Reconstruction 1865-1877
Jefferson had said: that the two races couldn't live together because of "deep rooted prejudices entertained by the whites- ten thousand recollections by the blacks of the injuries they have sustained."
Teachers, politicians, doctors and lawyers were sent down south.
Dear Friend:
Perhaps you may care to know of my work here for the Freed people. After the horrible riots in New Orleans in July, I found my heart getting impaired from hospital visiting and excitement so I came here to do what I could and to get stronger corporally, that I might enter fully into carrying light and knowledge into dark places. The Lord blessed me and I have a very interesting and constantly growing day school, a night school, and, a glorious Sabbath School of near one hundred scholars.
The school is under the auspices of the Freedmen’s Bureau, yet it is wholly self-supporting. The majority of my pupils come from plantations, three, four and even eight miles distant. So anxious are they to learn that they walk these distances so early in the morning as never to be tardy.
There has been much opposition to the School. Twice I have been shot at in my room. Some of my night-school scholars have been shot but none killed. A week ago an aged freedman was shot so badly as to break his arm and leg – just across the way. The rebels here threatened to burn down the school and house in which I board before the first month was passed. Yet they have not materially harmed us.
The nearest military Jurisdiction is two hundred miles distant at New Orleans.
Joseph Rainey
1. What is Freedom?
2. How to fix the US?
3. Cultural conditioning
4. Rise of the KKK
5. History as Political
6. Impeachment
7. Betrayal
https://youtu.be/1QqO9aZgoe4 -
2. What Is Freedom?
1865- Abolition is secured!
The War to preserve the Unity of the United States was won. Fears over abolition had caused the succession of southern states but the war they had began, brought about the end of the institution they sought to protect.
Questions
Chapter 2, opening paragraph of short history of reconstruction.
Last paragraph of 30 and first of 31
Celebration & search for relatives
Last line of 37 to 38
Black Codes - 1866
Although the government recognized black people as free, southern states attempted to keep them under white control. In Louisiana, black codes were enforced, stating when and where black people could go.
Black people accused of laziness could be sent for forced paid labor.
Plenty of black people and Republicans thought this was an unfair restriction of freedom. They peacefully marched through New Orleans, demanding equal treatment. This infuriated many ex-confederates, some of whom were policemen and attacked the protesters. An all out riot broke out between the armed white and the unarmed blacks. Up to 200 blacks were beaten to death, shot by revolvers or stabbed repeatedly. Only 4 white people died. Nobody was ever charged with a crime.
In Memphis in the same year, what had started as a party with women and children became a shoot out with police. 46 black people were killed and 2 white policemen were killed. White mobs attacked the black side of town and burned down homes, churches and looted. Federal troops were sent in to bring peace but again, nobody was ever charged with a crime.
What is freedom?
Some abolitionists believed blacks were now free to leave the country. Some believed that whites were now free to compete for the new labor jobs needed after the loss of slaves. Some believed black people could be free to own property but not vote. Others wanted full and equal rights.
Other question was whether or not the slave owners owed their freed slaves reparations. Did the government owe reparations? Should blacks be given land? Should they be given aid? Or would this, as some argued, create dependency?
Landowning
There was a mania among freedmen for the ownership of even the smallest amount of land. Many believed that land ownership would complete their freedom. However, the majority of freedmen couldn't afford to buy their own land. Those that could were denied credit from the white owned banks or the seller refused to sell to a black man. Some were able to "squat" on unoccupied lands in the wild frontiers of Texas and Florida. Many slaves believed that they were owed at least a small portion of their former owners plantations. It was land that they had worked, some of them, their whole lives, as well as the lives of their parents and their grandparents and their great grandparents, without any pay. However, politicians were more interested in appeasing the rich and angry plantation owners. The politicians were worried about a drop in food production and a potential famine. So they appeased the plantation owners so that they could, in some cases, place random freedmen under forced paid labor.
General Sherman had prematurely promised plots of land to freed slaves during the war. Those freed slaves who had either been given land by the military or took land of their former owners were made to give it back to it's former owner by President Johnson.
What do you think? Should land have been confiscated from the former slave owners? Blacks had worked for generations without pay. Many plantation owners had already made huge losses from the war. It would push the former Confederates further from rejoining the union.
Slavery by any other name
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Last para of 93
Middle of 94
Middle of 95
The former slave owners let the freed slaves work plots of land in exchange for a portion of the profits. They also made the freedmen rent tools and many fell into debt to their former owners.
The Thirteenth & Fourteen Ammendment - 1868
The 13th Ammendment, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
If you were against abolition, what would you do?
The 14th ammendment made black people born in the US citizens for the first time. Black men now had the right to vote in US elections.
President Andrew Johnson vetoed the bill, believing that it was too much too fast and that it wouldn't make the ex-confederates easier to assimilate. For the first time congress would override the president and pass it anyway.
However, it wasn't supported by everyone. A good amount of people opposed it, including the president of the time, Andrew Johnson.
If they gave the black man the right to vote, next women would be asking for it. What if a wife votes differently from her husband? Surely that would lead to a breakdown of the family and an increase in crime.
The 14th ammendment wasn't perfect though. Section one reads, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall exist within the United States."
