Reconstruction Ends

1
Reconstruction Ends

• 1877

2
Race Relations 1865-1877

• This was the BEST TIME EVER for race relations in
  the Unites States (pre-1960s Civil Rights
  Movement).
• Civil rights laws were passed and enforced.
• African-Americans were elected to Congress
  beginning in 1870!
• Hiram Rhoades Revels was the first in
• Congress (a senator).
• FYIhe is 1 of only 5 Black Congress
• members in our history!!!
• (2 from this era, and 3 since 1960s)

3
Ku Klux Klan Is Formed

• Terrorist group formed in the South.
• Targeted African-Americans (men, women, and
  children) and Whites that supported them (men,
  women, and children.)
• Used violenceusually murderto terrorize their
  targets.
• Burned churches, schools, etc.
• Killed livestock that belonged to their targets.
• Congress passed laws against the KKKs
  activities, in order to protect people.
• KKK activity decreased but did not go away.

4
Panic of 1873

• Economic depression occurred in 1873.
• Northerners became more focused on their own
  economic well-being than on Reconstruction
  efforts.

5
Effect of Supreme Court Decisions

• 1873 Supreme Court said 14th amendment only
  protected national citizenship rights, such as
  interstate travel and federal protection
  abroadnot state citizenship rights (which was
  everything else).
• 1876 Supreme Court said federal govt could not
  punish whites that oppressed blacks.
• 1876 Supreme Court said 15th amendment did not
  guarantee voting rights to African-Americanssimpl
  y said that voting couldnt be denied based on
  race.

6
Election of 1876

• Hayes and Tilden tied w/electoral college votes.
  (Hayes lost popular vote.)
• Democrats agreed to make Hayes president if
  troops were withdrawn from the South.
• They agreed.
• Reconstruction ended, along with rights for
  African-Americans.

7
Home Rule Begins

• So the South goes back to home rule
• Southern states passed laws restricting freedom
  of African-Americans.
• Eliminated social programs.
• Eliminated public schools.
• Reinstated segregation.