Reconstruction and the Reconstruction and the New SouthNew South

How do you account for the failure of Reconstruction (1865 – 1877) to bring social and economic equality of opportunity to the former slaves? (83)

Discuss the political, economic, and social reforms introduced in Discuss the political, economic, and social reforms introduced in the South between 1864 and 1877. To what extent did these the South between 1864 and 1877. To what extent did these reforms survive the Compromise of 1877? (92)reforms survive the Compromise of 1877? (92)

Analyze the economic consequences of the Civil War with respect to any TWO of the following in the United States between 1865 and 1880.: Agriculture Transportation Labor Industrialization (97)

Following Reconstruction, many southern leaders promoted the idea of a “New South.” To what extent was this “New South” a reality by the time of the First World War? In your answer be sure to address TWO of the following: Economic development, Politics, Race relations

I. From Presidential to I. From Presidential to Congressional ReconstructionCongressional Reconstruction

Johnson follows spirit of AL’s 10% Johnson follows spirit of AL’s 10% Plan (general leniency)Plan (general leniency)

AJ: blacks incapable self-govAJ: blacks incapable self-gov supervised by + subord. to whitessupervised by + subord. to whites

Refuses use Pres power help Refuses use Pres power help blacks (allows Black Codes) + blacks (allows Black Codes) + some in Congress “tyrants” and some in Congress “tyrants” and “traitors”“traitors” moderate Repub. moderate Repub. pushed into Radical camp (led T. pushed into Radical camp (led T. Stevens)Stevens) 1868:Tenure of Office1868:Tenure of Office impeach (no impeach (no

convict)convict)

II. Congressional Reconstruction: II. Congressional Reconstruction: Radical or Conservative?Radical or Conservative?

Concern: upset constitutional balance Concern: upset constitutional balance State + Fed (precedent)?State + Fed (precedent)?

Basis for action?: Basis for action?: Temporary (regain rights + powers when Temporary (regain rights + powers when

readmitted):readmitted): 1) Conquered territory1) Conquered territory 2) Congress’ war powers (“grasp of war”)2) Congress’ war powers (“grasp of war”)

Permanent:Permanent: 3) Const. guarantee republican gov’t3) Const. guarantee republican gov’t

Rejected by mostRejected by most S would have to willingly S would have to willingly reconstructreconstruct conditions key conditions key

A. Radical StepsA. Radical Steps

1) Freedman’s Bureau: aid blacks: 1) Freedman’s Bureau: aid blacks: education, land, supplies, foodeducation, land, supplies, food

2) Civil Rights: enforce 132) Civil Rights: enforce 13thth: all treated same : all treated same before law, cases tried Federal courtsbefore law, cases tried Federal courts Essentially 14Essentially 14thth Amend Amend

3) Fed troops defend rights (register blacks 3) Fed troops defend rights (register blacks vote pre-15vote pre-15thth))

J. Garfield: “Congress shall place civil J. Garfield: “Congress shall place civil Government before these people of the Government before these people of the rebel States, and a cordon of bayonets rebel States, and a cordon of bayonets behind them.”behind them.”

Guarantee republican gov’t by Guarantee republican gov’t by guaranteeing Republican gov’tguaranteeing Republican gov’t

Blacks vote RepublicanBlacks vote Republican influence gov’t influence gov’t more $ schoolsmore $ schools School attendance rises (black + white)School attendance rises (black + white)

True freedom= land: dependence on True freedom= land: dependence on whiteswhites repudiate freedom repudiate freedom Some: planters on wrong sideSome: planters on wrong side confiscate confiscate

(e.g. Tories): too close to socialism(e.g. Tories): too close to socialism Blacks try buy auction (failure pay taxes), Blacks try buy auction (failure pay taxes),

but little cashbut little cash carpetbaggers carpetbaggers

B. Unfinished RevolutionB. Unfinished Revolution

1) Southern opposition: a) KKK1) Southern opposition: a) KKK unwilling unwilling refight CW, b) insidiousrefight CW, b) insidious

2) Northern racism2) Northern racism 3) Corruption + cost3) Corruption + cost 4) Splinter Repub’s: AJ out + fulfillment 4) Splinter Repub’s: AJ out + fulfillment

limited goalslimited goals mods w/conservatives mods w/conservatives 5) Resistance to radicalism: fear labor 5) Resistance to radicalism: fear labor

movement, Const. rev., moving too fastmovement, Const. rev., moving too fast loss econ. supportloss econ. support blacks dependent blacks dependent

white landownerswhite landowners

III. The New South, 1865-III. The New South, 1865-1914: Rhetoric and 1914: Rhetoric and

RealityReality

How did the Civil War and Radical How did the Civil War and Radical Reconstruction change the South?Reconstruction change the South? No slaveryNo slavery No secessionNo secession New political and economic realitiesNew political and economic realities

