Reconstruction (1865-1877) 1/19/11-Civil war dividesAmerican history.-The Civil War was about whether or not the states could leave the Union.Constitution says nothing aboutsecession.-South wanted to leave union to protect slavery. North said “No” and wanted to go to war to preserve theUnion.Slavery is cause of civil war-4 Y war 620,000 Americans dead.-Civil war greatest tragedy in American history.Ultimate failure in American democracy.I.Post Civil War Situationa.South: defeated. Armies surrendered, governments collapsed, leaders in jail.a.i.Most violence of Civil War occurred in South. Most fought in Virginia.a.ii.Southern economy in shambles – agriculture (cotton, sugarcane, etc) used slave labor toharvest cash crops – now DESTROYED.a.iii.The agriculture economy made the South one of the richest regions – thanks to slavery.a.iv.Death toll in South incredible. ½ died of disease.a.v.South sent 70-85% of eligible men off to war.40% of men that enlisted died. 260,000men in south died. 1 in 3 of eligible men died.a.vi.Especially devastating economically.a.vii.4 million slaves freed when war ended. 6 billion dollar investment.a.viii.Nation is defeated. What will the US Govt do with the South?b.Northb.i.Won. Opposite situation. Blamed the South for the War.b.ii.Northern Economy booming. Northern cities weren’t attacked.b.iii.Union soldier death toll – 1 in 5. 360,000 soldiers dead including 38,000 AfricanAmerican troops. Overall 190,000 AAs signed up and 90,000 were runaway slaves.b.iv.North in charge of Federal Govt. North wants to primarily use the government to promotebusiness and foster infratructure (roads, bridges, etc). The North prevented South fromallowing the economy to grow.II.Post Civil War Issuesa.Politicala.i.How do you get seceded states back into the Union? This is fundamental question.Constitution says nothing about this.a.ii.How much power does Federal government continues to have. Is power going to continueor revert back to the state? Will leaders in south allowed to participate in politics.a.iii.Should Jefferson Davis be tried for treason and executed?b.Economicb.i.How is the South going to recover economically? How will they do this without slavery?Economy ruined at this point. No cash crops without slavery.c.Racialc.i.Slavery was a system of racial control. They feared black people.c.ii.Huge problem in minds of white southerners. They envisioned mayhem. 4 million freedslaves.Are they citizens? Do they have rights?III.Presidential Reconstruction- starts when Civil War is still going on. Lincoln decides that the President willbegin reconstruction before the war is over.Happens in areas that fall to Union forces before 1865.Occurs in LA and ___.Helps the process of those state rejoining the union incrediblya.Requirements on Southa.i.
