Violence, Corruption and Economic TurmoilThe Radical Reconstruction-- Use military to rebuild the southo Divided South into 5 districtso Military would register freed slaves to voteo Johnson vetoed it, but was overruled- The Tenure of Office Acto Required approval of Senate for the removal of any government officialo Johnson could not just fire peopleo Impeachment is just a processo Most slaves were Republican- The 15th Amendmento Citizens right to vote may not be deprived based on race, color, or previous condition of servitudeo African Americans gained power Hiram Revels, Blanche Bruce, P.B.S. Pinchback- Scalawags- Southern white republicans friendly to radicals and ex-slaves- Carpetbaggers-Northern businessmen who moved to the South for profitWhite Southern Reaction-- Ku Klux Klan: 1860’so General Nathan Bedford Forresto Total equality would lead to the South’s collapseo Used Intimidation against scalawags, carpetbaggers, and blackso 1871-KKK act-> Military could use whatever force necessary to stop the klan- The Myth of the Lost Causeo Confederate Generals represented the Virtues of southern nobilityo Losses on the battlefield were inevitable due to the Northern superiority in resources and manpowero Slavery was a benign institution, and the slaves were loyal and faithful to their masterso Defense of States rights, and not the preservation of slavery, was the primary motivation for secession- Black Codeso Laws passed by Southern Legislatures in the 2-3yrs immediately following the end of the war. These laws limited civil rights and liberties of freed slaveso Passed before Radical Reconstruction- Sharecroppingo Signed to work a part of land and owed land owner part of its cropo Racked up credit with plantation owners and weren’t able to get out of debto Seen as another form of slaveryReadmission and Redemption (1873-1877)- Election of 1876o Hayes (R) vs. Tilden (D)o Prolong reconstruction versus ending it- Compromise of 1877 (The Corrupt Bargain)o All Federal Troops removed from southern statesThe Grant Administration- The Fisk and Gould Scandalo Recruited people to tip them off on the governments gold situationo Plunge in stock priceso Led to financial panic and stock market crasho Bank runs-run to withdraw money- Whiskey Ringo Began in St. Louiso Lost millions of dollarso Conspiracy of government officials and whiskey distillers who pocketed tax revenue- The Credit Mobiliero Build Railroadso Over priced and overbilled the governmento Gave stocks to congressmen investigators- The Panic of 1873o NY stock exchange closed for 10 dayso Railroads went bankrupto Many businesses failedo Unemployment at 14% by ‘76o Long Depression
View Full Document