Cwhat Were The Confederatesgiven After There Surrender

The surrender of the Confederate States of America in 1865 marked the end of a brutal civil war and the beginning of a complex and often fraught process of Reconstruction. While the act of surrender itself was a definitive moment, the subsequent treatment of Confederate soldiers and civilians varied greatly, shaped by evolving political landscapes, regional differences, and individual circumstances. Understanding what was given to the Confederates after their surrender requires a nuanced examination of amnesty, parole, property rights, and the broader social and political context of the time.

Initial Terms of Surrender

The terms offered to Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865, set a precedent for subsequent surrenders. These terms, dictated by Union General Ulysses S. Grant, were remarkably lenient, reflecting Grant's desire to facilitate reconciliation and avoid further bloodshed.

• Parole: Confederate officers and soldiers were allowed to return to their homes on parole, meaning they pledged not to take up arms against the United States again. This parole was essentially a promise of good behavior.
• Possession of Personal Property: Soldiers were permitted to keep their horses and side arms. Grant recognized that the horses would be needed for spring plowing, a practical consideration that aided the transition back to civilian life.
• Rations: Grant provided rations to Lee's starving army, a gesture of compassion intended to ease their immediate suffering.

These initial terms focused on the immediate needs of the surrendered soldiers and aimed to prevent further resistance. They did not address broader issues of political rights, property confiscation, or the future status of the formerly Confederate states.

Amnesty and Pardons

Following the surrender, the U.S. government, under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and later Andrew Johnson, implemented policies of amnesty and pardon. These were intended to reintegrate former Confederates into the Union and restore civil governance in the South.

• Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan: Lincoln's plan, announced in 1863, offered a general amnesty to most Confederates who swore an oath of allegiance to the Union and accepted the abolition of slavery. Once ten percent of the voting population in a former Confederate state had taken this oath, the state could form a new government and send representatives to Congress.
• Johnson's Reconstruction Plan: After Lincoln's assassination, President Andrew Johnson implemented his own Reconstruction plan in 1865. This plan also offered amnesty to most Confederates who swore allegiance to the Union, with certain exceptions. High-ranking Confederate officials and wealthy landowners were excluded from this general amnesty and required to apply for individual presidential pardons.

The rationale behind these policies was to encourage reconciliation and restore the Union as quickly as possible. However, they were controversial, particularly among Radical Republicans in Congress who believed that the South should be punished more severely and that greater protections were needed for newly freed slaves.

Property Rights and Confiscation

One of the most contentious issues after the surrender was the question of property rights, particularly the ownership of land. During the war, the U.S. government had confiscated some Confederate property under the Confiscation Acts of 1861 and 1862. These acts authorized the seizure of property used to support the Confederate rebellion.

• Limited Confiscation: In practice, the confiscation of Confederate property was limited. While some land was seized and redistributed, particularly to formerly enslaved people, this was not widespread.
• Restoration of Property: President Johnson's amnesty and pardon policies often included the restoration of confiscated property to former Confederates. This was a major point of contention with Radical Republicans, who argued that it undermined efforts to provide land and economic opportunities for freedmen.
• Legal Challenges: Many former Confederates challenged the confiscation of their property in court, and in some cases, they were successful in regaining ownership. The legal system generally favored the restoration of property rights, reflecting a broader societal reluctance to fundamentally alter property ownership patterns.

The issue of property rights remained a source of tension and inequality in the post-war South. While some efforts were made to redistribute land to freedmen, these were largely unsuccessful, and the vast majority of land remained in the hands of white landowners.

Political Rights and Suffrage

The question of political rights for former Confederates was another major point of contention during Reconstruction. Radical Republicans advocated for the disenfranchisement of Confederate leaders and the enfranchisement of African American men.

• Temporary Disenfranchisement: Initially, many former Confederates were barred from voting or holding office under the terms of the Reconstruction Acts passed by Congress in 1867. These acts divided the South into military districts and required states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to African Americans.
• Restoration of Suffrage: Over time, restrictions on voting and office-holding for former Confederates were gradually lifted. The Amnesty Act of 1872 restored political rights to most former Confederates, paving the way for their return to political power in the South.
• "Redemption": By the mid-1870s, white Democrats, often former Confederates or their supporters, had regained control of state governments throughout the South in a process known as "Redemption." This marked the end of Reconstruction and the beginning of a period of Jim Crow segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans.

The restoration of political rights to former Confederates had profound consequences for the South. It allowed them to regain political power and reverse many of the gains made by African Americans during Reconstruction.

Social and Economic Integration

Beyond the legal and political aspects of Reconstruction, the social and economic integration of former Confederates into the Union was a complex and often difficult process.

