Reconstruction: The Unknown Revolution
Did the period of Reconstruction
constitute a revolution in American
politics?
Keep in mind the following definition of revolution
as we review Reconstruction:
 an overthrow or repudiation, the thorough
replacement of an established government or political
system by the people
 a radical and pervasive change in society and social
structure
Post-war Plans:
What is the role of government?
President Johnson – “Restoration”
Individuals rebelled, not states.
“The Constitution as it is, the Union as it was.”
Vs.
Congressional – “Reconstruction”
Rebels have forfeited their rights as states and have
dropped to the status of territories.
“The whole fabric of southern society must be changed, and never
can it be done if this opportunity is lost. Without this, this
government can never be, as it never has been, a true republic.”
Political Changes in the North
 Republican majorities in Congress pursued probusiness legislation and economic stimulation in the
North and West.
Pro-Business efforts legislation focused on federal support
for internal improvements, National Bank, and protective
tariffs
Economic stimulation in the West included:
• The Morrill Tariff Act (1861)
• The Homestead Act (1862)
• The Morrill Land Grant Act (1862)
 These economic efforts created a loyal GOP
constituency. (There will be only two democratic
presidents between 1865-1920)
Factions within the GOP
Radical Republicans:
 moral/reform minded
 many former
abolitionists
 antebellum reformers
 strong advocates of
federal authority
Conservative Republicans:
 focus on economic
opportunities and
development
 pro-business
 more economic than
socially minded
*Both agree that the protection of Black
civil rights is essential to justify the war.
Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction
Johnson’s Plan called for:
 pardons for ex-Confederates
who took a loyalty oath
 the appointment of
provisional governors who
would est. new loyal
governments
 abolish slavery
 refusal to pay the CSA debt
*Gave them considerable local
control.
The problem with Johnson’s Plan:
 Many of those elected to the
new “loyal” govts. were
former high ranking
Confederates
 Black Codes were passed
across the South
*Appeared that the South was
unwilling to accept defeat and
the reality of emancipation.
**Wasn’t quite the “social
revolution” that Radicals had
envisioned.
Radicals saw Reconstruction as an
Opportunity
Radical Ideas:
 Union victory = opportunity for equal rights for all
Americans
 Embraced the expanded power of the federal government
 favored a redistribution of wealth in the South
Opposition from Moderate and Conservative Republicans:
 over concerns about protecting private property
*Radicals were not the majority.
**Radicals & Moderates worked together to pass:
 an extension of the Freedman’s Bureau
 the Civil Rights Act (1866), which provided for equality for all before law
The 14th Amendment: Radical?
Why was the 14th Amendment so radical?
Established the principle of citizenship for all Americans
and empowered the federal government to protect their
rights as citizens.
Changed the role of the federal government:
 14th Amendment prohibited the states from
abridging/denying their rights of equal protection
 tasked the federal government with guaranteeing these
rights
The Fourteenth Amendment:
The Most Powerful Amendment
Due Process: (5th Amend)
Equal Protection:
Effort by the government to
1. Civil/Legal – equality with respect
ensure fair procedure when
to owning property, making
contracts, and appear in court to
the govt imposes a burden
th Amend)
defend
property.
(14
on an individual. Designed
2. Political – voting rights (covered
to prevent the arbitrary or
by 15th Amend)
unfair depriving of an
3. Social – personal, non-economic
individual’s basic
interactions between people,
constitutional rights of life,
deemed too controversial at the
liberty, and property.
time. (Won’t be addressed until
modern Civil Rights Movement)
*Goal of the 14th Amend was to
limit the power of the states.
Role of the Government
1789-1868
Role of the Government
1868-2012
 States seen as “protectors” of individual  The Federal Govt. was the new
liberties (esp. property rts) against
“custodian of freedom”
oppression from the federal
 Individual rights were now tied to
government
federal power
 The Bill of Rights was linked to state
 Gave the federal govt power to override
autonomy
state actions and empowered it to
*Focus was on protecting property rights
action if necessary.
*Focus was on protecting individual rights
Major Products of the Civil War:
1. Empowered the national government.
2. Granted national citizenry with equality before the law.
Key Concept:
The federal government went from being a “threat” to freedom to being a “custodian”
of freedom.
Radical Reconstruction (1867-77)
Motivation:
 Johnson’s racism
 Race riots & Black Codes
 failure of the South to ratify
the 14th Amendment
 demands for Black suffrage
 growing GOP support in the
South
 desire to disenfranchise
southern elite
 mid-term elections in 1866
Republicans control 2/3 of
Congress
Radical Reconstruction:
Reconstruction Act (1867)
 created 5 military districts in the
South w/military governors

Created new state governments
1. New state constitutions with
universal suffrage
2. Had to be approved by a majority
of voters
3. Required to ratify the 14th
Amendment
*Required Blacks to vote and provided
opportunity for Blacks to be elected.
**By 1870, all southern states had
been readmitted to the union and all
were under Republican control.
Radical Reconstruction: The Final Step
The Reconstruction Act
15th Amendment
• ultimate repudiation of the old southern system
• established a Republican constituency in the South
• disenfranchised ex-Confederate officials
The Impeachment of Johnson
Motivation to impeach the president:
 Johnson’s hostility to Congressional Reconstruction
 Congress’s use of the Army to carry out the provisions of
Reconstruction
Charges against Johnson:
 violating the Tenure of Office Act
 violating the Command of the Army Act
Results:
 Johnson was impeached but not removed from office
 Majority of Republicans feared damaging the separation of
powers if Johnson was removed
 Impeachment severely weakened the Radical Republicans
Grant as President
Grant’s 1868 slim victory revealed:
 that over 700,000 freedmen had voted for him
 he did not receive a majority of the white vote
*could not have won without the Black vote.
**as a result, the 15th Amendment was submitted to
the states and would not have been ratified had it
not been for the support of Republican controlled
southern states.
Why did Reconstruction end in 1877?
 Leading Radical Republicans were either dead or no longer in office.
 North’s job was done - Blacks were citizens and could vote…it’s a southern
problem now.
 Widespread corruption during the Grant administration caused many to
reevaluate the size and role of the federal government.
 Many new Republicans were the products of the Spoils System and benefitted
from ties to immigrants/workers.
 Reconstruction fatigue in the North from: political corruption in the South,
negro govt mismanagement, costs – esp. after the Panic of 1873, and
widespread racism.
 The Supreme Court began to strike down aspects of Reconstruction.
 Opposition in the South: need for a reliable/compliant work force, traditional
white elite, racism, corruption concerns, rising taxes
 The Compromise of 1877, which elected Republican Rutherford B. Hayes