Government good? "Custodian of freedom"
Black women 2nd class
If the right to choose work, vote and property were key to freedom, many men saw no contradiction in refusing those things to women, black or white.
Why do you think this was?
Define Freedom
https://youtu.be/5fX8VtHG0EU
What do you think the implications of Grant's arrest were?
1. How to Put the Country Back Together?
Military Presence?
To ensure the transition of power and cooperation of the southern states, union troops remain in the south, ensuring obedience to the law. Without them there it was believed that the south would ignore the emancipation proclamation and defeat and reorganize under the old ways.
Carpetbaggers?
After the war, many northerners travelled south either to help reconstruction or seeking profits and political appointments. Many feared that without northern Republicans influence in the south, the Confederate states could rise again. Others saw an opportunity to make personal gains. Most southern Democrats saw these "carpetbaggers" as troublemakers coming to dig the knife in even deeper.
Remittance to the Union?
After defeating the south and keeping the states united, the question came of how to put them back together
Johnson and moderate Republicans wanted 10% of people in each state to take an oath to the union. More radical Republicans thought this was too lenient and believed at least 51% should.
Everyday Violence and Resentment
Page 52 to end
The Freedmen's Bureau was established?
A government department was established to help the freed slaves with healthcare, housing and education. Many Confederates and Democrats criticized the governmental support and said that it would make the freed slaves lazy. The freedmen's bureau set up public schools for ex slaves. They defended black people in legal disputes, provided healthcare, orphanages and shelter.
Reparations?
Top page 72 & 73
Many believed that taking land from plantation owners and giving to freed slaves was just. It both punished the Confederates and provided compensation and economic support for blacks. Only problem was that it would also outrage the south and further divide the nation.
Black Representation?
When state governments were being rebuilt, dozens of black men were elected to office. Tallahassee and Little Rock actually elected black chiefs of police. Louisiana had a black governor. Together they ensured the voices of the black population was heard. First black governor of any state was P. B. S. Pinchback of Louisiana.
What really happened?
Reconstruction Act of 1867
Immediately after the civil war, ex-Confederates were hostile to changes. Many didn't want to treat freed slaves as equals. Forcing them to labor (paid as it was) was a violation of their rights. Initially the US government gave them the choice to obey the new laws giving black people the right to vote or they can't have any representation in the government at all. Most southern states preferred to go without representation and continue discriminating. The US realized something needed to be done.
So, against the wishes of President, Andrew Johnson, the Reconstruction Act was passed. The act kept Union troops in the South to protect the rights of ex-slaves as well as Southern Unionists. It also prevented anyone from taking office unless they swore allegiance to the Union and disavowed the confederacy.
Last paragraph of 142
For equality but against integration
Top of Page 133
President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson had a good early reputation. Although a southerner and a Democrat, he remained representing Tennessee in the Senate even after they succeeded from the union. Southern pro-unionists were seen as brave heroes in the north.
When Lincoln was assassinated, there was also a plot to kill Andrew Johnson but the assassin lost his nerve and didn't go through with it.
Lincoln had chosen Johnson as vice president as a tactical move. He hoped to show unity between the northern Republicans and the loyal southern Democrats. With Lincoln's death, this was all about to backfire.
Although Johnson believed that the southern states had no right to succeed and believed slavery should end. He didn't believe black people were equal. Johnson's interests lay with the poor white landowners. He believed emancipation would loosen the "slaveocracy" in farming and bring more opportunity to the poorer white farmers. As president he even suggested that some black people might like to move to some other country.
While Lincoln was tactful, careful and cautious. Johnson was not. He spoke his mind and had firm opinions.
Johnson was a politician who needed to get reelected and with the Souths reentry to the union, Johnson needed their votes. Johnson vetoed everything Congress would present to him and was a very difficult man to work with.
In addition to this, Johnson systematically removed Lincoln's supporters from their positions and hired more conservative and less black friendly politicians.
Rumours even ran rampant that he had actually been conspiring with Jefferson Davis, leader of the confederacy and was actually involved in Lincoln's assassination. Pages missing from John Wilks Booth's diary were believed to be evidence but nothing was ever proven.
Mary Todd Lincoln
Later, in a tell-all book about the days after the assassination, Mary’s servant, dressmaker, and confidante Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley recalled “the wails of a broken heart, the unearthly shrieks, the terrible convulsions” of the bereft widow. Though those reactions might seem appropriate for a woman who witnessed her husband’s traumatic assassination at close range, they were seen as indicative of an unladylike craving for attention at the time.
Mary did not attend Lincoln’s funeral—and the new president, Andrew Johnson, did not pay her a visit or even write a note of sympathy after the assassination. This infuriated Mary, who took her time moving out of the White House and even insinuated that Johnson had conspired with Wilkes Booth to kill her husband.
Johnson's Slaves
In 1843, Johnson purchased his first slave, Dolly, who was 14 years old at the time. Dolly had three children—Liz, Florence and William. Soon after his purchase of Dolly, he purchased Dolly's half-brother Sam. Sam Johnson and his wife Margaret had nine children. Sam became a commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau. Notably, he received some monetary compensation for his labors and negotiated with Andrew Johnson to receive a tract of land which Andrew Johnson gave him for free in 1867.