A. The New South CreedA. The New South Creed

Weaknesses of Old SouthWeaknesses of Old South SlaverySlavery Political system rigged for plantersPolitical system rigged for planters Dependence on agricultureDependence on agriculture

1. “Out Yankee the Yankee”1. “Out Yankee the Yankee” industrialize/modernizeindustrialize/modernize

2. Emphasized historical commonalities N+S2. Emphasized historical commonalities N+S 3. Slavery unfortunate accident; never condemn 3. Slavery unfortunate accident; never condemn

for brutalityfor brutality real sin South economically real sin South economically backwardbackward

4. CW liberates S obsolete labor system4. CW liberates S obsolete labor system 5. “Race Question”: by 1870s, North tired of it5. “Race Question”: by 1870s, North tired of it

NS spokesmen say put in hands of southerners: NS spokesmen say put in hands of southerners: white southerners “know the Negro best” white southerners “know the Negro best” (modern descendants of mythical, kindly slave (modern descendants of mythical, kindly slave owners)owners)

New South Creed middle-ground Radical New South Creed middle-ground Radical Republicans and KlanRepublicans and Klan

Rhetoric of “New South,” reformed and Rhetoric of “New South,” reformed and modern, masked deep conservatismmodern, masked deep conservatism Little change in race relationsLittle change in race relations Little help for poorLittle help for poor

Late 1860s: Railroad workers paid $1.75-$2 a dayLate 1860s: Railroad workers paid $1.75-$2 a day Plantation workers: 50 cents a dayPlantation workers: 50 cents a day

B. Realities of the New SouthB. Realities of the New South

1. Colonial Economy1. Colonial Economy Industry grew considerablyIndustry grew considerably

# industrial shops more than tripled: 50,000 to 180,000# industrial shops more than tripled: 50,000 to 180,000 Income from agriculture declinedIncome from agriculture declined # manufacturing workers increased (esp. textiles)# manufacturing workers increased (esp. textiles)

Better payBetter pay

Industrialization of AgricultureIndustrialization of Agriculture Mechanization + opens upMechanization + opens up Pre-Civil War: 90% of cotton grown by blacksPre-Civil War: 90% of cotton grown by blacks 1875: 40% picked by white tenant farmers1875: 40% picked by white tenant farmers

UrbanizationUrbanization Reconstruction of railroadsReconstruction of railroads

South still far behind the North, colonial South still far behind the North, colonial economy:economy: Raw materials exported to more industrialized Raw materials exported to more industrialized

NorthNorth Dominated by foreign capital (Northern and Dominated by foreign capital (Northern and

European)European) Similar to Latin American nationsSimilar to Latin American nations

Profit from unity of North and South elite: Profit from unity of North and South elite: low taxes, keep workers downlow taxes, keep workers down

C. “The Lost Cause”C. “The Lost Cause” Southern nationalism thin: few believed should be Southern nationalism thin: few believed should be

more like Northmore like North No desire for another war, but emphasized cultural No desire for another war, but emphasized cultural

distinctiveness and superioritydistinctiveness and superiority Nostalgia for the Old SouthNostalgia for the Old South

1889: United Confederate Veterans1889: United Confederate Veterans 1895: United Daughters of the Confederacy1895: United Daughters of the Confederacy Monuments to the ConfederacyMonuments to the Confederacy 44thth of July: Confederate soldiers parade of July: Confederate soldiers parade

Controlling the image of the past grants power over Controlling the image of the past grants power over the present and futurethe present and future ““Birth of a Nation;” “Gone with the Wind”Birth of a Nation;” “Gone with the Wind”

IV. The New South: BlacksIV. The New South: Blacks

1880-1910: The Nadir in Race 1880-1910: The Nadir in Race RelationsRelations

The new State Constitutions initially were more The new State Constitutions initially were more democratic and protective of women’s + blacks’ democratic and protective of women’s + blacks’ rights than most in the North.rights than most in the North.

