Rebuilding the South 1865-1876
Jan 06, 2018
Rebuilding the South1865-1876
Sharecropping – Freedmen or poor whites worked someone else’s land
Owner provided them with a place to live, seed, tools, and food on credit.
Many sharecroppers were cheated or taken advantage of
Tenant Farming – Tenants provide their own tools and seed, while the owners provide the housing. Profits are shared by both.
Lincoln- plan to “reconstruct” the South and bring them back into the Union (started planning in 1863) Requirements:
10% of white male voters had to pledge an oath of allegiance to the Union
High ranking Confederate military leaders and officers- not allowed to take oath
A new constitution was to be written by each state including the banning of slaveryRepresentatives could be seated in Congress, vote on state government, status as state returned
Lincoln is assassinated-1865 Andrew Johnson becomes President Johnson’s plan- similar, but with added
requirements: Ratify 13th amendment Cancel Ordinance of Secession Cancel all wartime debts Still need to write new constitution that
includes abolishing slavery Georgia follows the regulations
Radical Republicans-South needed to be punishedToo lenientPardons- too easy to earnSaid Johnson didn’t have authority
to do this without Congressional approval
Created by Congress to help the freedmen and poor whites obtain food, shelter, and clothing
Education was an important focus
Help the newly freed black become citizens
Black Codes- restricted freedmen’s rightsProhibited interracial marriageNo serving on juriesNo testifying against whitesDisorderly behavior or unemployment meant jail time
Whipping is allowed for minor crimesHours and duties of workers are regulatedCan be fired without receiving money owed
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 Guaranteed the rights of freedmenBlocked the South’s black codes
Freedmen’s Bureau time limit is extendedCongress passes the 14th Amendment
Guarantees citizenship and equal rights to ALL persons born in the U.S. except Native Americans“ All persons born or naturalized in the Unites States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges of immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws”.
Southern states are required to ratify the 14th
President Johnson says to reject itGeorgia’s legislature does reject it
Military Reconstruction ActsSouth is divided into military districtsSouth is placed under military ruleFormer Confederate officeholders were not allowed to vote or run for office
States- write new constitutions (again!)
Guarantee Black males over 21 right to vote
Approve the 14th amendment Confederate officers- not allowed to
vote or hold office
Georgia was placed under military rule.Blacks were registered to vote and even ran for officeMajor General John Pope
is in charge of GA
A constitutional convention was to be held in Milledgeville, the state capital, but the hotels wouldn’t rent rooms to the black delegates
The capital is moved to Atlanta, as is the convention
Voting rights given to all adult malesProhibition of slaverySupport of free public educationWhipping abolished as a punishmentPoll tax is establishedCapital officially moved to Atlanta
Henry McNeal TurnerHe had been raised free in the southLicensed preacherAfter the war started the first African American church in MariettaElected to the state legislature-Bibb CountyHe promoted land ownership, education and voting rights for blacks
NORTHERN ABOLITIONIST BECAME MILITARY GOVERNOR OF
ISLANDS- ST CATHERINES, OSSABAW, AND SAPELO during Reconstruction
GA SENATOR OUTSPOKEN CRITICIZED WHITE EFFORTS TO LIMIT
VOTING RIGHTS SON- STATE LEGISLATOR FROM
MCINTOSH CO.
Born a slave Become a tailor in Macon Elected to the House of
Representatives Worked for a bill to keep former
Confederate officers from holding public office
September- White GA Democrats removed the black members of the state legislatureThey stated that the constitution did not say that blacks could hold office
Just because they could vote and be citizens did not mean they could be elected officials
Ku Klux KlanStarted in Tennessee as a social and political organization for Civil War Veterans-1866Became a growing problem in Ga in 1868 Goes astray and starts using violence and terror to oppress the freedmen
No voting, holding office, or exercising their rightsUsed lynching and other attacks such as burning crosses
Congressional hearings on violence in the south
Governor of Ga asked for help due to violence
Federal troops return in December Put black members back in
Congress and the General Assembly
Congress passes the 15th AmendmentGuarantees all men the right to vote“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
GA and 3 other states had to ratify this amendment before they could reenter the Union
Georgia ratifies the 15th AmendmentGA is re-admitted to the UnionGA citizens elect a Democratic governor (1872)
There are no Republican governors until Sonny Perdue in 2003Federal troops leave GA and Reconstruction ends