HST 102 1st Edition Lecture 2Outline of Last Lecture II. Reconstructing America A. Reconstructing the NationB. Reconstructing the body politic III. Presidential ReconstructionIV. Radical Reconstruction V. A Changing World Outline of Current Lecture VI. Reconstruction’s Revolutions VII. Upheavala. Politicallyb. Economicallyc.SociallyVIII.Enforcementa. Civil Rights Act of 1875b. Enforcement Acts IX. Promises Abandoned & Forgottena. Compromise of 1877b. Rutherford B. HayesX. Who Killed Reconstruction?Current LectureLecture 1/15/15Losing the Peace: “Redemption” and the Foreclosure of Freedom - Reconstruction’s revolutions o Gets off to a rocky starto Sudden reversal of policies during the transition from presidential too radical reconstruction o Marred by disagreements and disputes These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. Who would be in charge? President or congress?- Upheaval o Rad. Reconstruct. Brings sweeping changes to southern life in several areaso Politically: Repubs take control of many southern gov’t  AA participating in politics. Made up the core of repub voting. The leadingpolitical force in the south Several northern born citizens come to the south and take leadership roles. “Carpet Baggers” - Considered the lowest of northern society - Mostly middle class business men in search of an opportunity to make fortune. Most were not as they were depictedo Econonmically: End of slavery leaves the south economy in flux. Who will pick the cotton? Many AA do not wish to work as farm laborers and prefer to establish their own land and homes Aided in various forms by the freedman’s bureau- Branch of the us army established by congress- Provided emergency relief to both whites and blacks but mostly freed slaves- Created schools o Socially: Southern society had been based upon a rigid racial hierarchy  AA now have rights, protections, and increasing power - Enforcement o Reconstruction is sustained by military ossupation and significant federal investment  Union troops maintain active presense in south- Divided into 5 military districts. Southerners do not like this  Large peacetime federal programs, esp. the freedman’s bureauo New legislative efforts in the 1870s  Republican congress continues to expand federal powers- Wants the fed to have the ability to change  Civil Rights Act of 1875 attempts to establish social equality – outlawing discrimination in public accommodations  Enforcement Acts extending Presidential authority to stop voter intimidation - President Grant can use the military much more effectively - Promises Abandoned o Faces constant resistance both in the north and south o Starts to weaken by the mid 1870s, giving way to “redemption” Re-establishment of local control  Reinstitution of white supremacy o Reconstruction ends with the presidential election of 1876o Compromise of 1877 installs Rutherford B. Hayes as pres and ends military occupation in the south  very close between democrat Samuel Tilden Voter fraud o Rutherford B. Hayes  Did not do much or anger anyone  Within a few weeks of taking power he ends military occupation in south.  Reconstruction is dead - Promise forgotten o Until the 1960s, reconstruction is largely viewed by historians as one of the worstperiods in history o But not for the reasons we might expect…. (ie white supremacy or the violence)o Until 50 years ago nearly every American student learned a troubling version of history which held that: Slavery was a benevolent institution  Freed slaves were incapable of self-government The white south was repressed by a corrupt, incompetent, and tyrannical gov’t The “redeemers” were noble heroes who rescued the south from exploitation and ruin - This story appeals to people- DW Griffins’sThe Birth of a Nation Who Killed Reconstruction?- Southern democrats o Cling desperately to white supremacyo Engage in repeated election fraud o Win the propaganda battle o Embrace a “lost cause” mythology that highlights nobility of the southern war effort and casts the confederacy as the defenders of freedom against tyranny. - Ulysses S. Grant o Lacked coherent, long term policy for reconstruction  Did not have a set of objectives Lead to a lot of confusion Was notoriously quiet on his opinions o His administration soon ran into ethical difficulties: Credit Mobilier scandal: Railroad bribes and kickbacks to politicians including the Vice Pres (Skylar Coalfax) The “Whiskey Rings: Defrauding the federal gov’t of millions in revenues –headed by grant’s personal secretary o These compromised public trust, fed the narrative of corrupt misrule, and forced the repub party in the damage control- The Economy o Late 1860s and early 70s marked a time of intese economic speculation and risk Mostly in railroad stock o The bubble burst in 1873 with massive economic panico Begins the longest economic depressed of the century that lasts for the rest of the decadeo Creates a political backlash and widespread public concern about the wisdom of putting money and focus into reconstruction  Why worry about the south and civil rights when the economy is tanking?- Violence o Violence and intimidation remain frequent tactics to drive out black voterso Colfax Massacre in 1873 is among the most notorious examples o Paramilitary org like the KKK emerge and gain strength - The Supreme Courto Is left to interpret the meaning and extent of the Reconstrution Amendments’ protectionso Slaughterhouse Cases (1873) Louisiana case, not about race  Court holds that the 14th amendment only protects federally guaranteed rights  In other words, the states will control the vast majority of the rights of citizens o Curikshank v. US 1876 Prosecution of the Colfax massacre perpetrators  Court holds that the 14th amendment does not protect against acts of individual discrimination only discrimination by states - All are set free - Northernerso Racism prevails in the north Come to explain the continued problems that AA face as the result of biological inferiority  Argue that any protections provided for black citizens should only come ones they have proven themselves worthy participants in politics and society - A catch 22  Internal division form within the repub party