BELL RINGER

In a paragraph or so, describe the condition of the former Confederate states at the end of the Civil

War.

When you are finished, put everything away. Keep only a pen or pencil on your desk. Be prepared to WATCH,

LISTEN, and OBSERVE.

THE POLITICAL & ECONOMIC VACUUM OF THE POST-WAR SOUTH 1861-1876

MYSTERY CLIP

GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)

❖ Based off Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel

❖ Historical romance, following the daughter of a

wealthy plantation owner, Scarlett O’Hara

❖ Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War

and Reconstruction era

❖ Told from whose perspective?

THINK ABOUT THE CLIP

❖ What do you see in the clip?

❖ When does the clip take place? What event is portrayed in the

clip?

❖ What do you learn at the very end (when the soldiers are

marching)?

❖ What can we learn about Reconstruction from this clip?

RHETT BUTLER ON THE CIVIL WAR

THINGS TO CONSIDER / KEEP IN MIND❖ What were southerners’ attitudes toward the Civil War? Toward

the Union?

❖ Why did so many southerners defend slavery? How did they

defend it?

❖ How did northern politicians plan to rebuild the South? Why

might some southerners disagree with these plans?

SCARLETT’S RETURN TO TARA

YANKEES IN THE SOUTH❖ Multitudes of southern land now belongs to the Union

❖ What about the rest? o abandoned o ruined

❖ Land can be repurposed o Railroads

• Industrialization

• Prosperity

YANKEES IN THE SOUTH

CARPETBAGGERS

❖ Northerners who moved to the

South during and after the Civil War

❖ Hoped to profit off the ruined state

of the South

❖ Speculation in Railroads

❖ Carpetbaggers in government

SCALAWAGS

❖ Republican support in the South o Carpetbaggers

o Freed blacks

❖ Scalawags o Derogatory term

o Northern/Republican sympathizers

• Desegregation & Racial Integration

REDEMPTION POLITICS IN THE 1870S❖ Bourbon Democrats

• classic liberal

• lassiez-faire capitalism

❖ Redeemers • southern wing of Bourbon Democrats • white • conservative • pro-business • wanted to oust Republican coalition (freedmen, carpetbaggers, & scalawags)

THE ELECTION OF 1876

❖ Rutherford B. Hayes (R)

❖ Compromise of 1877

• “Corrupt Bargain”

❖ Troops withdrawn from last remaining Reconstruction States

14

HOMEWORK!

Mini-Research! How has the term “carpetbagger” evolved over time? Find a current event that explains the term as it is used today.

Along with a printed copy of your current event (from a reputable news source), turn in a 1-2 paragraph response.