• Economic Hardship: Many former Confederates faced economic hardship in the aftermath of the war. The Southern economy was devastated, and many white Southerners lost their wealth and property.
• Resentment and Resistance: Many white Southerners resented the changes brought about by Reconstruction, including the abolition of slavery and the expansion of rights for African Americans. This resentment fueled resistance to Reconstruction policies and contributed to the rise of white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
• Sharecropping: The sharecropping system emerged as a dominant form of agricultural labor in the South after the war. Under this system, landowners provided land and supplies to tenant farmers, who in turn gave a share of their crops to the landowner. While sharecropping provided some economic opportunities for both white and black farmers, it often trapped them in a cycle of debt and poverty.

The social and economic integration of former Confederates was incomplete and uneven. While some were able to rebuild their lives and prosper, many others struggled to adapt to the new social and economic order.

Varying Perspectives on Confederate Treatment

The treatment of Confederates after their surrender remains a subject of debate and interpretation. Different perspectives emphasize different aspects of the historical record.

• Reconciliation vs. Justice: Some argue that the lenient treatment of Confederates was necessary for reconciliation and the restoration of the Union. They point to Grant's generous terms at Appomattox and Lincoln's emphasis on forgiveness as evidence of a desire to heal the wounds of war.
• Betrayal of Freedmen: Others argue that the lenient treatment of Confederates came at the expense of justice for African Americans. They point to the restoration of property rights to former Confederates and the failure to provide meaningful land redistribution as evidence of a betrayal of freedmen.
• Long-Term Consequences: Still others focus on the long-term consequences of Reconstruction policies. They argue that the failure to address the underlying causes of the Civil War, including slavery and white supremacy, led to a century of racial inequality and injustice in the South.

Understanding the different perspectives on Confederate treatment requires a careful examination of the historical evidence and a willingness to grapple with the complex and often contradictory legacies of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Specific Examples and Cases

To further illustrate the complexities of Confederate treatment after the surrender, it is helpful to examine specific examples and cases.

• Robert E. Lee: Despite being the commander of the Confederate Army, Lee was never arrested or prosecuted for treason. He accepted his parole, urged reconciliation, and became president of Washington College (later Washington and Lee University). His example was influential in promoting acceptance of defeat among many former Confederates.
• Jefferson Davis: In contrast to Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured and imprisoned for two years. He was eventually released on bail and never brought to trial. His case highlights the varying degrees of accountability faced by Confederate leaders.
• Confederate Generals and Politicians: Many other Confederate generals and politicians were initially barred from holding office but later regained their political rights. This allowed them to play a significant role in shaping the post-Reconstruction South.
• Ex-Confederate Soldiers: Most Confederate soldiers returned to their homes and attempted to resume their lives as farmers, merchants, or laborers. Many faced economic hardship and social stigma, but they were generally allowed to reintegrate into society.

These examples demonstrate the range of experiences faced by former Confederates after the surrender. While some were held accountable for their actions, many others were allowed to return to their lives with relatively little interference.

The Lost Cause Narrative

The narrative of the "Lost Cause" emerged in the aftermath of the Civil War as a way for white Southerners to cope with defeat and maintain their sense of identity. This narrative romanticized the Confederacy, minimized the role of slavery in causing the war, and portrayed Confederate soldiers as noble heroes fighting for a just cause.

• Historical Revisionism: The Lost Cause narrative involved a significant degree of historical revisionism. It downplayed the brutality of slavery and emphasized the supposed virtues of the antebellum South.
• Monuments and Memorials: Monuments and memorials to Confederate soldiers and leaders were erected throughout the South as a way to commemorate the Lost Cause and reinforce its message.
• Social and Political Impact: The Lost Cause narrative had a profound impact on Southern society and politics. It helped to justify segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans and perpetuated a culture of racial inequality.

The Lost Cause narrative continues to influence how the Civil War is remembered and interpreted in the United States. It is important to critically examine this narrative and challenge its distortions of history.

Conclusion

The treatment of Confederates after their surrender was a complex and multifaceted process shaped by political considerations, regional differences, and individual circumstances. While the terms of surrender were relatively lenient, the subsequent policies of amnesty and pardon, property restoration, and political enfranchisement were highly contested.

The decision to grant amnesty and restore rights to former Confederates was driven in part by a desire to promote reconciliation and rebuild the Union. However, it also had the effect of undermining efforts to achieve racial justice and equality in the South. The legacy of Reconstruction continues to shape American society and politics, and the question of how to reconcile the need for reconciliation with the demands of justice remains a central challenge. Understanding what was given to the Confederates after their surrender is crucial for understanding the complexities of American history and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. The choices made during Reconstruction had profound and lasting consequences, and their impact is still felt today.