Crash Course U.S. History - Episode 21: Reconstruction

Introduction

• Host: John Green
• Celebrating the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves.
• Introduction to the failures of Reconstruction.

The Challenge of Reconstruction

• Need to reintegrate former slaves and rebellious Southern states post-Civil War.
• Abraham Lincoln's vision was reconciliation, but he was assassinated.
• Andrew Johnson’s view:
  • Believed the South had no right to secede.
  • Resentful of Southern elites.
  • Racist views against African American participation in Reconstruction.

Presidential Reconstruction (1865-1867)

• Johnson appointed provisional governors to create new all-white governments.
• These governments resembled old Confederate governments.

Achievements for Former Slaves

• Establishment of Fiske and Howard universities and primary/secondary schools.
• Freedman’s Bureau helped distribute confiscated land but was short-lived (until 1870).
• General Sherman's Field Order 15 promised land but wasn't fulfilled; land returned to former owners.

Emergence of Sharecropping

• Sharecropping replaced slavery; landowners provided housing, tools, and seeds for a share of the crop.
• Resulted in a quasi-serfdom for workers, limited economic independence.

Rise of Radical Republicans

• After 1867, Congress took control of Reconstruction.
• Radical Republicans pushed for equal rights and expanded federal power.
• Thaddeus Stephens aimed to redistribute land to former slaves.
• Passage of the Civil Rights Bill:
  • Defined U.S. citizenship irrespective of race.
  • Johnson vetoed; Congress overrode the veto.

14th Amendment

• Defined citizenship and guaranteed equal protection.
• Passed with minimal Democratic support due to lack of Democratic presence in Congress.

Black Codes

• New laws replacing "slave" with "negro" to restrict rights of African Americans.

Radical Reconstruction (Post-1867)

• Reconstruction Act divided South into military districts requiring new governments including black participation.
• Ulysses S. Grant won the 1868 election; 15th Amendment prohibited race-based voting discrimination.

Achievements and Failures of Reconstruction

• African Americans began participating in politics, holding office, and voting.
• Misrepresentation in Southern myths (e.g., "Gone with the Wind").
• Notably, around 2,000 African Americans held office during this period.

Decline of Reconstruction

• Corruption and unpopularity of Republican governments due to taxes.
• Rising violence against African Americans, notably by the KKK, to suppress voting rights.
• Return of white Democrats to power, called "Redeemers."

The Bargain of 1877

• Disputed election of 1876 led to the compromise that ended Reconstruction.
• Hayes agreed to cede control of the South to Democrats.
• Resulted in Jim Crow laws and repressive measures against African Americans.

Legacy of Reconstruction

• Brief period of enhanced democracy for African Americans.
• Highlighted the need for economic independence, not just political rights.
• The complex nature of freedom in a capitalist society.

Conclusion

• Reflection on the incomplete achievements of Reconstruction and its implications for future civil rights movements.
• Reminder to think critically about the meaning of freedom.