Chapter 18Chapter 18

The Reconstruction YearsThe Reconstruction Years

DrillDrill

What was “the Reconstruction”?What was “the Reconstruction”?

““The Reconstruction” is the name for the The Reconstruction” is the name for the period after the end of the Civil War. It period after the end of the Civil War. It lasted from 1867 to 1877.lasted from 1867 to 1877.

At the end of the Civil War the At the end of the Civil War the South was destroyed.South was destroyed.

People wanted to People wanted to build a “new build a “new South.”South.”

At the end of the Civil War the U.S. At the end of the Civil War the U.S. government was controlled by the government was controlled by the Republicans, but the Republicans were Republicans, but the Republicans were divided. divided.

Some Republicans followed President Some Republicans followed President Lincoln. They wanted to forgive the South. Lincoln. They wanted to forgive the South.

Another group was called the Radical Another group was called the Radical Republicans. They wanted to punish the Republicans. They wanted to punish the South. They also wanted to change the South. They also wanted to change the South.South.

If you were alive then, which side If you were alive then, which side would you support? Lincoln? Or the would you support? Lincoln? Or the Radical Republicans?Radical Republicans?

President Lincoln was President Lincoln was Assassinated.Assassinated.

President Lincoln President Lincoln was assassinated was assassinated four days after four days after the Civil War the Civil War ended.ended.

Vice President, Vice President, Andrew Johnson, Andrew Johnson, became the became the President.President.

Andrew Johnson was very Andrew Johnson was very unpopular.unpopular.

Johnson wanted to Johnson wanted to follow Lincoln’s follow Lincoln’s plans.plans.

Johnson could not Johnson could not stop the Radical stop the Radical Republicans.Republicans.

The Radical Republicans had some good The Radical Republicans had some good reasons for disagreeing with President reasons for disagreeing with President

Johnson.Johnson.

Southerners had elected Confederate Southerners had elected Confederate leaders to lead their state governments leaders to lead their state governments and be their federal congressmen.and be their federal congressmen.

The Southern States had passed laws The Southern States had passed laws called the Black Codes that treated called the Black Codes that treated African Americans like slaves.African Americans like slaves.

The Black The Black Codes said Codes said that Blacks that Blacks could not could not vote or vote or travel travel freely. freely.

Blacks were Blacks were only allowed only allowed to work as to work as servants or servants or farmers.farmers.

The Radical Republicans took control and The Radical Republicans took control and started their own “reconstruction” plans.started their own “reconstruction” plans.

The Radical Republicans ended the Black Codes. The Radical Republicans ended the Black Codes. They passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. This They passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. This law said that African Americans were citizens and law said that African Americans were citizens and had full rights under the law.had full rights under the law.

The Radical Republicans passed the Fourteenth The Radical Republicans passed the Fourteenth Amendment. This Amendment said that all Amendment. This Amendment said that all people born in the United States were citizens people born in the United States were citizens and that states could not take away their rights.and that states could not take away their rights.

Finally, in 1867, Republicans passed the Finally, in 1867, Republicans passed the Reconstruction Act. Reconstruction Act.

The Reconstruction Act The Reconstruction Act changed the government in changed the government in

the South.the South. Federal troops were sent to rule the South. Federal troops were sent to rule the South.

Confederate leaders and soldiers were not Confederate leaders and soldiers were not

allowed to vote or hold public office. allowed to vote or hold public office. African Americans would be allowed to African Americans would be allowed to

vote.vote. Federal troops watched elections.Federal troops watched elections.

What was the Reconstruction?What was the Reconstruction?

When did the Reconstruction take place?When did the Reconstruction take place?

Why was it called the Reconstruction?Why was it called the Reconstruction?

How did Andrew Johnson become President?How did Andrew Johnson become President?

What sort of reconstruction plans did Johnson What sort of reconstruction plans did Johnson have?have?

Why did the Radical Republicans disagree with Why did the Radical Republicans disagree with his plans?his plans?

Which side got their way?Which side got their way?

During the Reconstruction, African During the Reconstruction, African Americans could vote, but Confederates Americans could vote, but Confederates

could not. So everything changed.could not. So everything changed.

In 1868, General Grant became In 1868, General Grant became President.President.

Grant was popular Grant was popular among Northerners among Northerners and African and African Americans because Americans because he had been the he had been the main General for main General for the North in the the North in the Civil War.Civil War.

Southerners were Southerners were very unhappy about very unhappy about this election.this election.

Under Grant, the Fifteenth Amendment Under Grant, the Fifteenth Amendment was passed. This Amendment was passed. This Amendment guaranteed all male citizens the right to guaranteed all male citizens the right to vote, regardless of race.vote, regardless of race.

