Fluent Essays

Even though the Civil War was over, the race question continued to dominate Southern life. 1) Describe what was done in trying to provide opportunities and social, economic and political equality for the freed people.2) What more could have been done? How could they have better reconstructed the states of the Confederacy? You must show knowledge of the historical events after the Civil War ended and display that you have studied Module Week 16. Make sure you give more attention to question #1The material to help you write this is attatched below prof._haber_s_content_comments_week_16.docx chapter_15_post_civil_war.pptx Unformatted Attachment Preview Prof. Haber’s Content Comments Week 16 Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson had none of the leadership or political skills of Lincoln. Whether President Johnson should have been impeached is a matter of opinion and debate; however, Andrew Johnson set back the cause of racial justice for 100 years. One historian stated, “The only other man to attain the office of President with so little formal education was Abraham Lincoln. Whereas Lincoln is esteemed as Americas greatest President, Johnson, his successor, is ranked as one of the worst.” Southern states after the war—Johnson’s Plan The defeated states of the Confederacy quickly came back into the Union, but they werent reconstructed or changed at all under Johnsons Plan. He was quite lenient and loved the adulation of the planter class. He had sympathy with the slaveholders, and he was a racist. Johnson set back the cause of civil rights for the freed people. He was put on the ticket with Lincoln to balance the “ticket”. Congress takeover of Reconstruction A major reason that Congress took over Reconstruction of the South was the reports coming from visitors to the South that life in the South for the freedmen under Johnsons plan showed that leadership in the South had not changed or truly been reconstructed. The old leadership in the South was back in political power. The Vice President of the Confederacy was sent to the U.S. Senate as the new Senator from Georgia under Johnson’s Plan of reconstruction. Black codes were passed in Southern localities. These codes put the freed people back into virtual slavery. Do not confuse the Black Codes with Jim Crow laws. KKK and Enforcement Acts The disguises were in reaction to the Ku Klux Klan Acts that made the Klan illegal. They were not uniform costumes. Those were developed by the KKK in the 1920s.The acts worked for a time. The problem was the federal government pulled out of the South at the end of Reconstruction. Thus, there was no enforcement of racial justice or civil rights. The KKK succeeded in intimidating many of the Northern workers who came to the South to help the freed people. They also used fear and intimidation to keep people from voting. Remember that there were only 20,000 troops throughout the whole South during Reconstruction. Slavery after the Civil War Approximately 500,000 of the 4 million enslaved people in the South before the Civil War, fled to freedom before the war ended. Claiming freedom at the war’s end was typical too. One of the first things the ex-slaves did was search for family to reunite families split during slavery. Many were scattered across state lines. Freed Women after the Civil War For the freed women the cult of domesticity was the ideal; however, many ex-slave women had to work to help the family or they had to work because they didnt have a husband to support them or who could support them. It was much easier for freed women to find work in cities than for males to find work in cities. Black men were competing with white men for work in cities. In Hi 109 we discuss this subject in more detail Marriages for Freedmen website Here is a link that contains primary sources for the Freedmen’s Bureau. The site has marriage records by state. I think you will find it interesting. Civil Rights Act of 1866 This legislation was the first federal law designed purposefully to protect the rights of citizens. It established that all people born in the United States have equal citizenship and it empowered the federal courts to be the ones to address violations of rights. President Johnson vetoed this bill, but Congress overrode Johnson by passing it. 14th Amendment The Republicans passed and sent to the states the 14th amendment to extend Bill of Rights protection to the freed people. This initiative to pass this amendment was a reaction to the black codes. Section 1 of the 14th gives citizenship to all who are born in the U.S., and no state can deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law and “nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Black Codes These were passed by Southern counties, towns, and states after the war ended (1865-1866). These codes were eliminated by the 14th amendment. Do not confuse segregation laws (Jim Crow) with black codes. Black codes were made illegal by the 14th amendment. Jim Crow laws gradually developed throughout the South as ways to get around the 14th amendment. Here is an example of Black Codes passed in Mississippi 1865. Motives behind passage of the 14th amendment Congress wrote the 14th amendment to extend Bill of Rights protections for the freedmen. They wanted to create safeguards to protect the rights of all citizens. Also here is background on the pardons section of the amendment, section 3--Johnson was lenient and gave out many pardons. The sections states that no one who served in the Confederacy in any capacity can hold any government office, state or federal without 2/3 vote of both Houses of Congress. Reasons for the North’s abandonment of Reconstruction War weariness is key to understanding why the North pulled out of the South by 1877. Think of the public opinion on our keeping troops in Iraq and in Afghanistan today. People grew war weary and they wanted to move on to other things. There were other factors as well. Politicians who were radical on Reconstruction left the Congress because of age, death, failure to be reelected. New Congressmen with other agendas came to power. They didnt have the passion for reconstruction and defense of the freedmen that the Republicans in Congress after the war exhibited. Also, some argued for leaving the South that now that the 14th and 15 amendments were passed it was enough. Another reason was the North also bought or believed the Southern argument on race with social Darwinism reinforcing that view. (that the ex-slaves were not ready for full citizenship.) The new politicians were not as interested in the effort a successful Reconstruction would take. Remember the government had little money. The costs of keeping the 20,000 troops in the South and funding the Freedmens Bureau seemed too high. The attractiveness and lure of placing those few troops to protect western railroad development and settlers seemed more logical and practical. In addition, they said we (the federal government) did enough--now let them fight for themselves. John Wilkes Booth -- I highly recommend this book. I have bought it for gifts --it is so good! Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincolns Killer (Paperback) by James L. Swanson President Ulysses S. Grant It is interesting to know that historians rank Grant #22 out of the 43 Presidents they ranked in 2017. Grant had both domestic and foreign policy achievements even though he was surrounded at times by scandal. A prominent historian wrote of Grant, “A great supporter of the transcontinental railroads, Grant oversaw the completion of the one running from Sacramento, California, to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1869 in his first year in office. Overall, Grants intentions were honorable, and he made efforts that few had attempted before him, especially in the areas of African American rights, Native American policy, and civil service reform. He also executed a successful foreign policy and was responsible for improving Anglo-American relations.” Remember the Test IV is due next Thursday evening instead of the typical Sunday deadline (see syllabus). The Era of Reconstruction Civil War Timeline  April 1861-April 1865  Andrew Johnson becomes President after Lincoln’s assassination  4-14-65 Two major issues Subject of national debate Issue #1 Issue #2 The South under Johnson’s Plan States had to:  revoke secession ordinances abolish slavery ratify the 13th amendment take an oath of allegiance to be granted amnesty Southern states quickly enter the Union New Congress December 1865 Many Southern representatives are the old leadership Example Alexander Stephens elected as senator from Georgia Life in South under Johnson’s Plan  Black Codes 1865 and early 1866 called  virtual slavery by critics Sharecropping and tenancy by end of 1865 most confiscated land returned to original owners 20 \% of blacks owned land but most sharecroppers Why did Sharecropping grow? Congressional reaction Widened the scope of the Freedmen’s Bureau Passed Civil Rights Act making ex slaves citizens Johnson vetoed both but Congress overrode him Johnson & veto of Freedmen’s Bureau Nast cartoon Freedmen’s Bureau Freedmen’s Bureau schoolhouse Atlanta, Freedmen’s Bureau Farm Washington D.C. Congress takes over 1867 Proposed 14th and 15th amendments States had to ratify for readmission 14th and 15th amendments South Redeemed  By 1876 old Democratic elite regained control  Why? Intimidation to deny voting KKK Harassment of white sympathizers Southern blacks lose support of Northern politicians ... Purchase answer to see full attachment