Lesson 2: Reconstruction
Objectives: Students will be able to.
 Understand what U.S. Reconstruction is
 Understand the types of Southern Reconstruction
 Summarize Reconstruction Policies
 Recognize the Problems of Reconstruction
 Understand how Reconstruction ended and results
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Title of Page
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What do you know about Reconstruction?
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What do you think you should know about Reconstruction?
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Begin Reconstruction Lesson
1865 – 1877
The period of time in
America’s history when
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Background information to better understanding of the lesson
The Civil War was fought during 1861 and 1865 between most southern
states that believed in and supported the idea of both slavery and
state’s rights.
Because these ideas on those issues were threatened,
11 southern states choose to leave the Union and start a new country
founded on the idea that supported slavery and states’ rights. These 11
southern states became known as Confederate States of America (or
the Confederacy) and were defeated by the Union in 1865.
After the Civil War, the Union had to have a plan on how to bring back
the 11 defeated states of the Confederacy into the Union.
created a problem.
This
Many northerners had different ideas about how
the Confederacy should re-enter the Union. Additionally, the defeated
Southern states had a difficult time accepting the northerner’s plans.
This lesson is about the northern plans to re-unite the Union, who
should be the people who make the decisions on what the plan should be,
and southern acceptance or resistance to these plans.
First, let’s understand the effects of the Civil War on the both the
North and the South
 Slavery ended
 The proved that a government run by the people CAN succeed
 The power of the Federal government proved to be supreme over
the power of the states
 The responsibility of the United States government was changed
forever to protect the rights of its people
 No state since the Civil War has ever again tried to secede from
the United States
DEFINITION
RECONSTRUCTION
AMNESTY
SEGREGATION
SHARECROPPING
IMPEACH
BLACK CODES
JIM CROW LAWS
AMEND
(As in Amendment)
HOW USED IN LESSON
SOOOO… what is meant by RECONSTRUCTION?
YOU WILL NEED TO UNDERSTAND SEVERAL ISSUES
Reconstruction means to “rebuild” something after it was built once
If you saw this sign on the side of the road what would you
think it means?
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This is an example of ________________________________
The picture on the left is Richmond after it was burned
and destroyed during the Civil War. What do you think
will need to be done to these buildings?
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Think about your life.
This is an example of ____________________________
What changes would affect your life if they were
forced
on you? How
would you feel about these changes?
 Changing your family name? ___________________________________
 Changing your family? _______________________________________
 Changing all your friends? ____________________________________
 Changing your religion? _______________________________________
 Changing the country you live in? _______________________________
Would you try to fight to prevent these changes from taking place? ____.
Fortunately, these changes would not be forced on you. But
many changes were forced on the defeated South after the
Civil War. The South had to be rebuilt in several ways.
Ways how the Defeated South had to be rebuilt.
PHYSICALLY:
Much of the South was destroyed by the war and
had to be rebuild. Many roads, houses, railroad
tracks, buildings and towns, farms, factories
Many southern states had to rewrite their state
POLITICALLY: Constitutions abolishing slavery and accepting the
idea that slavery no longer existed. Old southern
leaders were expected to be replaced by new
leaders that accepted racial equality.
SOCIALLY:
Equality of races in education, housing, jobs,
equal rights as American citizens the same as
whites. Southerners had to understand and
accept equality of races.
ECONOMICALLY: The economy (businesses and how people made
a living working) in the South had to be
changes. Remember, after the Civil War the
South no longer had slaved to work on the
plantations.
How do you think the defeated Southern States felt about the changes
that were FORCED ON THEM? _______________________________
WHY DID THEY FEEL THIS WAY? ____________________________
But Disagreements on how to bring the defeated Southern states back
into the Union started to develop. These disagreements were about….
1.
Who would decide on the plan to bring the defeated
Southern states back into the Union?
 The Radical Republicans or the President?
 Both the Radical Republicans and the President were in the
North (but not necessarily FROM the north)
 Did the Radical Republicans and the President agree on the
plans for the defeated Southern states to rejoin the Union?
2.
How would the defeated Southern states react to
Northerner’s power making decisions about their states
plans for re-entering the Union?
The 13 defeated
Southern states
 Would they accept racial equality?