During the Reconstruction, the South During the Reconstruction, the South was controlled by carpetbaggers, was controlled by carpetbaggers, scalawags, and African Americans. scalawags, and African Americans.

carpetbaggerscarpetbaggers

The carpetbaggers were people who The carpetbaggers were people who came from the North. Some wanted came from the North. Some wanted to help, but others just wanted to get to help, but others just wanted to get rich. Many of the Southerners hated rich. Many of the Southerners hated the carpetbaggers. They were called the carpetbaggers. They were called carpetbaggers because they arrived carpetbaggers because they arrived in the South with suitcases that were in the South with suitcases that were made of carpet material.made of carpet material.

carpetbaggerscarpetbaggers

scalawagsscalawags

The scalawags were from the South. The scalawags were from the South. They were poor white people. They They were poor white people. They wanted to take the land, money, and wanted to take the land, money, and power away from the rich plantation power away from the rich plantation owners. owners.

African Americans elected African-African Americans elected African-American politicians.American politicians.

While the federal troops were watching While the federal troops were watching the elections, African Americans elected the elections, African Americans elected many African Americans to state and many African Americans to state and federal government positions. Some of federal government positions. Some of these African American politicians did these African American politicians did great work They helped the poor, great work They helped the poor, immigrants, and Native Americans.immigrants, and Native Americans.

The federal government set up the The federal government set up the Freedmen’s Bureau. It helped poor Freedmen’s Bureau. It helped poor Whites and freed black slaves. It started Whites and freed black slaves. It started hospitals and schools for the poor and for hospitals and schools for the poor and for the African Americans. the African Americans.

In many parts of the South, there In many parts of the South, there were riots by angry Whites.were riots by angry Whites.

Memory CheckMemory Check

How did the Reconstruction change How did the Reconstruction change the South?the South?

What were carpetbaggers and What were carpetbaggers and scalawags?scalawags?

What could blacks do once they were What could blacks do once they were free?free?

Most African-Americans Most African-Americans did not have any did not have any education or skills. So, education or skills. So, they had to work as they had to work as sharecroppers. sharecroppers.

Sharecroppers are farmers Sharecroppers are farmers that do not own the that do not own the land. They work hard land. They work hard and give most of the and give most of the crops to the boss.crops to the boss.

They usually didn’t have They usually didn’t have enough money or food. enough money or food. It was not very different It was not very different from slavery.from slavery.

The beginning of the K.K.K.The beginning of the K.K.K.White Southerners White Southerners

started a secret started a secret organization called organization called the Ku Klux Klan. the Ku Klux Klan. The goal of the The goal of the K.K.K. was to stop K.K.K. was to stop the blacks from the blacks from voting and regain voting and regain control of the control of the South. They South. They terrorized and terrorized and murdered blacks.murdered blacks.

The K.K.K. fought to reclaim the South for The K.K.K. fought to reclaim the South for White supremacy.White supremacy.

Memory CheckMemory Check

How did life change for Southern How did life change for Southern blacks during the Reconstruction?blacks during the Reconstruction?

How did the White supremacists fight How did the White supremacists fight to regain control of the South? to regain control of the South?

The end of ReconstructionThe end of Reconstruction

In 1872, Confederates were allowed In 1872, Confederates were allowed to vote again. They started winning to vote again. They started winning elections in the South.elections in the South.

In 1876, there was a new election for In 1876, there was a new election for President for the United States. President for the United States.

There were so many problems and so There were so many problems and so much corruption. Nobody knew who won.much corruption. Nobody knew who won.

People started arguing about the election.People started arguing about the election.

Finally, the Democrats and the Republicans Finally, the Democrats and the Republicans made a compromise. The Democrats made a compromise. The Democrats would let the Republicans win the election would let the Republicans win the election if they would agree to remove the federal if they would agree to remove the federal troops from the South. troops from the South.

Rutherford B. Hayes became Rutherford B. Hayes became the President, but now the the President, but now the African-Americans had no African-Americans had no

protection.protection.

Memory CheckMemory Check

How did the Reconstruction finally How did the Reconstruction finally end?end?

Who won the election of 1876?Who won the election of 1876?

The federal troops left the The federal troops left the South.South.

The African Americans had no The African Americans had no protection from groups such as the protection from groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. Ku Klux Klan.

Racists in the South made new Racists in the South made new ways to stop African-Americans ways to stop African-Americans

from voting.from voting. One way was a “poll tax.” Poll taxes meant One way was a “poll tax.” Poll taxes meant

that people had to pay money when they that people had to pay money when they voted. African Americans did not have voted. African Americans did not have enough money, so they could not vote.enough money, so they could not vote.

Another way was literacy tests. People Another way was literacy tests. People who wanted to vote had to pass a reading who wanted to vote had to pass a reading test. Most African Americans couldn’t read, test. Most African Americans couldn’t read, so they couldn’t pass those tests and vote.so they couldn’t pass those tests and vote.

SegregationSegregation Segregation laws Segregation laws

called the Jim Crow called the Jim Crow laws were passed. laws were passed. These laws These laws separated blacks separated blacks and whites. Blacks and whites. Blacks were not allowed to were not allowed to use the same use the same facilities that Whites facilities that Whites used. These used. These facilities included facilities included schools, libraries, schools, libraries, hospitals, and even hospitals, and even bathrooms.bathrooms.

Memory Check Memory Check

What happened when Reconstruction What happened when Reconstruction ended?ended?

Was the Reconstruction Act good or Was the Reconstruction Act good or bad?bad?