In 1857, Andrew Johnson purchased Henry, who was 13 at the time and would later accompany the Johnson family to the White House. Ultimately, Johnson owned at least ten slaves. Andrew Johnson freed his slaves on August 8, 1863; they remained with him as paid servants.
Would you have been a racist?
It's easy to think, evil people are racist, good people are not. However, this is too simple. Are the ancestors of southerners predominantly evil? Was 95% of the white south evil in 1860? What makes people evil? Did a demon decend on millions of people and make them do these things? Or was it something cultural they thought was right?
They believed they were better than black people. They thought black people were uncivilized. They didn't let black people get education, then used their lack of education as evidence that they were inferior.
If everyone you knew lived together with you in 1860, here in Florida, a Confederate state. How many do you think would be pro-slavery? Only a few? How about most? How many would be for the equality of black people? Few. They wouldn't be any less friendly to you. They would just hold opinions they believe are objectively true.
Would you be a racist, white supremacist? In a different lifetime with different life experiences and different education, it's possible. Are there things today that are culturally taken for granted but could be frowned upon in the future?
The Southern Argument
Once booming and prosperous regions were in desolate ruin. Property had been burned down. Livestock killed and valuables looted. 1 in 5 southern men were dead.
After the emancipation proclamation, Black people were resistant to the same treatment of the past. Many plantation owners tried to subjugate them once more and "keep them in their place". Many black people fought back against this, refusing to do much of the work then were once forced to do. Plantation owners would complain that blacks "didn't want to work" and were rude and argumentative. They complained that society had broken down but in reality, slaves had gained personhood equal to whites in the eyes of the law. Plantation owners couldn't treat them as they had once treated them.
Insolence
P53&54
The belief that black people had become lazy persisted among white people. When aid was arranged for the damaged south and in light of the 1866 famine, it was withdrawn due to arguments that charity leads to dependency. And so, many didn't want to do anything for the poor and devastated southerners.
Klu Klux Klan
Founded on Christmas eve in Tennessee immediately after the civil war my six ex-Confederate soldiers. Ex-confederate general, Nathan Bedford Forrest was their first leader, a position known as The Grand Wizard. The name came from his horse riding ability. He was so good, he was known to be the wizard of horse riding.
The Klan found no lack of support. Many saw the south as being under military occupation and in many ways it was. They saw the klan as the defenders of the old ways and heroes of the white race.
https://youtu.be/7o-uNsOMeV4
The KKK also traditionally identifies itself as Christian. They burn crosses at their ralleys to represent the rage of God.
https://youtu.be/BfntD7vLW0w
https://youtu.be/vv3W1KGEAEY (5:52)
https://youtu.be/NYXZQ9BRiGw -
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In 1877, African-American Preacher Arthur St. Clair performed a marriage ceremony for a black man and white woman in North Tampa. On his way home, he was attacked by a white mob and lynched.
KKK Legacy
Many landmarks are named after members of the KKK, even today. Forrest County, Mississippi, Forest City in Arkansas,
As of 2007, Tennessee had 32 dedicated historical markers linked to Nathan Bedford Forrest, more than are dedicated to all three former Presidents associated with the state combined: Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson. Tennessee also holds Nathan Bedford Forrest Day each year on July 13th. There are hundreds of statues dedicated to Forrest or other klan members still on display in the American south.
The Confederate Flag
We still see the Confederate flag today. Why? Many southerners say that it represents southern pride and heritage.
The Confederate flag was first used as a battle flag during the civil war. It didn't exsist prior to the outbreak of the war over slavery. The modern version didn't represent the confederacy as a whole.
Today, Mississippi has the Confederate flag as part of the design of their state flag. South Carolina flies the Confederate flag from their state Capitol building.
Does it represent southern heritage before the civil war?
Do you think the Confederate flag should represent the southern black community?
Impeachment 1868
The president, Andrew Johnson, had disagreed with Congress on how reconstruction should be handled. He believed that forgiving former Confederates and repairing the union were most important. Congress collectively agreed that protecting the rights of the black people and ensuring a second civil war wouldn't kick off was more important.
Union soldiers were in the south enforcing the laws and loyalty but the Commander in chief, the president, opposed everything they were doing. So congress and the Senate passed a law placing control with General Ulysses S Grant. Nevertheless, Johnson didn't believe they had the power to do that. So when they least expected it, Johnson fired the most pro-black advocates and replaced them with more conservative appointments.
One man he particularly disliked was Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, a prominent abolitionist appointed by Lincoln. When he defied congresses' new law and fired Stanton, Stanton's replacement, Lorenzo Thomas went to Stanton's office to replace him, the two men had a brief standoff, contesting that they were both the rightful man, before popping open a bottle of scotch.
Congress declared this to be an illegal action, impeachment him and pressed charges in the Senate. Johnson was acquitted by a single vote. Johnson would remain president for his last year but Republicans no longer believed that he was the best man for the job.
