The Civil War ended in 1865, leaving the country in a state of shock and the south resentful toward its northern counterparts.  Over four million blacks were handed a new label of freedom, the south was completely destroyed, and for some it was more of a social revolution than a war of independence.   

1. Racism

Ø       1866

• Jim Crow laws or black codes
• Passed by the southern whites to limit blacks’ freedoms

• Whites feared revolt from newly freed blacks

2. Political Policy                                                                                   

Ø       1863

§          Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction

·         Issued by Lincoln, Southern states had to take oath supporting union and constitution

·         After oath, states had to receive presidential pardon before reentering the union

Ø       1865

§          13th Amendment

·         Outlawed slavery

§          Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands established

·         Provided provisions, clothing, and fuel to relieve families

·         Took control of abandoned lands

·         Negotiated labor contracts, medical care, started schools

Ø       1868

§          14^th Amendment

·         Black citizens would have the same civil rights as white citizens

Ø       1870

§          15^th Amendment

·         Right to vote can’t be denied due to race

3. Social Changes

Ø       4 million blacks freed

§          Created great masses of unemployed and illiterate

Ø       Gentle southerners forced into manual labor

§          Blamed Yankees for all their troubles

§          Women couldn’t perform simple tasks such bathing                               

§          Had to pay workers for jobs previously done by slaves

Ø       Northerners had superior attitude over the south

§          Placed in control of the south

§          North controlled reconstruction efforts in the government

4. Economy

Ø       South in great recession

§          War destruction

§          Many men killed in battle

§          Property values collapsed

§          Remaining property seized by government

§          Labor force in disarray, lost $4 billion in human flesh

§          Poor harvests and prices

Ø       North booming

§          Became captains of industry

§          Southern elite no longer controlled congress, so it became more friendly toward business

§          National Banking Act

§          Morrill Tariff and Morrill Land Grant Act

§          Homestead Act

5. Monuments

Ø       Lincoln Memorial

Ø       Personal statues

Ø     Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Ø       Gettysburg Battlefield

6. Fast Facts

Ø       creation of standard time and employee unions

Ø       Before the Civil War, shoes were made identical; after the war, shoemakers began making one shoe for the left foot and one for the right.

Ø       With the help of Matthew Brady, the art of photography was born

Ø       President Lincoln helped start the tradition of the Thanksgiving dinner prayer by merely saying what he was thankful for

Ø       Famous political cartoonist Thomas Nast created the figure of Santa Claus to help cheer up the Yankee soldiers stranded in the fields on Christmas.

Ø       The Congressional Medal of Honor was created

Ø       The phrase “In God We Trust” was coined during the Civil War