🕯️African American History – Before 1865 Unit 14 – Reconstruction: Impact and Legacy

Key Events and Timeline

• Reconstruction began in 1865 after the end of the Civil War and lasted until 1877
• President Andrew Johnson implemented his own Reconstruction plan in 1865 which included pardoning former Confederates and returning confiscated lands to white Southerners
• Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 which granted citizenship to all persons born in the United States and prohibited discrimination based on race
• The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves
• The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870 prohibiting the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude
• The Freedmen's Bureau was established in 1865 to provide assistance to former slaves and poor whites in the South
  • Provided food, housing, medical aid, and education
  • Helped negotiate labor contracts between former slaves and landowners
• The Ku Klux Klan was formed in 1865 by former Confederates to intimidate African Americans and white Republicans through violence and terror
• Reconstruction ended with the Compromise of 1877 which resulted in the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and the end of Republican control of Southern state governments

Major Political Changes

• The Republican Party became the dominant political party in the South during Reconstruction as many former slaves and white Unionists joined the party
• African American men gained the right to vote and hold political office for the first time
  • Over 1,500 African American men held political office during Reconstruction at the local, state, and federal levels
  • Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce became the first African American U.S. Senators
• Many Southern states adopted new state constitutions that included provisions for public education, voting rights, and civil rights protections
• The Democratic Party regained control of Southern state governments by the end of Reconstruction through a combination of violence, intimidation, and fraud
  • Redeemer governments worked to roll back many of the gains made by African Americans during Reconstruction
• The Compromise of 1877 effectively ended Reconstruction and marked a shift towards a more conservative political climate in the South
• The Supreme Court issued several decisions that limited the scope of the 14th and 15th Amendments and civil rights protections (Slaughterhouse Cases, U.S. v. Cruikshank)

Economic Impacts

• The Southern economy was devastated by the Civil War with much of its infrastructure, including railroads and factories, destroyed
• The abolition of slavery transformed the Southern economy from one based on slave labor to one based on free labor
  • Many former slaves became sharecroppers, renting land from white landowners in exchange for a share of the crop
  • The crop-lien system often led to a cycle of debt and poverty for African American farmers
• The Southern economy remained primarily agricultural with cotton as the main cash crop
• Northern investors and businessmen played a significant role in the industrialization of the South during Reconstruction
  • Textile mills and other factories were established in the South
  • Railroad construction expanded connecting the South to national markets
• African Americans made some economic gains during Reconstruction, including the establishment of black-owned businesses and the acquisition of land
  • The Freedman's Savings Bank was established to provide financial services to African Americans but ultimately failed due to mismanagement and fraud
• Economic inequality persisted with most wealth remaining concentrated in the hands of white Southerners

Social Transformations

• The abolition of slavery led to significant changes in Southern society and culture
  • Former slaves sought to reunite with family members who had been separated by slavery
  • Many former slaves changed their names or adopted new surnames
• African Americans established their own churches, schools, and social organizations separate from white institutions
  • The African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Baptist Church became important institutions in the African American community
• Education became a priority for the African American community with the establishment of schools and colleges (Fisk University, Howard University)
• Interracial marriages and relationships became more common, challenging traditional social norms
• The Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups used violence and intimidation to maintain white social and political dominance
  • Lynchings and other forms of racial violence were common during Reconstruction and beyond
• The "Lost Cause" mythology emerged as a way for white Southerners to romanticize the Confederacy and justify the institution of slavery
• Jim Crow laws and segregation became entrenched in Southern society by the end of Reconstruction, limiting the social and economic opportunities for African Americans

African American Experiences

• African Americans experienced both opportunities and challenges during Reconstruction
• Many former slaves sought to exercise their newfound freedom by leaving plantations and seeking employment in cities or on their own land
  • Some African Americans became successful businessmen, professionals, and politicians
  • Others struggled to find work and faced poverty and discrimination
• Education was a top priority for many African Americans who saw it as a means of social and economic advancement
  • Thousands of African American children attended schools established by the Freedmen's Bureau and Northern aid societies
  • Illiteracy rates among African Americans dropped significantly during Reconstruction
• African Americans also sought to exercise their political rights by voting and running for office
  • African American voters often faced violence and intimidation from white supremacist groups
• The Freedmen's Bureau provided important services to African Americans, including legal assistance, medical care, and food and clothing
• Despite gains made during Reconstruction, African Americans continued to face significant challenges, including poverty, discrimination, and violence
  • The Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups targeted African Americans with beatings, lynchings, and other forms of terrorism
  • The Colfax Massacre of 1873 resulted in the deaths of over 100 African Americans who were defending their right to vote