The best thing to happen during Johnson's presidency was the purchase of Alaska. Russia sold it for $7.2 million or $140 million today. It became a territory for the next 90 years before becoming a state. At the time it was heavily criticized as foolish. Since then, it was discovered to be oil rich and proved to be an excellent investment. The secretary of state who negotiated the purchase grew up in Florida, New York.
Election of 1868
Ulysses S Grant
Grant had been a popular and successful general during both the Mexican-American war and the union in the civil war. He hadn't been overly interested in politics, only voting once in his life.
He had accepted an invitation by Andrew Johnson to attend his speaking tour. Johnson wanted to use Grant's popularity to boost his own but Grant was angered by what he heard in Johnson's speeches. General Grant was so disgusted with Johnson’s speeches that he “plead illness and left the presidential party and returned to Washington alone.” He wrote to his wife Julia regarding his feelings, “I have never been so tired of anything before as I have been with the political stump speeches of Mr. Johnson. I look upon them as a national disgrace.”
Texas, Mississippi and Virginia had yet to be reintroduced into the United States.
Andrew Johnson wasn't even considered for reelection and Grant was nominated as the Republican nominee unanimously.
When election day came, the KKK used violence to intimidate Republicans and black people in the south from voting. 11 Georgia counties with black majorities reported zero Republican votes.
The Seymour–Blair Democratic ticket's campaign slogan was: "Our Ticket, Our Motto, This Is a White Man's Country; Let White Men Rule"
In Louisiana, 1,000 blacks were killed to suppress Republican voting. In Georgia, blacks and Republicans also faced a lot of violence. The Klan's violence was primarily designed to intimidate voters, targeting black and white supporters of the Republican Party. The Klan's violent tactics backfired, as Grant, whose slogan was "Let us have peace", won the election and Republicans gained a majority in Congress.
Murder of George Ashburn- 1868
Page 29 of Freedom's Detective
Enforcement Act
Once president, Grant signed the Enforcement Act which gave the government and National guard greater power over policing the south and defeating the KKK.
'Anti-KKK' groups of unionists and Republicans policed the streets with the national government supporting them.
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Undercover Work
Freedoms detective - P163-165
The secret service was initially introduced to combat counterfeit money printing. However, during reconstruction it took to infiltrating and exposing the KKK. Page 172-175 Freedoms Detective
Voter Suppression
When it became clear that the freed population would never again but placed under slavery, many southerners worked hard to keep the black population out of power. They weren't able to prevent the black people from being citizen and having the right but they could require payments to vote. Many black people were still poor and many didn't have the funds to pay to vote. The southerners could claim they weren't denying them the right to vote but nobody could deny they were placing hurdles. Eitherway, it worked and Democrats came to dominate southern politics.
When it came to debating, southern politicians started wasting less time arguing against the black man's right to vote and instead argued that the Republican government was spending too much and taxes were too high. Many complained that their tax dollars were going toward building schools for black children. They didn't believe it was the government's job to help people and they certainly didn't want their money contributing to those black schools.
What do you think? Is it everyone's responsibility to help those in need? Should money you've worked for be given to those who didn't earn it? Should others be able to take a portion of your income? What would happen to public schools if everyone stopped paying taxes?
Jackson County War - 1869-1871
The KKK had perhaps the strongest and most violent hold on Jackson county, Florida. In a period of a year, between 150-200 Republicans were murdered. Nobody was ever charged with a crime and the sheriff of Marianna was even severely beaten by a mob of locals in broad daylight on main street. He then resigned, complaining of the states lawlessness.
Meridian Race Riots - 1871
KKK members chased black families into Mississippi. At night a group of the escaping blacks broke into the leaders house, kidnapped and beat him.
The black attackers were arrested and put in jail. The black population were outraged that their people would be arrested when KKK members routinely went free.
A militia of 50 white men came to watch the trial. In the courtroom, tempers were high and suddenly guns were drawn and fired from all sides of the room. The judge was shot dead along with a few others. Three black defendants escaped. The first was shot outside by a mob of whites. The second was chased 50 miles but escaped, catching a train to Jackson, Mississippi. The third was placed under the protection of two guards who ended up throwing him from a second story window. He was taken back into custody but his throat was cut that night. White mobs attacked the black side of town and burned down their church. Three further men were arrested but were found dead inside their cells by morning. In all, 30 black people were murdered. In a common theme of the south, nobody was ever charged with any of the murders.
The Push Back Against Black Freedom
https://youtu.be/LVQomlXMeek -
https://youtu.be/_xKP6J3dY6Q -
Election of 1872
Ulysses S Grant remained popular into 1872. He had effectively brought stability to the south and defeated the KKK. He won reelection in 1872.
However, his second term wasn't as successful. Democrats continued to criticize the government policing of southerners and the large amount of government money being used to support freed slaves. They kept the pressure on Grant and claimed mismanagement and called him a tyrant. They saw themselves as similar to the founding fathers, who broke away from the British because they were being made to do things they didn't want to do. It took a while for some states to regain voting rights because they resisted acknowledging the rights of freed slaves. Many southerners invoked the "no taxation without representation" cry of the founding fathers.
