Reconstruction Era (Presidency + Congress) Flashcards
1
Q
Economic impact of the Civil war
A
- had lasted 4 years with 625,000 lives lost
- agriculture, trade and overseas markets had been dislocated
- the war had stimulated vast economic expansion with an acceleration of industrialisation and modernisation
- in the south there was physical destruction of towns and cities
- the south economy relied heavily on agriculture and therefore slavery
2
Q
Lincoln
A
- led north to victory in civil war
- set up the freedmen’s bureau in 1865
3
Q
Andrew Johnson - own reconstruction
A
- 1865 - 68—> originally Abraham Lincoln’s vice-president
- democrat
- May 1865 he launched his own programme of presidential reconstruction
- issued 13000 pardons to southerners - caused opposition from Republicans as he allowed the new state governments to be dominated by the same old southern elites
- Johnson only cared about poor white southerners - kept vetoing Congress’ attempt to extend the freedmen’s bureau - first time in February 1866
- he did insist on ratify in the 13th amendment but it was congress that insisted that the former confederate states ratify the 14th amendment
4
Q
Johnson + congress
A
- when congress convened in December 1865 it was dominated by angry Republicans determined to wipe out the black codes + to remove former confederates from power
February 1866 - Johnson’s first use of veto was against the renewal of the freedmen’s bureau which congress voted to extend for 3 years to strengthen its power to prosecute those guilty of discrimination against freedmen
March 1866 - congress past the Civil Rights Act re-enstating the rights of African Americans + authorising federal intervention to enforce it - Johnson vetoed it
5
Q
Who were radical republicans?
A
- dominated when congress convened in December 1865
- driving force for much of the implementation of and ratification of the Reconstruction Amendments and Civils Rights Act (1866 and 1875)
- turning points, considering the absence of legislation or constitutional amendments previously to support black rights
6
Q
What did Johnson do for the civil rights of freed slaves?
A
- basically nothing - allowed the southern states to develop their own Black Codes to limit African American civil rights
7
Q
What did Grant do?
A
- asked for the KKK Act (1871) in response to white supremacism
- this was passed within one month of Grant’s request to congress
- however ineffective in the south - klan members in the police force and state governments
- Grants financial scandals overshadowed further civil rights progress
8
Q
Why did radical republicans die out?
A
- Stevens and Sumner died in 1868 and 1874 - their death lead to the strength of the radical republicans weakening
- no real majority from congress for civil rights legislation until the 1960s
9
Q
When did Radical Republicans come to power?
A
- congressional elections of 1866
- they wanted to punish the south + prevent the ruling class from continuing power
10
Q
What did Radical Republicans pass?
A
- Military Reconstruction Acts 1867
- president Johnson vetoed all the radical initiatives (sympathetic to the south) - but congress overrode him each time
11
Q
Opposition to Radical Republicans?
A
- democratic ‘redeemers’ - fought to redeem the south - formed of conservative, pro-businessmen + southern democrats
- violent ‘white terrorists’ - 1868 1,000 Freedmen were killed in Louisiana + 1874 federal troops had to intervene to prevent lynches
= increased intimidation meant black voting levels dropped
12
Q
What was the compromise 1877?
A
- Hayes vs. Tilden
- 1876 = corrupted election = impossible to know who won
- Commission launched to investigate who won
- Hayes offered to withdraw Union troops (stripping AA of their newly acquired rights) = in return democrats recognised Rutherford Hayes as president
13
Q
Impact of compromise
A
- Hayes was a weak president - democrats redeemed the rest of the south + tried to dismantle reformist legislation
- era of political corruption until 1890 - Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison
- large cartels bought off politicians at federal + state level
- by 1890 there was a backlash against congress passed - Sherman Anti-trust Act = ensured fair competition + stop monopolies
14
Q
Summary of 1865-90
A
- 2 political parties developed
- ideology + identity of parties developed
- politics were reacting to huge economic + social changes