A. Economic DisenfranchisementA. Economic Disenfranchisement Blacks lost the gains made during RRBlacks lost the gains made during RR

40 acres and a mule never materialized40 acres and a mule never materialized

Economic dependence, workplace segregationEconomic dependence, workplace segregation Same roomSame room

Segregation serves factory ownersSegregation serves factory ownersStops racial unionStops racial union

Why unions eventually backs Civil Rights in the Why unions eventually backs Civil Rights in the 1940s1940s loss of jobs from North to low-wage South loss of jobs from North to low-wage South

Keeps wages down: divide and conquerKeeps wages down: divide and conquerConfers psychological benefit on whites: don’t Confers psychological benefit on whites: don’t

feel as exploitedfeel as exploited race trumps class race trumps classRichard Wright, Richard Wright, Black BoyBlack Boy: whites make blacks : whites make blacks

fight each other, place betsfight each other, place bets

Sharecropping: Sharecropping: tenants pay debts tenants pay debts share of crop share of crop

Blacks still primarily Blacks still primarily ag. workers well into ag. workers well into the 20the 20thth century century

Disproportionate Disproportionate power landowners + power landowners + creditorscreditors

Black Percentage of Population

Blacks not much better off than slavesBlacks not much better off than slaves1. Debt Peonage:1. Debt Peonage:

Blacks work 1/4 to 1/3 share of crop (mostly Blacks work 1/4 to 1/3 share of crop (mostly cotton)cotton)

Seed and suppliesSeed and supplies debt general store (often debt general store (often owned land owner)owned land owner)

Overpriced, interest often 50% (usury)Overpriced, interest often 50% (usury)Falling agricultural prices (mechanization + Falling agricultural prices (mechanization +

overproductionoverproduction glut) glut)

Sharecroppers not break evenSharecroppers not break even more more debtdebt crop lien crop lien debt peonagedebt peonage

Fraud (black illiteracy)Fraud (black illiteracy)

2. Laws passed stop blacks seeking better 2. Laws passed stop blacks seeking better conditionsconditions

Illegal whites offer blacks new jobsIllegal whites offer blacks new jobsBreach of contractBreach of contract arrest arrest

B. Political DisenfranchisementB. Political Disenfranchisement

After RR dramatic decline black participationAfter RR dramatic decline black participationLA: 1870s+80s: 100,000+ black votersLA: 1870s+80s: 100,000+ black voters1900: 5,3201900: 5,320 Influence in State and Federal governmentInfluence in State and Federal government

South got around 15South got around 15thth Amendment with: Amendment with: 1. Poll taxes (pay in cash, receipt presented months 1. Poll taxes (pay in cash, receipt presented months

later)later) 2. Literacy tests2. Literacy tests 3. Gerrymandering3. Gerrymandering 4. Polling locations distant4. Polling locations distant 5. Ferry operators5. Ferry operators 6. Last-minute relocation6. Last-minute relocation 7. Shot-guns at the polling places7. Shot-guns at the polling places

Colfax Massacre, 1873; 150 blacks killed; Colfax Massacre, 1873; 150 blacks killed; U.S.U.S. v. v. CruikshankCruikshank

Some whites also potentially Some whites also potentially disenfranchised by lawsdisenfranchised by lawsGrandfather clauseGrandfather clauseLeniency with enforcementLeniency with enforcement

C. Social DisenfranchisementC. Social Disenfranchisement

Under-fund black education (teachers paid Under-fund black education (teachers paid less)less)Would only create “uppity” blacks:Would only create “uppity” blacks: ““To educate a [black person] is to spoil a field To educate a [black person] is to spoil a field

hand”hand”Williams v. California Williams v. California (2000): settlement for $1 (2000): settlement for $1

billionbillion

Social segregationSocial segregationDenied equal access to public facilities:Denied equal access to public facilities:

TheatersTheatersSchoolsSchoolsTrainsTrains

Federal Government complicity:Federal Government complicity:1896: 1896: PlessyPlessy v. v. FergusonFerguson: “separate but : “separate but

equal”equal”

D. Legal DisenfranchisementD. Legal Disenfranchisement Courts backbone white supremacy: all white Courts backbone white supremacy: all white

juries, different enforcementjuries, different enforcement ““worse than slavery”worse than slavery”

Black death not expensive: no ownersBlack death not expensive: no owners

Convict Lease SystemConvict Lease System Incarcerate black men and lease out as slave Incarcerate black men and lease out as slave

laborlabor Petty + trumped up charges: Petty + trumped up charges:

Mississippi “Pig Law”: grand larceny: more than $10 Mississippi “Pig Law”: grand larceny: more than $10 (cost of a pig); 5 years(cost of a pig); 5 years

Specific purpose: laborSpecific purpose: labor

Jim Crow Criminal SystemJim Crow Criminal System

Sam HoseSam HoseConvict lease systemConvict lease system

““the live nigger is worth more than the dead the live nigger is worth more than the dead one”one”

““If a nigger kills a white man, that’s If a nigger kills a white man, that’s murder. If a white man kills a nigger, murder. If a white man kills a nigger, that’s justifiable homicide. If a nigger kills that’s justifiable homicide. If a nigger kills a nigger, that’s one less nigger.”a nigger, that’s one less nigger.”

““Whose nigger are you?”Whose nigger are you?”