Resistance and Backlash

• White Southerners resisted Reconstruction efforts and the granting of civil rights to African Americans
• The Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups used violence and intimidation to maintain white social and political dominance
  • The Klan targeted African American leaders, white Republicans, and Northerners who supported Reconstruction
  • The Memphis Riots of 1866 and the New Orleans Massacre of 1866 were examples of white mob violence against African Americans and their supporters
• Southern Democrats regained control of state governments through a combination of violence, intimidation, and fraud
  • The "Redeemers" worked to roll back many of the gains made by African Americans during Reconstruction
  • The Compromise of 1877 marked the end of Reconstruction and the withdrawal of federal troops from the South
• Some Southern states passed "Black Codes" which restricted the rights and freedoms of African Americans
  • These laws limited the ability of African Americans to own property, enter into contracts, and testify in court against whites
• The Supreme Court issued several decisions that limited the scope of the 14th and 15th Amendments and civil rights protections
  • The Slaughterhouse Cases (1873) limited the scope of the 14th Amendment's privileges and immunities clause
  • U.S. v. Cruikshank (1876) limited the federal government's ability to prosecute individuals for civil rights violations
• The "Lost Cause" mythology emerged as a way for white Southerners to romanticize the Confederacy and justify the institution of slavery

Long-Term Legacy

• Reconstruction had a significant impact on American society and politics that continues to be felt today
• The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution were important milestones in the struggle for civil rights
  • These amendments abolished slavery, granted citizenship to all persons born in the United States, and prohibited discrimination in voting based on race
  • However, the promises of these amendments were not fully realized for many decades due to resistance and backlash
• The Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 were important pieces of legislation that sought to protect the rights of African Americans
  • These laws laid the groundwork for future civil rights legislation in the 20th century
• The Freedmen's Bureau provided important services to African Americans during Reconstruction, including education, healthcare, and legal assistance
  • The Bureau's work helped to establish a foundation for future efforts to improve the lives of African Americans
• The rise of the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups during Reconstruction had a lasting impact on American society
  • These groups used violence and intimidation to maintain white social and political dominance and to limit the rights and opportunities of African Americans
  • The legacy of racial violence and terrorism continues to be felt in American society today
• The failure of Reconstruction to fully address issues of racial inequality and injustice had long-term consequences
  • Jim Crow laws and segregation became entrenched in American society, limiting the social and economic opportunities for African Americans for decades
  • The legacy of slavery and racism continues to shape American society and politics in the present day

Debates and Interpretations

• Historians have debated the successes and failures of Reconstruction and its impact on American society
• The Dunning School of the early 20th century portrayed Reconstruction as a tragic era of corruption and misrule
  • This interpretation was influential in shaping public opinion and justifying the disenfranchisement of African Americans
  • However, later historians have challenged this view and argued that Reconstruction was a noble but flawed attempt to create a more just and equal society
• Some historians have emphasized the economic and political gains made by African Americans during Reconstruction
  • Eric Foner's book "Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution" argues that Reconstruction was a revolutionary period that transformed American society and politics
  • Other historians have focused on the ways in which African Americans exercised agency and resistance during Reconstruction, challenging the view of them as passive victims
• Other historians have emphasized the limits and failures of Reconstruction
  • C. Vann Woodward's book "The Strange Career of Jim Crow" argues that Reconstruction failed to challenge the fundamental structures of white supremacy in the South
  • Some historians have argued that the failure of Reconstruction to redistribute land and wealth to former slaves limited its ability to create lasting change
• The legacy of Reconstruction continues to be debated in contemporary politics and society
  • Some argue that the promises of Reconstruction remain unfulfilled and that issues of racial inequality and injustice persist in American society
  • Others argue that Reconstruction was a misguided attempt to impose federal power on the states and that its failure was inevitable
• The interpretation of Reconstruction has important implications for how Americans understand issues of race, citizenship, and democracy in the present day