The FAILURE of RECONSTRUCTION [APUSH Review Unit 5 Topic 11] Period 5: 1844-1877

How Did Post-Civil War Reconstruction Fail?

Overview of Southern Society After the Civil War

• The video discusses the failure of post-Civil War Reconstruction, focusing on two main aspects: the lack of significant change in Southern society and economics, and the reasons for the end of Reconstruction.

• Following emancipation, black individuals in the South sought independence by establishing schools and colleges, such as Morehouse and Howard.

• Despite these advancements, white Southerners worked to recreate conditions similar to pre-Civil War slavery through oppressive societal structures.

Sharecropping: A New Form of Servitude

• Sharecropping emerged as a system where black workers signed contracts binding them to plantations in exchange for access to work; this perpetuated labor exploitation akin to slavery.

• Although sharecropping was theoretically an opportunity for newly freed blacks, it often resulted in coerced servitude due to economic constraints.

White Supremacy and Societal Control

• The belief in white supremacy persisted post-war, leading to violence against black individuals through groups like the Ku Klux Klan, founded in 1867.

• The Klan engaged in intimidation tactics including lynchings and political control to maintain racial hierarchies.

Legal Codification of Racial Discrimination

• Southern legislatures enacted Black Codes aimed at restricting freedoms for black Americans.

• Key restrictions included prohibiting blacks from borrowing money for land purchases, testifying against whites in court, and enforcing racial segregation.

The End of Reconstruction (1877)

• Federal troops were stationed in the South during Reconstruction; their withdrawal raised concerns about returning oppression once they left.

• The contested presidential election of 1876 between Tilden and Hayes marked a pivotal moment leading to the end of Reconstruction. Tilden won popular votes but faced electoral disputes primarily from three states: South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida.

Compromise of 1877: A Turning Point in Reconstruction

The Context of the Compromise

• Following the contentious election of 1876, tensions escalated as Democrats threatened to block Republican Rutherford B. Hayes's inauguration.

• To alleviate this political strife, an agreement known as the Compromise of 1877 was reached between the two parties.

Terms and Consequences of the Compromise

• The Democrats agreed to concede the presidency to Hayes under a critical condition: all federal troops had to be withdrawn from Southern states.

• This withdrawal marked the end of Reconstruction, leading to a resurgence of Democratic control in the South.