committee comes to break the vote → vote Hayes (Tilden should have won) - Corrupt bargain Hayes will end reconstruction = Democrats won’t contest the election - Northern troops taken away from South - Southern states can elect their own governments - South agrees to treat African Americans fairly (doesn’t happen)