The next problem Grant faced was that he like to hire his military friends and many of them were corrupt, greedy and unethical in their work. Grant was a political outsider and he trusted members of the military more than the politicians of Washington. Not only did he give jobs to his friends over those who had worked for jobs but many of these friends would be guilty of corruption.
Colfax Massacre - 1873
Louisiana was a battle ground for both Republican Unionist Progressivism and Democratic Confederate White Supremacy. Some thought the Confederates who had broken away from the US and fought against the US shouldn’t have the ability to vote. Some believed they should be allowed to vote and so should the freed black populations. Many in the South believed that America was a White Man’s country and that Black opinions had no place in politics.
The election of 1872 was a hotly contested event in Louisiana. The resentment of the former confederates ran deep in the communities. One ballot box was placed within an Ex-Confederate owned store. The owner threatened to whip any man who tried to vote Republican. So Republicans in the state set up a second ballot box on a former plantation. The Ex-Confederates found out about it and threw the ballot box in the river. When President Grant sent troops to Louisiana to protect the integrity of the election, it was seen as yet more evidence that the Southern Ex-Confederates were being oppressed.
When the election was over, one county in Louisiana was disputed. Both Republicans and Democrats declared victory. The Unionist Republicans in power were afraid that the Ex-Confederate Democrats would try to take the local government by force. So the Republicans set up defenses around the County Courthouse and gave freed blacks rifles to defend it. The White population was furious to hear that their courthouse had been held by Northerners, Republicans and Black soldiers. They themselves formed a militia of 300 out of Ex-Confederates and KKK members. They surrounded the courthouse and opened fire. The Republicans shot back from the windows. After a short firefight, the Republicans surrendered. However, what happened next is disputed. The Southern Democrats claim that after surrendering, one of their own men was shot by a Republican inside the courthouse. Republicans claim that they were in the process of surrender when the man was shot by an overexcited member of his own force. Either way, the man was killed and the Southern Democrat response was swift. They rounded up the surrendering Republicans and took them prisoner. Democrats went through the courthouse killing unarmed men and then burned the building down. Later that day the Republican prisoners were executed. In all it’s believed between 105 and 150 Republicans died and only 3 Democrats.
“The bloodiest single instance of racial carnage in the Reconstruction era, the Colfax massacre taught many lessons, including the lengths to which some opponents of Reconstruction would go to regain their accustomed authority. Among blacks in Louisiana, the incident was long remembered as proof that in any large confrontation, they stood at a fatal disadvantage.”
Republican judges tried to charge those involved but failed. The Supreme Court ruled that the Enforcement Act of 1870 applied only to actions committed by the state and that it did not apply to actions committed by individuals or private conspiracies. This meant that the Federal government could not prosecute cases such as the Colfax killings. The court told those who were seeking justice to take it up with the state. Louisiana did not prosecute any of the perpetrators of the Colfax massacre; most southern states would not prosecute white men for attacks against freedmen. Thus, tragically, the enforcement of the Enforcement Act ended.
Bias Language
In 1950, during the Civil Rights movement, a commemorative plaque was placed on the cite of the Colfax Massacre. It read:
“On this site occurred the Colfax Riot in which three white men and 150 ne were slain. This even on April 13, 1873 marked the end of carpetbag misrule in the South.”
The sign was removed in 2021 and placed in a museum.
Result - Bottom of 224
Coushatta massacre - 1874
A black farmer was murdered by the KKK in Louisiana. The KKK had suspicions of a revenge attack by the black population. So the KKK arrested several black men for planning a rebellion. Rumors of a black uprising caused hundreds of men from miles around to show up. Six white Republicans were murdered. Random attacks took place on local blacks. 4 died and one had his arms and legs broken before being burned alive. 2 black men were hanged. Nobody was ever charged with a crime.
Turning Against the Republican Party
Republicans were getting frustrated with the difficulty of Reconstruction. Many believed that slavery had ended and that was enough.
Government spending was at an all time high in stabilizing the south and protecting the black population.
Grant's administration had been guilty of all kinds of corruption. His friends hired for jobs were making political decisions and giving land grants to companies they were personally invested in. Scandal after scandal was discovered and Grant claim ignorance to each. However, the public was losing faith in him.
Governmental force scared many and prompted them to question when it's appropriate for the government to force you to do something. Many looked back at the founding fathers and their residence to Great Britain as inspiration contrary to their government of their time.
Should the government be able to force you to do things against your will? Common good? Public safety.
Yazoo County Riot - 1875
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Breaking Point
As Reconstruction became more and more unpopular and the US government was perceived as a "nanny state", overly involved in every dispute, Grant and the Republicans held back. When appeals for further protection came in following the Yazoo County Riot, Grant, himself tired of such calls, said, "The whole public is tired out with these annual outbreaks in the south." And "There's no sense in trying to save Alabama if doing so loses Ohio."
The Republican party was now concerned with losing votes in the North.
259-260 Freedoms Detective
Many of these former KKK members had successful and prosperous lives after getting released. They were recieved as heroes in the south and given much support and opportunity. One of the men arrested for the Ashburn murder became mayor of Pensacola, FL and the panhandle town of Chipley is named after him.
Election of 1876
Grant and Reconstruction had lost popularity within the Republican party. Many had lost confidence in them.
