RECONSTRUCTION, WHAT WENT WRONG

I. Historiography of Reconstruction A. Early Views Journalists, Poets, & Rebels Negative view of Reconstruction Sidney Andrews, The South Since the War (1866) John Dennett, The South as It Is. Southern frame of reference Sidney Lanier (poet) Attempt to justify Civil War B. Early Professional Historians John Ford Rhodes Ohio Democrat Not impartial Blamed North for problems of Reconstruction’ Claimed Black Rule forced on South at point of bayonet John William Burgess Tennessee Unionist Former Union soldier Studied at University of Berlin Organized History Graduate Program at Columbia University Produced historians such as U.B. Phillips and William Archibald Dunning Traditionalist view of Reconstruction Burgess, Phillips & Dunning Basic view: Stressed Southern problems Minimized achievements of Freedmen Regarded White Supremacy as normal in South C. Dunning School And Traditionalism William Archibald Dunning Taught at Columbia University Attracted best historical minds of his day Wrote histories of their own states James W. Garner, Reconstruction in Mississippi (1901) Walter Lynwood Fleming, Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama (1905) William W. Davis, Civil War and Reconstruction in Florida (1913) Clara Mildred Thompson, Reconstruction in Georgia (1915) Histories very detailed and accurate BUT hostile to Blacks, Carpetbaggers, and Scalawags Praised Democratic Party D. Marxist Historians Prejudice in opposite direction Stressed accomplishment of Blacks W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction (1935) E. Revisionists Influenced by Depression and New Deal Attacked Dunning School Most important historians Howard Beale Francis B. Simpkins Charles and Mary Beard Kenneth Stamp John Hope Franklin

II. Ending the Civil War A. What happened in the Spring of 1864? South already defeated North began new phase of operations Grant named supreme commander 1863 had been the decisive year for the South Chancellorsville, May 1863 Vicksburg, July 1863 Gettysburg, July 1863 Chattanooga, Nov. 1863 Events of 1864 Army of Potomac Meade and Grant Operate against Lee Sherman versus Joe Johnston in Georgia Philip Sheridan destroying the Shenandoah Valley B. Devastation of the War Virginia in ruins Shenandoah Valley destroyed Bridges gone Farms burned Tennessee Valley of Alabama, a waste land Alabama lost 40,000 men, 20,000 disabled 20,000 widows and orphans People begging for food Freedmen’s Bureau fed thousands Cities: Richmond, Va. Business district burned Charleston, S.C. almost destroyed Columbia, S.C. 80 square blocks burned Atlanta, Ga. Completely destroyed Mobile, Al. Harbor destroyed and 9 blocks downtown in ashes Selma, Al. in ashes Oxford, Miss. Only one business standing New Orleans referred to as “a city whose soul was dead” Transportation Bridges were prime military targets Burned or washed out River traffic gone Railroads bridges, tussles and lines destroyed Cross ties rotten Railroad hubs destroyed Took years to rebuild Industry Iron works wiped out Salt works destroyed Textile mills burned Southern industry non-existent Economy
Banks gone Only Confederate money and it was worthless Peoples’ savings vanished Insurance companies bankrupt Colleges bankrupt South’s non-slave wealth dropped by one-third Agriculture Ruined Livestock gone Fields lying in waste Fences burned Implements and tools destroyed or in decay One-third to one-half of draft animals gone No seed No Fertilizer Slave property no longer exists, valued at $2 Billion Land prices fell from $300 an acre to one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) Six southern states in the tip 10 of wealthiest states in the Union in 1860 None in that position in 1870 Deaths North and South 600,000 Every family touched Emotion ran high BUT treatment of the South was mild for causing the rebellion III. Presidential Reconstruction A. What did reconstruction mean? Originally Reconstruction meant to bring the South back into its proper relationship with the Union After 4 years of fighting took on additional meaning Physically Reconstruction of South Political Reconstruction Relationships of former slaves Most important question - - how to bring states in rebellion back into the Union Constitution made no provisions for Reconstruction Question of relationship of Southern States Were Confederate states still States? Were they conquered provinces? Who should decide the question - - President, Congress, or Supreme Court President had power to pardon under Article II, section 2 Congress had right to admit new states, govern territories and etc. Article IV, section 4 Guaranteed all states a republican form of government Congress and President at loggerhead over these issues for years B. Lincoln’s Beliefs Believed President had power to reconstruct because of power to pardon Interpretation of constitution rested on premise that the Union was Perpetual Therefore no state could secede from the Union. Confederate states NOT out of the Union only out of proper relationship with the Union States NOT in rebellion only people in rebellion Southern states were
NOT new states
Not conquered Provinces
Not territories
Therefore Congress had no power to reconstruct But Lincoln approached Reconstruction with an open mind - - no firm plan C. Lincoln’s actions during the War As federal troops over ran South Civil government had to be re-established As Commander-in-Chief Lincoln Created Unionist governments Supported by Military Never meant to be final solution While he lived, Lincoln’s plans for reconstruction constantly changing Never intended to omit Congress from the process Experimented with Reconstruction in border states early in War Both Maryland and Kentucky Federal troops used to back up unionist governments Missouri - - Governor Claiborne Jackson joined Confederacy Union commander declared state offices vacant Placed union governor in state capital Lincoln derived basic plan Install union governors protected by military and supported by whatever Popular support the Governor could muster Continued this policy for the remainder of the War D. Lincoln’s 10% Plan Announced 8 Dec. 1863 Based on experience of two years of War and President’s power to pardon All Southerners EXCEPT high Confederate officials and officers Who swore loyalty to Union would be pardoned When 10% of voters of 1860 had sworn allegiance to U.S. established a Republican form of government
Abolished slavery
