Reconstruction

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Reconstruction
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Reconstruction

• What is Reconstruction?
• The period at the end of the Civil War when
  Southern states were brought back into the Union
• It also involved the rebuilding of areas that had
  been destroyed by warfare.

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Reconstruction

• b. Much of the South lay in ruins, though Texas
  had largely been spared.
• Many people were without food and shelter, and
  the differences between the North and South
  remained.

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Juneteenth

• On June 19, 1865, two years after the
  Emancipation Proclamation was issued, General
  Gordon Granger landed in Galveston and declared
  all enslaved Texans were free.
• This day became known as Juneteenththe day
  African Americans in Texas received freedomit
  has since become an annual celebration in Texas.

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Juneteenth

• c. Nearly 50,000 Union troops were stationed in
  Texas by the end of 1865 to ensure order.

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Two Presidential Plans

• Before his death, President Lincoln wanted a
  moderate policy of Reconstructionone with
  malice toward none, and charity for all. HIS
  GOAL? UNITY!
• Andrew Johnson, the new president, continued this
  plan and set up a provisional government in each
  southern state and appointed officers until the
  state was readmitted to the Union.

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Two Presidential Plans

• To be readmitted to the Union, each southern
  state had to abolish slavery and nullify, or
  cancel, its ordinance of secession.
• To regain their right to vote, southern citizens
  had to take an oath of allegiance to the United
  States.

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Governor Hamilton Works to Restore Statehood

• Andrew J. Hamilton, a Unionist who had been
  against secession, was named provisional governor
  of Texas by federal authorities in June 1865.
• He was ordered to carry out Reconstruction plans
  by restoring the local/state government.
• He sympathized with the people of Texas, and many
  pledged cooperation, but others were openly
  hostile toward him.

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The Freedmens Bureau Assists Texans

• Former slaves were often referred to as freedmen.
• A new federal agency called the Freedmens Bureau
  assisted many African Americans in the South.

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The Freedmens Bureau Assists Texans

• It operated for 5 years by
• Helping them find jobs.
• Issuing food and clothing to the sick, aged, and
  poor.
• Establishing the first public schools in Texas
  for African American children.
• Many southerners accused the Freedmens Bureau
  agents of meddling in local matters, wasting
  taxpayers money, and strengthening the
  Republican Party.

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Texas Government Restored in 1886/People Moving

• a. For 2 months, many former Confederate Texans
  met in Austin to write a new state constitution,
  which
• Stated secession illegal, slavery abolished, and
  war debts canceled.
• Gave certain legal rights to African Americans,
  but NOT the right to vote.

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Texas Government Restored in 1886/People Moving

• b. Meanwhile, many travelers came to Texas for
  better lives while radical Confederates left the
  state.

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showwhatyouknow

• 1. What is Reconstruction?
• 2. What is Juneteenth?
• 3. What did the Freedmens Bureau do?

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Texans Elect Ex-Confederates to Office

• Former Confederate commander James W.
  Throckmorton was elected governor other were
  elected to U.S. Congress
• Meanwhile, the Texas legislature refused to
  ratify the 13th amendment (which abolished
  slavery), and the 14th amendment (which granted
  citizenship to former slaves.

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Texans Elect Ex-Confederates to Office

• Southern states also restricted the rights of
  African Americans with black codesthey were not
  allowed to vote, testify against or marry whites,
  or serve on juries

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Radical Republicans Take Charge

• The Radical Republicans took control of
  Reconstruction and disagreed with Lincoln and
  Johnsons plans.
• They pushed a plan to set stricter standards for
  readmitting Southern states to the Union and that
  would protect the freedom of African Americans in
  the South.

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Radical Republicans Take Charge

• In the 1866 elections, they also had enough power
  to override presidential vetoes.
• President Johnson, a moderate Republican, fought
  against them and was charged with misconduct in
  office. He missed being impeached, or removed
  from office, by 1 vote.

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New Requirements for Statehood

• In March 1867, Congress divided the South into 5
  districts. Texas and Louisiana made up 1
  district, commanded by Major General Philip
  Sheridan.

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New Requirements for Statehood

• Until states met certain requirements, military
  rule continued. The requirements (or conditions)?
  
• Ratify the 14th amendment (see section 1)
• Ratify the 15th amendment, which gave African
  American men the right to vote
• Repeal the Black Codes
• Take the Ironclad Oath, which said you never
  served in the CSA army or aided them and allowed
  you to vote again!

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Southerners Oppose Reconstruction

• General Sheridan appointed Unionist Elisha M.
  Pease, a Republican, as governor after removing
  Throckmorton.
• Southern white supporters of Reconstruction were
  called scalawags. Northerners who often came to
  the South for political and economic gain were
  called carpetbaggers. Both were Unionists.

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Southerners Oppose Reconstruction

• In Texas and other Southern states, organizations
  such as the Ku Klux Klan used threats and
  violence to prevent African Americans from
  voting.

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A New Constitution and Elections

• In November 1869, Texans who qualified to vote
  approved a new constitution and elected a new
  governor and other state officials.
• The new state constitution also stated no one
  should be excluded from voting because of race or
  color.

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A New Constitution and Elections

• Edmund J. Davis, a Radical Republican, narrowly
  defeated former provisional governor and moderate
  Republican Andrew J. Hamilton.

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A Republican Governor/A Democratic Challenge

• Davis was unpopular and critics complained that
  he and other Republicans used their power to
  restrict the political activities of their
  opponents.
• Southern Democrats retaliated with threats and
  violence to keep African Americans from voting.

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A Republican Governor/A Democratic Challenge

• In 1873, Richard Coke, a Democrat and
  ex-Confederate officer was elected governor by
  twice the number of votes than that of Davis.
• Republican control was over.
• Reconstruction had come to an end.