The Republican's nominated Rutherford Hayes as their leader, he was
He was friends with railroad tycoons, many of whom urged for peace with the south, eager to protect their southern investments. Mutual business interests have bought peace in the past and Hayes was urged to do the same now.
The election was extremely close. Three states were contested, Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina. Eager to keep control and with three states undetermined, both parties began negotiations. The southern Democrats were more concerned with the politics of their state than the presidency.
The Bargain of 1877
Behind closed doors, the two candidates worked out a deal. It came to be known as "The Bargain of 1877", "The Great Comprise" and "The Great Betrayal". Not much is known about it. What we do know is that the Democrats stopped contesting the election in those three undetermined states and Hayes became president. Immediately upon becoming president, Hayes withdrew federal troops from the state capitols of South Carolina and Louisiana. Historians believe the Republican's traded an undisputed presidency for a looser grip on the south. They agreed not to interfere in southern politics and in return, the Democrats would recognize Hayes as their president. It was the end of reconstruction.
Result
The "Bargain of 1877" became common knowledge and although Hayes was president, he became known as RutherFraud and His Fraudulency.
With federal management now absent from the south, former slaves were denied the vote, discriminated and denied any power. Some have come to call it another form of slavery. Racist laws known as Jim Crow would dominate southern states for almost 100 years.
During Reconstruction, many schools had been integrated. After 1877, schools would be segregated for the next 70 years.
During Reconstruction, Louisiana had two black governors and the next black governor of any state wouldn't be elected until 1990. 117 years later.
During Reconstruction there were black 6 lieutenant governors. The next wouldn't be until 1975. 102 years later.
During Reconstruction there were 9 black secretaries of state. Another wouldn't be elected for 99 years.
During Reconstruction there were 4 superintendents of education. Another wouldn't be instated until 99 years later.
During Reconstruction, there were two state treasurers. Another's wouldn't be named for 91 years.
During Reconstruction there were three black senators. The next wouldn't be for 86 years.
Reconstruction ended with years of pain and suffering of Black Americans. The preservation and defense of material interests, protection of industrialists property trumped that of the poor and vulnerable.
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A "web of economic, political and social oppression. In illiteracy, malnutrition, inadequate housing and a host of other burdens, blacks paid the highest price for the end of reconstruction."
"With politics eliminated as an Avenue to power, and displays of militancy likely to be met by overwhelming force, ambitious and black men turned to education."
"Black activity turned inward. Assuming a defensive cast, it concentrated on strengthening the black community rather than challenging white society."
Progress isn't a straight line
Civil War
Jim Crow
Civil Rights
Every step forward is met with a counter push backwards
X
Teachers, politicians, doctors and lawyers were sent down south.
Dear Friend:
Perhaps you may care to know of my work here for the Freed people. After the horrible riots in New Orleans in July, I found my heart getting impaired from hospital visiting and excitement so I came here to do what I could and to get stronger corporally, that I might enter fully into carrying light and knowledge into dark places. The Lord blessed me and I have a very interesting and constantly growing day school, a night school, and, a glorious Sabbath School of near one hundred scholars.
The school is under the auspices of the Freedmen’s Bureau, yet it is wholly self-supporting. The majority of my pupils come from plantations, three, four and even eight miles distant. So anxious are they to learn that they walk these distances so early in the morning as never to be tardy.
There has been much opposition to the School. Twice I have been shot at in my room. Some of my night-school scholars have been shot but none killed. A week ago an aged freedman was shot so badly as to break his arm and leg – just across the way. The rebels here threatened to burn down the school and house in which I board before the first month was passed. Yet they have not materially harmed us.
The nearest military Jurisdiction is two hundred miles distant at New Orleans.
Joseph Rainey
1. What is Freedom?
2. How to fix the US?
3. Cultural conditioning
4. Rise of the KKK
5. History as Political
6. Impeachment
7. Betrayal
https://youtu.be/1QqO9aZgoe4 -
2. What Is Freedom?
1865- Abolition is secured!
The War to preserve the Unity of the United States was won. Fears over abolition had caused the succession of southern states but the war they had began, brought about the end of the institution they sought to protect.
Questions
Chapter 2, opening paragraph of short history of reconstruction.
Last paragraph of 30 and first of 31
Celebration & search for relatives
Last line of 37 to 38
Black Codes - 1866
Although the government recognized black people as free, southern states attempted to keep them under white control. In Louisiana, black codes were enforced, stating when and where black people could go.
Black people accused of laziness could be sent for forced paid labor.
Plenty of black people and Republicans thought this was an unfair restriction of freedom. They peacefully marched through New Orleans, demanding equal treatment. This infuriated many ex-confederates, some of whom were policemen and attacked the protesters. An all out riot broke out between the armed white and the unarmed blacks. Up to 200 blacks were beaten to death, shot by revolvers or stabbed repeatedly. Only 4 white people died. Nobody was ever charged with a crime.
In Memphis in the same year, what had started as a party with women and children became a shoot out with police. 46 black people were killed and 2 white policemen were killed. White mobs attacked the black side of town and burned down homes, churches and looted. Federal troops were sent in to bring peace but again, nobody was ever charged with a crime.