 Would the Southern leaders give up their power?

What would happen to the land plantation owners
since they no longer had slaves to work the land?
owned
Thaddeus Stevens, New York Herald (13th December, 1865) (He was a Senator from
Pennsylvania and one of the leaders of the Radical Republicans
Reformation must be effected; the foundation of their institutions - political, municipal, and social must be broken up and relaid, or all our blood and treasure have been spent in vain. This can only be
done by treating and holding them as a conquered people. Then all things which we can desire to do
follow with logical and legitimate authority
Radical Republicans Cleveland Convention (Plans for Reconstruction)
May 31, 1864
Mr. Carroll, Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions,1 reported the following resolutions:
First. That the Federal Union shall be preserved.
Second. That the Constitution and laws of the United States must be observed and obeyed.
Third. That the rebellion must be suppressed by force of arms, and without compromise.
Fourth. That the rights of free speech, free press, and the habeas corpus be held
inviolate, save in districts where martial law has been proclaimed.
Fifth. That the rebellion has destroyed slavery, and the Federal Constitution should be
amended to prohibit its reestablishment, and to secure to all men absolute equality before
the law.
Twelfth. That the question of the reconstruction of the rebellious States belongs to the
people, through their representatives in Congress, and not to the Executive.
Thirteenth. That the confiscation of the lands of the rebels, and their distribution among
the soldiers and actual settlers, is a measure of justice.
1) Benjamin Wade, speech in the Senate (21st April, 1862) (Senator from Ohio, also a
Radical Republican
If there is any stain on the present Administration, it is that they have been weak enough to deal
too leniently with those traitors. I know it sprung from goodness of heart; it sprung from the best
of motives; but, sir, as a method of putting down this rebellion, mercy to traitors is cruelty to
loyal men. Look into the seceded States, and see thousands of loyal men there coerced into their
armies to run the hazard of their lives, and placed in the damnable position of perjured traitors.
force of arms.
(6)
Charles Nordhoff, managing editor of the New York Evening Post had a meeting with President
Andrew Johnson about the planned Reconstruction Act. In a letter to his friend, William Cullen
Bryant, he described the president's views on the act (2nd February, 1867)
The president grew much excited and expressed the most bitter hatred of the measure in all its
parts, declaring that it was nothing but anarchy and chaos, that the people of the South, poor,
quiet, unoffending, harmless, were to be trodden under foot "to protect blacks,"
He is a pig headed man, with only one idea - a bitter opposition to universal suffrage and a
determination to secure the political ascendancy of the old Southern leaders, who, he emphasized,
must in the nature of things rule the South.
(3) Benjamin Loan, letter to Charles Sumner (1st June, 1865) (Radical Republicans)
Shall we acquiesce in the policy of the administration or shall we adhere to our former views that
Congress alone is authorized to deal with the subject of reconstruction and that our safety and
the peace of the country requires us to disenfranchise the rebels and to enfranchise the colored
citizens in the revolted states and thereby confide the political power therein to local and
therefore safe hands.
Read all the writings about Reconstruction to answer the following questions.
Who were the authors? What was the subject of the writings? What was the major
issue of the writing? Who was the audience? Write a brief summary of the main idea?
