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

Summary

The video script from Heimler’s History delves into the failure of Reconstruction post-Civil War in the United States. It highlights two main points: the minimal societal and economic changes in the South and the reasons for Reconstruction's official end. Despite the abolition of slavery, the South adopted exploitative systems like sharecropping and the Black Codes, which perpetuated racial inequality and servitude. The Ku Klux Klan's rise and the Compromise of 1877, which led to the removal of federal troops from the South, further exacerbated the situation for African Americans. The video concludes by emphasizing the bleak outcome for the black population in the South after the end of Reconstruction.

Takeaways

• 📚 The post-Civil War Reconstruction process failed to bring about significant changes to Southern society and economy.
• 🏫 Freed black people in the South established schools and colleges to gain independence from white control.
• 🏛 Some black men were elected to representative offices, indicating a degree of political participation post-emancipation.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 The Freedmen’s Bureau was set up by Congress to reunite families separated by slavery and provide education and social welfare.
• 📜 Despite progress, the white population in the South created conditions akin to pre-war slavery and segregation.
• 👩‍🌾 The sharecropping system emerged as a new form of labor exploitation, replacing slavery after its abolition.
• 🏛️ The Ku Klux Klan was formed to terrorize black people and enforce white supremacy through violence and intimidation.
• 🚫 Black Codes were laws that further restricted the freedoms of black people, including prohibitions on land ownership, testifying in court, and enforced segregation.
• 🤝 The Compromise of 1877 led to the end of Reconstruction, with federal troops withdrawn from the South.
• 🕊️ The withdrawal of federal troops allowed Southern Democrats to regain control and further oppress the black population.
• 📈 Northern focus shifted to industrial development, leading to a decline in support for Southern reform efforts.

Q & A

What was the main topic discussed in the video?

The main topic discussed in the video was the failure of the Reconstruction process following the Civil War in the United States.

How did Southern society and economics remain largely unchanged after the Civil War?

Despite the abolition of slavery, Southern society and economics remained largely unchanged due to the introduction of systems like sharecropping and the ongoing belief in white supremacy, which were similar to the conditions of pre-war slavery and segregation.

What was the Freedmen’s Bureau and what was its purpose?

The Freedmen’s Bureau was established by Congress to help reunite families separated by slavery, arrange for their education, and provide social welfare.

What was the system of sharecropping and how did it relate to the pre-war conditions?

The system of sharecropping was a method where landowners provided seeds and farm supplies to workers in exchange for a share of the harvest. It was initially a way for newly emancipated black people to gain independence, but it eventually became another form of coerced servitude, similar to slavery.

How did the Ku Klux Klan contribute to the post-war South's societal conditions?

The Ku Klux Klan, founded in 1867, was a secret society that terrorized black people in the South, promoting the idea of white supremacy. They engaged in activities such as burning buildings, intimidating local politics, and perpetrating public and private lynchings.

What were the Black Codes and what were some of the restrictions they imposed on black people?

The Black Codes were a series of laws adopted by many Southern legislatures to codify white supremacy. They restricted black Americans from borrowing money for land, prohibited them from testifying against white people in court, and enforced racial segregation in Southern society.

Why did the Reconstruction officially come to an end in 1877?

Reconstruction officially ended due to the Compromise of 1877, which was a result of a contested presidential election between Samuel Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes. The compromise involved the removal of all federal troops from the South in exchange for the Democrats conceding the election to Hayes.

What was the impact of the end of Reconstruction on the black population in the South?

The end of Reconstruction led to a bleaker reality for the southern black population, as they were left without protection and faced increased domination by Democrats who enforced policies that further marginalized them.

How did the federal troops' presence in the South affect the enforcement of Reconstruction policies?

The presence of federal troops in the South was meant to ensure that Reconstruction policies were upheld. However, the conditions for black people remained harsh, indicating that the enforcement of these policies was not entirely effective even under federal occupation.

Why did many northerners lose their zeal for reform in the 1870s?

By the 1870s, many northerners were more focused on industrial development than on the race problem in the South, leading to a decline in their interest and support for reform efforts.

What was the significance of the 1876 presidential election in the context of the end of Reconstruction?

The 1876 presidential election was significant because it was the event that led to the Compromise of 1877. The contested nature of the election and the subsequent compromise resulted in the removal of federal troops from the South and the official end of Reconstruction.

What was the role of the electoral commission in the 1876 presidential election?

The electoral commission, which had a Republican majority, was formed to resolve the dispute over the electoral votes from South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida. It declared these states for Hayes, leading to the outrage of Democrats and the eventual Compromise of 1877.