First Military District facts for kids
The First Military District was a special area set up by the U.S. Army in the South after the American Civil War. It was part of a time called Reconstruction. This district was created to help rebuild the South and make sure new laws were followed.
This district only covered the state of Virginia. It was the smallest of the five military districts created. Important generals who led this district included John Schofield (1867–1868), George Stoneman (1868–1869), and Edward Canby (1869–1870).
Contents
Why the First Military District Was Created
After the Civil War, there were disagreements about how to rebuild the Southern states. Some members of Congress, called "Radical Republicans," were worried. They felt that President Andrew Johnson's plans allowed too many former Confederate leaders to regain power. These leaders might stop newly freed African Americans from having their full rights.
To fix this, Congress passed new laws called the Reconstruction Acts in March 1867. These laws divided the former Confederate states (except for Tennessee) into five military districts. Each district was overseen by a U.S. Army general.
Virginia became the First Military District. The new laws said that each state in these districts had to:
- Hold a special meeting to write a new state constitution.
- Adopt this new constitution.
- Agree to the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment gave citizenship and equal protection to all people born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves.
Once these steps were done, a state could rejoin the United States. The generals in charge made sure that former Confederate officials were replaced. They also used military power to protect the safety of African Americans and keep the peace.
Virginia rejoined the Union in January 1870. This officially ended the military rule in the state.
Life Under Military Rule
General Schofield's Time in Charge
General John Schofield was the first military leader of the First Military District. He had fought with General Sherman during the war. General Schofield understood the leaders in Virginia. He was careful about letting African Americans, who had little education, vote or join politics.
However, he followed orders and made sure that both white and Black men who could vote were registered. He also made sure the elections were fair. Because of his work, African American men were able to vote in Virginia's General Assembly election in 1867.
General Stoneman's Time in Charge
After General Schofield left in June 1868, George Stoneman took over. General Stoneman had different ideas. He was more aligned with the Democratic Party. He chose policies that were less strict than other military governors. Many white Virginians supported his approach.
General Canby's Time in Charge
Major General Edward Canby became the leader of the First Military District in April 1869. He stayed in charge until September 1870. General Canby had to deal with many disagreements. These included fights between Republicans and Democrats, white people and Black people, and state and federal governments.
His job as military governor ended when Virginia agreed to the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The 13th Amendment ended slavery. The 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote.
During General Canby's time, a group of nine important politicians worked out a deal. This deal allowed voters to approve the new state constitution. After elections in 1869, moderate Republicans and Conservatives took control of Virginia's state government. They quickly approved the 14th and 15th Amendments. Virginia was then allowed back into the Union in January 1870. This ended Reconstruction in Virginia and General Canby's time as military governor.
What Happened After Military Rule
Immediate Changes
Military rule in Virginia helped protect some of the rights that African Americans had gained. But soon after the military left, some of these rights were challenged. When Virginia rejoined the Union, the military leaders gave their power back to the state government.
This meant that Conservative Party leaders regained control of the state government. They brought Virginia back under the control of leaders who were in power before the war.
Impact on African Americans
After military rule ended, African Americans were still a minority in government roles. This included positions in the state government and local offices. However, the right for African Americans to vote was strongly set up during military rule.
This led to more than twenty African Americans being elected to Virginia's General Assembly between 1870 and 1875. Many of these early African American political leaders had more money or education than others. But they still faced many of the same challenges as those who had been born into slavery. They often worked in jobs like mechanics, farmers, or ministers.
These first African American political leaders used their right to vote, given by the 15th Amendment, to make a difference. They helped pave the way for future leaders and for the ongoing fight for equal rights.