Then President would recognize as Reconstructed Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana reconstructed by this manner
IV. Radical Republicans in Congress A. Radicals out raged by 10% plan Led by Rep. Henry Davis of Maryland Sen. Benjamin Wade of Ohio Rep. Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania Sen. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts Believed Lincoln putting government back into hands of rebels Believed Lincoln getting too much power Refused to seat representatives for former Confederate states Refused to count electoral votes from those states in 1864 election Moderate Republicans joined radicals Believed Lincoln’s plan did protect Freedmen Radicals began to forge their own plan B. Wade-Davis Bill 2 July 1864 Requirements of Bill A majority of voters in Southern states must swear to past and future loyalty to Union Must abolish slavery Must repudiate the Confederate war debt Must disfranchise (deny the vote) to Confederate leaders Then Congress would re-admit to the Union Lincoln Pocket vetoed bill Congress adopted Wade-Davis Manifesto Re-asserted provisions of Wade-Davis Bill Warned President not to interfere with Congressional power to Reconstruct Lincoln’s response Any state that wanted could be Reconstructed under Wade-Davis Bill Radicals not Amused Still refused to seat Representatives from states Reconstructed by President Thus by 1865 President and Congress at loggerhead C. Freedmen’s Bureau Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Land Set up in War Department 3 March 1865, by Congress Take over abandoned and confiscated lands Rent in 40 acre sections to Freedmen and loyal refugees Land could be purchased within 3 years Established schools mainly for Freedmen Distributed food, fuel, clothing and etc to needy (black and white) Negotiated labor contracts between land owners and freedmen And rendered other forms of assistance Headed up by Gen. Oliver O. Howard Assistant Commissioners in every Confederate state Wager Swayne Assistant Commissioner in Alabama D. Lincoln’s Last Days 4 April 1865, Traveled to Richmond 11 April, Last public address Encouraged North to be lenient toward South Not to think of themselves as conquerors 13 April, Thursday night Crowd outside White House Lincoln came to window As band to play the song “Dixie” in honor of “Johnny Reb” 14 April, Friday - - -Good Friday Last Cabinet meeting Told Cabinet he wanted no persecution of South Asked Grant for news from the Army – there was none Told Cabinet of dream he had the night before of a ship heading toward a darken shore Had this dream before several key military victories Hopeful it was good omen Ford’s Theater and rendezvous with destiny Our American Cousin The President and Mrs. Lincoln Major Henry Rathbone (military ade) John Parker (Washington, D.C. policeman) John Wilkes Booth (actor ) Lincoln shot in back of head Taken to Peterson House Died 7:22 AM 15 April 1865 E. Other events of 14 April Attempts to assassinate other officials Sec. of State William Seward Confined to bed as result of an accident Attacked by man claiming to be messenger Stab wounds, sons also knifed All recover Vice President Andrew Johnson Slated for assassination Assassin got cold feet Johnson walked to Lincoln’s bedside Secretary of War Edwin Stanton Visited Lincoln, consoled family Took charge of the government Put military on alert Recalled Gen. Grant to Washington Started investigation Johnson allowed Stanton to run government for 6 weeks Posted rewards for Jefferson Davis and others Davis arrested 10 May imprisoned in Fortress Monroe in chains Eventually released Never tried for any crime John Wilkes Booth Broke leg in jump from President’s booth Escaped from theater Dr. Samuel Mudd set broken leg (later goes to prison for aiding Booth) Booth cornered in a barn in Virginia Barn set afire Booth shot and killed (against orders) Other “conspirators” arrested and tried 3, Mrs. Surratt whose boardinghouse was the site of the conspiracy,were executed 7 others including Dr. Mudd, given life sentences V. Andrew Johnson A. Who was he Radicals believed they could control Johnson Johnson a grass-root politician Unionist and former Democrat Placed on Ticket 1864 for unity Humble origins Born in N.C. Moved to Tennessee Opened Tailor shop Self-educated with help of wife Good orator at least a good stump speaker Stubborn man had difficulty dealing with people set in his own opinions B. Political views Believed the Union was perpetual, therefore No state had seceded In May 1865, said no such thing as Reconstruction No state had left Union thus Reconstruction unnecessary Johnson’s personality, inability to compromise, his insensitivity to the plight of Black Drove moderates into Radical camp Johnson’s first important act as President To extend pardon to all Confederates who took oath of loyalty to Union Except those owning $20,000 in property This excluded large planter whom Johnson hated But those excluded could apply personally for pardon and he would grant Southerners had to take oath ot Own property Vote Hold public office And to get their land back Congress not in session April to December 1865 Johnson had free hand in Reconstruction Should have called a special session of Congress C. Johnson Reconstruction Plan Appoint provisional Governors in Southern states Call state convention of oath takers Convention must repeal Ordinance of Secession Abolish slavery
Repudiate Confederate war debt Recommended giving educated Blacks the vote Not state did Very lenient plan All states adopt Held conventions Drafted constitutions Abolished slavery And all except S.C. repudiated war debt None gave blacks the vote Elections held in South for representation in Congress and governors Johnson ordered Provisional governors to turn over power to elected governors Reconstruction complete according to Johnson D. Radical Reaction North and Radical Republican upset with “Johnson’s governments” Especially offensive to North was election of former Confederates to state & federal offices Among Southerners elected to Congress were 4 former Confederate Generals 5 former Confederate Colonels 6 former Confederate Cabinet Officers 58 former Confederate Congressmen 1 former Confederate Vice President Another outrage were Black Codes Enacted by Southern states to regulate conduct of freedmen Could not sit on Juries Could not testify against white men Required to have a job Rules for labor contracts Vagrancy and apprenticeship laws Could not bear arms Reduced to peonage