1.3 The Failure of Reconstruction Flashcards
How was support in Congress changing by the end of the era of Reconstruction?
Support was waning. There were many sympathisers with Southern opposition and also many who were not in a sufficiently strong political position to carry through policies that were seen as unpopular.
How had the attitudes of Liberal Republicans change?
They were reluctant to keep on using federal troops to suppress Southern discontent.
How had the position of the Redeemers changed by the end of reconstruction?
They gained confidence as Democrat control was restored in several Southern states between 1870 and 1875. This process was helped by Grant’s decision to approve the Amnesty Act of 1872.
What did the Amnesty Act of 1872 do?
Allowed large numbers of ex-Confederates to return to political life after being disqualified by previous laws.
What was the position of the Supreme Court by the end of reconstruction?
In March 1876, two rulings by the Supreme Court went in favour of Southern conservatives, not federal laws.
What weakened Grant’s position as president?
Whilst he had easily won re-election in 1872, his position was badly weakened by the economic depression that followed the stock market Panic of 1873.
What distractions weakened Grant’s presidency?
the Indian Question and the renewed outbreaks of war in Red River in 1874 and the Black Hills War of 1876. An even bigger distraction weakening Grant’s presidency was a tide of accusations of political and financial corruption.
What was Grant’s record like for fighting corruption?
He had quite a good record. He had tried to improve the administration of Indian affairs. He had brought in reforms to the administrative civil service. He had given his backing to Radical Reconstruction. But none of this saved him from intense criticism of his failure to prevent his administration being tainted by various scandals.
What was the Tweed Ring?
A system of patronage (power to control appointments to office) and corruption run by William Tweed, the ‘boss’ of the Democratic political ‘machine’ in New York. He had power and influence in politics, banks, and the Erie Railroad. His Ring controlled the courts, police, legislature, and supervision of elections. He and his associates looted at least $45 million from New York. He was convicted of corruption in 1877 and died in prison.
What was the First term scandal?
A group of speculators attempted to influence the government and manipulate the gold market. The failed plot resulted in a financial panic known as Black Friday in September 1869. Grant’s reputation suffered because he had become personally associated with two of the speculators Fisk and Gould, prior to the scandal.
What was the Whisky Ring scandal?
In 1875, a network of distillers, distributors and public officials conspired to defraud the federal government out of millions of liquor tax revenue. Grant’s private secretary, Babcock, was indicted in the scandal but, with the help of the President, was later acquitted.
What are speculators?
Risk-taking investors with expertise in the market in which they are trading.
Who was the Republican candidate in the election of 1876?
Grant had hoped to run for a third term as president but the Republican party were anxious to find a new candidate. His reputation had been damaged by scandals and he was undermined by the economic depression that followed the panic in 1873. Thus Hayes was chosen as their candidate, who had been the Governor of Ohio.
What did Hayes stand for in the 1876 election?
He stood for compromise and reconciliation and promised to give ‘home rule’ to the South as well as to protect the civil and political rights of all citizens. However it was impossible to do both.
Who was the Democrat candidate in the 1876 election?
Samuel Tilden, Governor of New York who was also a moderate reformer and improved his reputation by attacking the corruption of the Tweed Ring. His campaign could only succeed with the support of the Democrats in the South, who were determined to end Reconstruction.
