Reconstruction- During Grant's Presidency Flashcards
(40 cards)
When was the presidential election
1868
How did the presidential election go
Knows as Reconstruction election
Democrats put forward Seymour
Republicans put forward Grant
Outcome- Grant won
What did the 15th Amendment do
Said the vote can’t be denied for blacks (any race/colour etc)
How did black people get given the vote
W the 14th and 15th Amendment
Why did Republicans pursue the 15th Amendment
To ensure the South was not dominated by Democrats
To get blacks to vote republican and fast before moderate and radicals split
What progress was the African American community making
Independent churches created unity
Political participation- 600 African Americans served in Southern state legislatures down to 1890s
Education- still limited- schools underfunded
80% blacks still illiterate by 1877
Segregation- Sumner tried to issue bill to stop it- DIED
lack of land reform- cycle of poverty in rural areas
Why weren’t blacks voting
Kkk (although where Army was present, KKK members imprisoned)
Violence
Blacks worked on land
Land owners said they couldn’t vote - land reform
1865-1867
There was mass black participation in politics
Explain
8/10 voters were freedmen
Republican role lasted longest in states w the black vote
Eg Mississippi
Black contenders 1865-67
Name supremist groups
Kkk
Red shirts
White league
How many members did the KKK have in 1867
14,000
When was the KKK disbanded and why
What did they do
1869 due to threats from gov
They abandoned it’s social clubs and became a secret organisation intent on terrorist activities
How many members were in the Redshirts in 1874
14000
What did the federal government do in 1870 and 1871 to deal with opposition from KKK etc
3 enforcement acts
When were the 3 enforcement acts passed
1870 and 1871
Why were the 3 enforcement acts passed
The strengthen the provision of the 14th and 15th amendments and try to limit discrimination
What was another name given to the Enforcement acts
Klu klux klan laws
Example of white league attack
White league involved in Battle of Liberty 1874
Led to 38 deaths and 79 wounded
After violence (1874) what happened to government
Republican governor replaced by Democratic
What was The Mississippi Plan
And what happened in Mississippi in relations to supremacy and its effects
Saw a campaign of physical threats and blatant violence against black and white republican voters in the south
Enabled white supremesists to take over the government of Mississippi illegally in 1875
White democrats and veterans of the Confederate army forced themselves into parliamentary org disguised as rifle clubs
75 killed in Mississippi in 1874 with Red shirts reasserting their dominance
Federal troops did restore order 2 weeks later
BUT REDSHIRTS reapplied pressure
Democrats won control of Mississippi
1874- same tactics used in 3 southern republican states so Democratic gov solidified the south for years to come
1874
Democratic gov solidified south
What did they argue
That black enfranchisement went against state rights BUT they didn’t control enough states to alter anything
What 3 things restricted blacks from voting? (But not whites)
Grandfather clause- you could vote if your grandfather did
Poor illiterate whites could
Black ancestors were slaves
Literacy test- most blacks illiterate
Poll tax- have to pay at least £2000 in tax yearly
Blacks were poor
What can be seen as good progress of reconstruction in AA lives
Political participation- 600 AA served in southern state legislatures down to 1890s
Summer tried to stop segregation proving strong support for AA
8/10 votes came from freedmens (3% in 1900 and 10% in 1965)
Republican role lasted longest in states e largest black vote- Mississippi, South Carolina etc
Black conventions 1865-1867
Black constituted the majority in South Carolina legislature and were involved in all legislatures
Some ambitious public work schemes- roads etc- created employment and development
What can be seen as bad progress for AA or needs improvement
Education was limited 80% still illiterate by 1877
Growth of extreme groups
Segregation started to take hold and Sumner died 1874 so couldn’t stop it
No blacks became governors
Black office holders joined the elite BUT they often differed from black voters,being free for some time so had different priorities
No state initiated land reform
Redistribution of land failed
Lack of land- reform- cycle of poverty in rural areas- share cropping
House of Representatives 6% black
Tax in North high due to expense
Wasteful and corrupt bribery life
Attempts by states to stop blacks voting was successful
Grants administration overall
15th Amendment
Kkk Act
Civil rights 1875(despite declared unconstitutional 1883)
White violence in colfax and other places-
Republicans only keeping power due to intervention of federal troops
Redeemers - helped by Grants Amnesty Act 1872- allowed large number of ex confederates to return to political life
Supreme Court issues 3 rulings in 1876 which went in favour of conservatives who take literal meaning of laws
Presidency clouded by scandals
Republican parry divided between stalwart and liberal republicans- little energy to devote to Reconstruction
Economic issues came to forefront due to scandal
Panic of 1873- financial crisis that triggered a depression in Europe and North America that lasted 1873-79 and longer in some countries eg France and Bri ‘long depression’