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This is a letter written by Charles Sumner on October 2, 1866
Charles Sumner was another leader of the Radical Republicans
It is n ow more t
han a year since I last had the honor of addressing my fellow
citizens of man. On that occasion I dwelt on what seemed to be the proper policy towards the
states recently in rebellion - insisting that it was our duty, while renouncing indemnity for the
past, to obtain at least security for the future; & this security I maintained could be found
only [inserted: in the exclusion of ex-rebels from political power] the irreversible guarantees
especially applicable to the national creditor & the national freedman. During the intervening
months the country h
as been agitated by this question, which [struck: is] [inserted: was
[struck: suddenly]] perplexed by an unexpected difference between the Presdt. & Congress:
The Presdt. insists upon installing ex-rebels in political power, & sets at naught the claim of
guarantees & the idea of sec[text loss] for the future, while he , [inserted: 2], [2] denies to
Congress any control over this question & takes it all to himself. Congress has asserted its
control & has endeavored to [struck: exclude] shut out ex-rebels from political power & to
establish guarantees, to the end that there might be security for the future. Meanwhile the
states recently in rebellion, with the exception of Tennessee, are without representation in
Congress. Thus stands the case., [inserted: 3 The Two Parties in the Controversy], [3] The
two parties to the controversy are the Presdt. on the one side & the people of the U. States
in Congress assembled on the other side; the first representing the Executive [struck: Power];
[struck: on the] the second representing the Legislative [struck: Power]. It is the One Man
Power vs. [struck: the] Congress. Of course each of these performs its part in the govt.; but
[inserted: until now] it has always been supposed that the Legislative gave the laws to the
Executive, & not that the Executive gave the law to the Legislative. Perhaps this irrational
assumption becomes more astonishing when it is considered, that the [inserted: actual] Presdt.,
besides being the creature of an accident, is inferior in ability & character, while the House
of Reps. is eminent in both respects. A President, who has already sunk below any other
president, even , [inserted: 4], [4] Buchanan, madly undertakes to give the law to a House of
Reps, which there is reason to believe is the best that has sat since the formation of the
Constitution. Thees in looking at the parties we are tempted to exclaim - such a Presdt.
dictating to such a Congress! It was said of Gustavus Adolphus that he had drilled the diet of
Sweden to vote at the word of Command; but Andrew Johnson is not Gustavus Adolphus, & the
American Congress is not the diet of Sweden., [inserted: 5 Importance of the Question], [5]
The question at time is one of the vastest ever presented for practical decision, involving the
name & weal of this Republic at home & abroad. It is [struck: above any] [inserted: not a]
military question; it is a question of statesmanship.
Gustavus Adolphus was King of Sweden at age 17 and led Sweden from a lowly European
country to a European Power. He was considered to be a great leader (often called Gustov the
Great and the Lion King) who ruled with a brilliant mind.
Lincoln on Reconstruction
Robert E. Lee’s
thoughts on
"With malice toward none, with
charity for all"
Lincoln
Reconstruction
28 Aug ’65
All should write in honest efforts to
obliterate the grievous effects of
war, & to restore the blessings of
peace. They should remain if possible
in the Country; promote harmony &
good feeling by those who will devote
their abilities to the interests of the
&
the
dissensions.
I
healing
have
of
all
invariably
recommended this course, since the
cessation
of
On the Rights of all People
Amnesty
My dear Sir,
Country
hostilities,
&
have
endeavored to practice it myself.
Therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, do
proclaim, declare, and make known
to all persons who have, directly or
by implication, participated in the
existing rebellion, except as herein
after excepted, that a full pardon
is hereby granted to them and each
of them, with restoration of all
rights of property, except as to
slaves……
Read the letter written by Robert E.
The above quote and Amnesty that Presdent
Lee in August, 1865, four and a half
Lincoln
months after the Civil War ended.
Reconstruction
Based upon the letter, what do you
General
about
what
Union.
Lee’s
should
Highlight
thoughts
happen
the
”A government that cannot, or does
not protect the humblest Citizen in
his right to life, Liberty and the
pursuit
of
reformed
happiness,
or
should
overthrown
be
without
delay.”
Most truly yours R E Lee
think
Frederick Douglas
to
lines
were
the
that
gave
reflects
Lincoln’s
plans
for
After reading the above, how would you
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Douglass, how can you describe his
thoughts about he felt about the topic
of
peoples
rights
(and
the
14th
describe beliefs on Reconstruction.
Amendment.
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answers the question.
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After reading the note by Frederick
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Policies of Reconstruction
 African Americans: _______________________________
 African Americans: _______________________________
o Civil Rights Act of 1866
 People born in the United States are citizens
 All people (except American Indians) have full
rights and these rights will be protected
 Southern military leaders could not hold office
 Freedman’s Bureau was established to help recently freed
blacks
 The Military Reconstruction Act, 1867. Northern soldiers
were placed in the south to protect African Americans.
How would you summarize Reconstruction Policies
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Problems created by Reconstruction
 The Military Reconstruction Act, 1867. Northern soldiers
were placed in the south to protect African Americans.
