During the Reconstruction era, Alabama was put under U.S. military rule. A constitutional convention was held. Enslavement of African Americans ended and the federal Reconstruction Acts enshrined their basic civil and political rights. African Americans were elected to state and local offices and others were appointed to public offices. Public school systems were established including schools and colleges for African Americans.
There were hardships after the war for both Whites and Blacks. Economic disruption and social change led to unrest in various parts of the state. Many Confederate soldiers and their supporters sought the restoration of White supremacy and Democratic Party rule. For many within Deep South Alabama, the time of reconstruction was a time of civil unrest and political battles leading up to and following the reunification of Alabama into the Union.
Background to the American Civil War
Differences over the acceptability of human slavery as well differences over various political matters in the United States eventually led to the American Civil War. An ethical and religious awakening caused many people in the North to campaign against slavery. Many believed enslaving people was Christian hypocrisy and thought it hindered the spread of Christianity. While northern Republicans fought for ideals including abolition, equality under the law, and democracy, southern Whites in the Confederacy fought to protect their way of life, as many of their economic and social systems were built upon the institution of slavery.
The North, with better access to resources due to a manufacturing economy, eventually succeeded in occupying the South and winning the Civil War. It also benefitted from the some 200,000 freed Blacks who joined the Union Army.
When the North and South reunified into a single Union, legislative measures were taken to end slavery and give rights of citizenship and franchise to former-slaves or Freedmen. This is often referred to as Reconstruction and was focused on creating and keeping African Americans' legal rights, specifically in the South. Like the other formerly confederate states, Alabama was forced to adopt Reconstruction. The government and people of Alabama faced unique challenges associated with deeply rooted prejudice and new national law.
Policy
National Policy
Leading up to the end of the Civil War, the United States passed three amendments to end slavery and grant basic rights of citizenship to African Americans. The thirteenth amendment made slavery and involuntary servitude (with the exception of legal punishment) illegal. The fourteenth amendment defined the terms of citizenship as anyone being born in the United States, therefore extending citizenship to former-slaves. The fifteenth amendment extended the franchise to all, making it illegal to withhold the vote from anyone on the basis of race. However, it is important to note that while these amendments aimed to create greater equality among men, they failed to alleviate gender discrimination and inequality.
The Civil War was fought almost entirely in the South and the southern states of the Confederacy were faced with the difficulties of rebuilding a war-devastated economic, political, and social landscape. Many people in South (along with some federal political leaders) expected life after reunification to be relatively the same as before the war. Andrew Johnson, who was sympathetic to this mindset, was impeached from the presidency due to his failure to act progressively for the rights of Blacks. Following his impeachment, the northern-run United States passed a series of legislations designed to integrate Blacks and give them political rights and standing. This time period is generally known as Reconstruction and lasted between the end of 1863 and 1877.