Southern Reconstruction
Republicans Rise to Power

Carpetbaggers: Northerners who moved south to
take advantage of economic opportunities
 Some
exploited war-torn towns and corruption
ruled politics
 Others
wanted to help southerners
African American Life in the South

Since the 15th amendment allowed Africans
Americans to vote, many freedmen took part in
governing the South

Church became the center of the community.
They promoted social values, settled disputes,
disciplined individuals

With the help of the Freedmen’s Bureau, a public
school system was created. By 1876 40% of
African American children had attended school
Southern Resistance

Many southerners despised the “Black Republican”
governments they felt were forced upon them

Some southerners organized secret societies to
terrorize African Americans

The largest of these groups was the Ku Klux Klan
 Burned
African American homes, schools & churches
 Attempted
to prevent African Americans and white
Republicans from voting
End of Reconstruction

Following the Panic of 1873, attention to
reconstruction faded.

Northerners were more concerned with their own
economic problems

In the election of 1876, the electoral college
winner was unclear.
 Compromise
of 1877: a deal between Republicans
and Southern Democrats that named Rutherford
Hayes winner of the election if the Republicans
pulled troops out of the South.
End of Reconstruction
Successes
Failures
1.
Union was rebuilt & began
repairs to war-torn South
1. Most southern blacks remained in
poverty
2.
Stimulated the economy
3.
14th and 15th amendments passed
4.
Freedmen’s Bureau helped black
families find housing, jobs and
schooling
2. Southern governments and terror
groups denied African Americans
the right to vote
5.
Southern states adopted
mandatory education system
3. Racist attitudes continued
4. Southern bitterness toward north &
government
5. Slow southern industrialization