What is freedom?
Some abolitionists believed blacks were now free to leave the country. Some believed that whites were now free to compete for the new labor jobs needed after the loss of slaves. Some believed black people could be free to own property but not vote. Others wanted full and equal rights.
Other question was whether or not the slave owners owed their freed slaves reparations. Did the government owe reparations? Should blacks be given land? Should they be given aid? Or would this, as some argued, create dependency?
Landowning
There was a mania among freedmen for the ownership of even the smallest amount of land. Many believed that land ownership would complete their freedom. However, the majority of freedmen couldn't afford to buy their own land. Those that could were denied credit from the white owned banks or the seller refused to sell to a black man. Some were able to "squat" on unoccupied lands in the wild frontiers of Texas and Florida. Many slaves believed that they were owed at least a small portion of their former owners plantations. It was land that they had worked, some of them, their whole lives, as well as the lives of their parents and their grandparents and their great grandparents, without any pay. However, politicians were more interested in appeasing the rich and angry plantation owners. The politicians were worried about a drop in food production and a potential famine. So they appeased the plantation owners so that they could, in some cases, place random freedmen under forced paid labor.
General Sherman had prematurely promised plots of land to freed slaves during the war. Those freed slaves who had either been given land by the military or took land of their former owners were made to give it back to it's former owner by President Johnson.
What do you think? Should land have been confiscated from the former slave owners? Blacks had worked for generations without pay. Many plantation owners had already made huge losses from the war. It would push the former Confederates further from rejoining the union.
Slavery by any other name
Page 26
Last para of 93
Middle of 94
Middle of 95
The former slave owners let the freed slaves work plots of land in exchange for a portion of the profits. They also made the freedmen rent tools and many fell into debt to their former owners.
The Thirteenth & Fourteen Ammendment - 1868
The 13th Ammendment, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
If you were against abolition, what would you do?
The 14th ammendment made black people born in the US citizens for the first time. Black men now had the right to vote in US elections.
President Andrew Johnson vetoed the bill, believing that it was too much too fast and that it wouldn't make the ex-confederates easier to assimilate. For the first time congress would override the president and pass it anyway.
However, it wasn't supported by everyone. A good amount of people opposed it, including the president of the time, Andrew Johnson.
If they gave the black man the right to vote, next women would be asking for it. What if a wife votes differently from her husband? Surely that would lead to a breakdown of the family and an increase in crime.
The 14th ammendment wasn't perfect though. Section one reads, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall exist within the United States."
Government good? "Custodian of freedom"
Black women 2nd class
If the right to choose work, vote and property were key to freedom, many men saw no contradiction in refusing those things to women, black or white.
Why do you think this was?
Define Freedom
https://youtu.be/5fX8VtHG0EU
What do you think the implications of Grant's arrest were?
1. How to Put the Country Back Together?
Military Presence?
To ensure the transition of power and cooperation of the southern states, union troops remain in the south, ensuring obedience to the law. Without them there it was believed that the south would ignore the emancipation proclamation and defeat and reorganize under the old ways.
Carpetbaggers?
After the war, many northerners travelled south either to help reconstruction or seeking profits and political appointments. Many feared that without northern Republicans influence in the south, the Confederate states could rise again. Others saw an opportunity to make personal gains. Most southern Democrats saw these "carpetbaggers" as troublemakers coming to dig the knife in even deeper.
Remittance to the Union?
After defeating the south and keeping the states united, the question came of how to put them back together
Johnson and moderate Republicans wanted 10% of people in each state to take an oath to the union. More radical Republicans thought this was too lenient and believed at least 51% should.
Everyday Violence and Resentment
Page 52 to end
The Freedmen's Bureau was established?
A government department was established to help the freed slaves with healthcare, housing and education. Many Confederates and Democrats criticized the governmental support and said that it would make the freed slaves lazy. The freedmen's bureau set up public schools for ex slaves. They defended black people in legal disputes, provided healthcare, orphanages and shelter.
Reparations?
Top page 72 & 73
Many believed that taking land from plantation owners and giving to freed slaves was just. It both punished the Confederates and provided compensation and economic support for blacks. Only problem was that it would also outrage the south and further divide the nation.
Black Representation?
When state governments were being rebuilt, dozens of black men were elected to office. Tallahassee and Little Rock actually elected black chiefs of police. Louisiana had a black governor. Together they ensured the voices of the black population was heard. First black governor of any state was P. B. S. Pinchback of Louisiana.
What really happened?
Reconstruction Act of 1867
Immediately after the civil war, ex-Confederates were hostile to changes. Many didn't want to treat freed slaves as equals. Forcing them to labor (paid as it was) was a violation of their rights. Initially the US government gave them the choice to obey the new laws giving black people the right to vote or they can't have any representation in the government at all. Most southern states preferred to go without representation and continue discriminating. The US realized something needed to be done.
So, against the wishes of President, Andrew Johnson, the Reconstruction Act was passed. The act kept Union troops in the South to protect the rights of ex-slaves as well as Southern Unionists. It also prevented anyone from taking office unless they swore allegiance to the Union and disavowed the confederacy.
