Chapter 16Chapter 16The Union The Union ReconstructedReconstructed

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I.I. The Bittersweet The Bittersweet Aftermath of WarAftermath of War

The United States in 1865The United States in 1865 At the end of the war, Lincoln’s official At the end of the war, Lincoln’s official

position was that the South had never left position was that the South had never left the Unionthe Union

Lincoln’s opponents argued that by Lincoln’s opponents argued that by declaring war, the Confederacy had declaring war, the Confederacy had broken their Constitutional ties and broken their Constitutional ties and reverted to a territory statusreverted to a territory status

The North was stronger than ever, the The North was stronger than ever, the South lay in ruinsSouth lay in ruins

Hopes Among the Hopes Among the FreedpeopleFreedpeople

Blacks tested their new freedom graduallyBlacks tested their new freedom gradually Most freed slaves made education a priorityMost freed slaves made education a priority Many left their plantations in search of a family Many left their plantations in search of a family

member who had been soldmember who had been sold The primary goal for these freedpeople was to The primary goal for these freedpeople was to

secure jobs and land; they expected a new secure jobs and land; they expected a new economic order and some compensation for economic order and some compensation for their years in slaverytheir years in slavery

The White South’s The White South’s Fearful ResponseFearful Response The dominant emotion in the Southern The dominant emotion in the Southern

post-war white community was fear of post-war white community was fear of newly freed slaves; of rape and revengenewly freed slaves; of rape and revenge

Almost all societal norms in the South had Almost all societal norms in the South had been reversed as a result of losing the warbeen reversed as a result of losing the war

Southern legislatures passed “Black Southern legislatures passed “Black Codes” the first year after the war to Codes” the first year after the war to secure white dominancesecure white dominance

II.II. National Reconstruction National Reconstruction PoliticsPolitics

The Thirteenth The Thirteenth AmendmentAmendment Abolished slavery and ratification was the Abolished slavery and ratification was the

first requirement for Southern states to first requirement for Southern states to rejoin the Unionrejoin the Union

Renouncing succession, acknowledging Renouncing succession, acknowledging Confederate debts, and electing new Confederate debts, and electing new state officials and members of Congress state officials and members of Congress were other requirements.were other requirements.

The Fourteenth The Fourteenth AmendmentAmendment Promised perpetual protection of the civil Promised perpetual protection of the civil

rights of black Americans by legally rights of black Americans by legally defining them as citizensdefining them as citizens

Granted suffrage to black males in the Granted suffrage to black males in the SouthSouth

Denounced by President Johnson Denounced by President Johnson

Acts of ReconstructionActs of Reconstruction The southern states were divided into military The southern states were divided into military

districts for federal administrationdistricts for federal administration Congress redefined the qualifications for Congress redefined the qualifications for

readmission as a state: blacks must be included readmission as a state: blacks must be included in selecting representation to create new state in selecting representation to create new state constitutionsconstitutions

The Tenure of Office Act restricted presidential The Tenure of Office Act restricted presidential appointment powers in light of Johnson’s appointment powers in light of Johnson’s aggressive racism and determination to foil any aggressive racism and determination to foil any reconstruction process; he became the first reconstruction process; he became the first president to be impeachedpresident to be impeached

III.III. The Lives of The Lives of FreedpeopleFreedpeople

The Freedmen’s BureauThe Freedmen’s Bureau Officially called the Bureau of Freedmen, Officially called the Bureau of Freedmen,

Refugees and Abandoned LandsRefugees and Abandoned Lands Issued emergency food rations, clothes Issued emergency food rations, clothes

and shelter for the homeless victims of and shelter for the homeless victims of the warthe war

Tasked with an extensive education Tasked with an extensive education program for the freed slavesprogram for the freed slaves

Served as an early employment agency Served as an early employment agency for African Americansfor African Americans

Economic FreedomEconomic Freedom The failure of Congress to provide 40 acres and The failure of Congress to provide 40 acres and

a mule for the freedmen resulted in a new a mule for the freedmen resulted in a new economic dependency on their former masterseconomic dependency on their former masters

Land ownership consolidated into huge holdings Land ownership consolidated into huge holdings and concentrated on one cash crop, usually and concentrated on one cash crop, usually cottoncotton

African American signed work contracts with African American signed work contracts with white landowners to toil under the lash as if white landowners to toil under the lash as if slavery still existedslavery still existed