SC Gov Cole Blease on commutating SC Gov Cole Blease on commutating death sentence (1913)death sentence (1913)

““This defendant was convicted of killing another This defendant was convicted of killing another negro. I am naturally against electrocuting or negro. I am naturally against electrocuting or hanging one negro for killing another, because, hanging one negro for killing another, because, if a man had two fine mules running loose in a if a man had two fine mules running loose in a lot and one went mad and kicked and killed the lot and one went mad and kicked and killed the other he certainly would not take his gun and other he certainly would not take his gun and shoot the other mule, but would take that mule shoot the other mule, but would take that mule and work it and try to get another mule; and work it and try to get another mule; therefore, I believe that when one negro kills therefore, I believe that when one negro kills another, that he should be put in the Penitentiary another, that he should be put in the Penitentiary and made to work for the State.”and made to work for the State.”

"In 82% of the studies [reviewed], race of the victim was found to "In 82% of the studies [reviewed], race of the victim was found to influence the likelihood of being charged with capital murder or influence the likelihood of being charged with capital murder or receiving the death penalty, i.e., those who murdered whites were receiving the death penalty, i.e., those who murdered whites were found more likely to be sentenced to death than those who murdered found more likely to be sentenced to death than those who murdered blacks."blacks."- United States General Accounting Office, Death Penalty Sentencing, - United States General Accounting Office, Death Penalty Sentencing, February 1990 February 1990

Nationally, over 80% of murder victims in cases resulting in an Nationally, over 80% of murder victims in cases resulting in an execution were White, even though only 50% of murder victims execution were White, even though only 50% of murder victims generally are White generally are White

96% of states conducting reviews of race and the death penalty have 96% of states conducting reviews of race and the death penalty have discovered a pattern of either race-of-victim or race-of-defendant discovered a pattern of either race-of-victim or race-of-defendant discrimination, or both discrimination, or both

98% of the Chief district attorneys in death penalty states are White98% of the Chief district attorneys in death penalty states are White Jury selection procedures: 1986 Jury selection procedures: 1986 BatsonBatson v. v. KentuckyKentucky

A Philadelphia study found that Blacks received the death penalty at a A Philadelphia study found that Blacks received the death penalty at a 38% higher rate than others when comparing similar defendants and 38% higher rate than others when comparing similar defendants and similar crimes similar crimes

A North Carolina study found that the odds of receiving a death A North Carolina study found that the odds of receiving a death sentence rose by 3.5 times among those defendants whose victims sentence rose by 3.5 times among those defendants whose victims were White were White

Since 1976, executions: White Defendant / Black Victim (15)Since 1976, executions: White Defendant / Black Victim (15)

Black Defendant / White Victim (223)Black Defendant / White Victim (223)

E. The Democratic Party at Night: E. The Democratic Party at Night: Context of ViolenceContext of Violence

System of oppression: black + whiteSystem of oppression: black + whiteLegal, political, economic, social, cultural Legal, political, economic, social, cultural

not enoughnot enough rope + shotgun rope + shotgun1880-1910: dramatic rise in lynching1880-1910: dramatic rise in lynchinghttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/themap/

map.html

Being “suspected” of Being “suspected” of raping a white woman raping a white woman a common excusea common excuse

YearRace Murder

Murder RapeTotal

Lynchings

1896 31 24 31 86

1897 46 55 22 123

1898 39 47 16 102

1899 56 23 11 90

1900 57 30 16 103

Total 229 179 96 505

Others lynched for crossing some Others lynched for crossing some boundary they shouldn’t have: economic, boundary they shouldn’t have: economic, social, physicalsocial, physical

Racial etiquette: informal set of rulesRacial etiquette: informal set of rulesBlacks give up the sidewalkBlacks give up the sidewalkDon’t look whites (esp. women) in the eyesDon’t look whites (esp. women) in the eyesWhites are Mister and Missus, blacks never Whites are Mister and Missus, blacks never

areare

Economic success was Economic success was crossing a boundarycrossing a boundary Ida B. Wells: Ida B. Wells:

economics real economics real causecause

Booker T. Booker T. Washington vs. Washington vs. W.E.B. DuBois: W.E.B. DuBois: could economic could economic strength lift blacks?strength lift blacks?Tuskegee vs. Tuskegee vs.

Talented TenthTalented Tenth

Listen to the NPR program “Remembering Listen to the NPR program “Remembering Jim Crow”Jim Crow”

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1138738

But…But…

Blanche Kelso Bruce, Blanche Kelso Bruce, elected 1875 Senator elected 1875 Senator from Mississippifrom Mississippi

Held local offices (tax Held local offices (tax collector, etc.): collector, etc.): Republicans example; Republicans example; Democrats Democrats pacificationpacification

Served out term, Served out term, unable go back Missunable go back Miss