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 Southerners resented Carpetbaggers from the North
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 Southern States adopted black codes
Mississippi Black Codes, 1967
Section 1. Be it enacted by the legislature of the state of Mississippi, that it shall
be the duty of all sheriffs, justices of the peace, and other civil officers of the
several counties in this state to report to the Probate courts of their respective
counties semiannually, at the January and July terms of said courts, all freedmen,
free Negroes, and mulattoes under the age of eighteen within their respective
counties, beats, or districts who are orphans, or whose parent or parents have not
the means, or who refuse to provide for and support said minors; and thereupon it
shall be the duty of said Probate Court to order the clerk of said court to apprentice
said minors to some competent and suitable person, on such terms as the court may
direct, having a particular care to the interest of said minors:
Provided, that the former owner of said minors shall have the preference when, in
the opinion of the court, he or she shall be a Suitable person for that purpose
Provided, that said apprentice shall be bound by indenture, in case of males until they are
twenty-one years old, and in case of females until they are eighteen years old
Section 4. Be it further enacted, that if any apprentice shall leave the employment
of his or her master or mistress without his or her consent, said master or mistress
may pursue and recapture said apprentice and bring him or her before any justice of
the peace of the county, whose duty it shall be to remand said apprentice to the
service of his or her master or mistress; and in the event of a refusal on the part of
said apprentice so to return, then said justice shall commit said apprentice to the jail
of said county, on failure to give bond, until the next term of the county court; and
it shall be the duty of said court, at the first term thereafter, to investigate said
case; and if the court shall be of opinion that said apprentice left the employment of
his or her master or mistress without good cause, to order him or her to be punished,
as provided for the punishment of hired freedmen, as may be from time to time
provided for by law, for desertion, until he or she shall agree to return to his or her
master or mistress:
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Sharecropping
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Sharecropper’s contract between Isham G. Bailey, Cooper Hughes, and Charles
Roberts, Marshall County, Mississippi, January 1, 1867.Document signed, 2 pages +
docket.
The State of Mississippi Marshall County Articles of agreement made and entered
into this 1st day of January AD 1867, between IG Bailey of the first part and Cooper
Hughs Freedman and Charles Roberts Freedman of the second part Witnesseth The
said parties of the second part, have agreed and do by these presents agree and bind
themselves to work for the said party of the first part during the year 1867, on the
farm belonging to said party of the first part near Early Grove on said County upon
the following terms and conditions to Wit the said Cooper Hughs Freedman with his
wife and one other woman, and the said Charles Roberts with his wife Hannah and one
boy are to work on said farm and to cultivate forty acres in corn and twenty acres in
cotton, to assist in putting the fences on said farm in good order and to keep them
so and to do all other work on said farm necessary to be done to keep the same in
good order and to raise a good crop and to be under the control and directions of
said IG Bailey and to receive for their said services one half of the cotton and one
third of the corn and fodder raised by them on said farm in said year 1867 and the
said Charles Roberts Freedman with his wife Hannah further agrees and binds
themselves to do the washing and Ironing, and all other [2] necessary house work for
said IG Bailey and his family during said year 1867 and to receive for their said
services fifty dollars in money at the expiration of said year 1867 and the said
Cooper Hughs Freedman further agrees and binds himself to give the necessary
attention of feeding the Stock of cattle and milking the cows twice daily belong to
said IG Bailey, and do the churning when ever necessary during the said year,And the
said IG Bailey party of the first part, agrees and binds himself to furnish necessary
Mules and farming implements to cultivate said crop and to feed said Mules to furnish
said Cooper Hughs Freedman and his family five hundred and fifty pounds of meat, to
furnish said Charles Roberts Freedman and his family four hundred and eighty seven
pounds of meat and to give said parties of the second part,one half of the crop of
cotton and third of the crop of corn and fodder cultivated and raised by them in said
year 1867In witness whereof we hereto set our hands and seals the date first above
written Signed Sealed and acknowledged[strikeout ]
Sharecropping took
place in the South
Why did sharecropping take place only in the South? _____________
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What type of Reconstruction would sharecropping be an example of?
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Land Owned by Plantation owner before 13th Amendment
What can you determine about sharecropping? ______________
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The Reconstruction Period brought three new Amendments
to the Constitution of the United States
13th
Amendment
14th
Amendment
15th
Amendment
Construction Comes to an End
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