Last paragraph of 142
For equality but against integration
Top of Page 133
President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson had a good early reputation. Although a southerner and a Democrat, he remained representing Tennessee in the Senate even after they succeeded from the union. Southern pro-unionists were seen as brave heroes in the north.
When Lincoln was assassinated, there was also a plot to kill Andrew Johnson but the assassin lost his nerve and didn't go through with it.
Lincoln had chosen Johnson as vice president as a tactical move. He hoped to show unity between the northern Republicans and the loyal southern Democrats. With Lincoln's death, this was all about to backfire.
Although Johnson believed that the southern states had no right to succeed and believed slavery should end. He didn't believe black people were equal. Johnson's interests lay with the poor white landowners. He believed emancipation would loosen the "slaveocracy" in farming and bring more opportunity to the poorer white farmers. As president he even suggested that some black people might like to move to some other country.
While Lincoln was tactful, careful and cautious. Johnson was not. He spoke his mind and had firm opinions.
Johnson was a politician who needed to get reelected and with the Souths reentry to the union, Johnson needed their votes. Johnson vetoed everything Congress would present to him and was a very difficult man to work with.
In addition to this, Johnson systematically removed Lincoln's supporters from their positions and hired more conservative and less black friendly politicians.
Rumours even ran rampant that he had actually been conspiring with Jefferson Davis, leader of the confederacy and was actually involved in Lincoln's assassination. Pages missing from John Wilks Booth's diary were believed to be evidence but nothing was ever proven.
Mary Todd Lincoln
Later, in a tell-all book about the days after the assassination, Mary’s servant, dressmaker, and confidante Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley recalled “the wails of a broken heart, the unearthly shrieks, the terrible convulsions” of the bereft widow. Though those reactions might seem appropriate for a woman who witnessed her husband’s traumatic assassination at close range, they were seen as indicative of an unladylike craving for attention at the time.
Mary did not attend Lincoln’s funeral—and the new president, Andrew Johnson, did not pay her a visit or even write a note of sympathy after the assassination. This infuriated Mary, who took her time moving out of the White House and even insinuated that Johnson had conspired with Wilkes Booth to kill her husband.
Johnson's Slaves
In 1843, Johnson purchased his first slave, Dolly, who was 14 years old at the time. Dolly had three children—Liz, Florence and William. Soon after his purchase of Dolly, he purchased Dolly's half-brother Sam. Sam Johnson and his wife Margaret had nine children. Sam became a commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau. Notably, he received some monetary compensation for his labors and negotiated with Andrew Johnson to receive a tract of land which Andrew Johnson gave him for free in 1867.
In 1857, Andrew Johnson purchased Henry, who was 13 at the time and would later accompany the Johnson family to the White House. Ultimately, Johnson owned at least ten slaves. Andrew Johnson freed his slaves on August 8, 1863; they remained with him as paid servants.
Would you have been a racist?
It's easy to think, evil people are racist, good people are not. However, this is too simple. Are the ancestors of southerners predominantly evil? Was 95% of the white south evil in 1860? What makes people evil? Did a demon decend on millions of people and make them do these things? Or was it something cultural they thought was right?
They believed they were better than black people. They thought black people were uncivilized. They didn't let black people get education, then used their lack of education as evidence that they were inferior.
If everyone you knew lived together with you in 1860, here in Florida, a Confederate state. How many do you think would be pro-slavery? Only a few? How about most? How many would be for the equality of black people? Few. They wouldn't be any less friendly to you. They would just hold opinions they believe are objectively true.
Would you be a racist, white supremacist? In a different lifetime with different life experiences and different education, it's possible. Are there things today that are culturally taken for granted but could be frowned upon in the future?
The Southern Argument
Once booming and prosperous regions were in desolate ruin. Property had been burned down. Livestock killed and valuables looted. 1 in 5 southern men were dead.
After the emancipation proclamation, Black people were resistant to the same treatment of the past. Many plantation owners tried to subjugate them once more and "keep them in their place". Many black people fought back against this, refusing to do much of the work then were once forced to do. Plantation owners would complain that blacks "didn't want to work" and were rude and argumentative. They complained that society had broken down but in reality, slaves had gained personhood equal to whites in the eyes of the law. Plantation owners couldn't treat them as they had once treated them.
Insolence
P53&54
The belief that black people had become lazy persisted among white people. When aid was arranged for the damaged south and in light of the 1866 famine, it was withdrawn due to arguments that charity leads to dependency. And so, many didn't want to do anything for the poor and devastated southerners.
Klu Klux Klan
Founded on Christmas eve in Tennessee immediately after the civil war my six ex-Confederate soldiers. Ex-confederate general, Nathan Bedford Forrest was their first leader, a position known as The Grand Wizard. The name came from his horse riding ability. He was so good, he was known to be the wizard of horse riding.
The Klan found no lack of support. Many saw the south as being under military occupation and in many ways it was. They saw the klan as the defenders of the old ways and heroes of the white race.
https://youtu.be/7o-uNsOMeV4
The KKK also traditionally identifies itself as Christian. They burn crosses at their ralleys to represent the rage of God.
https://youtu.be/BfntD7vLW0w
https://youtu.be/vv3W1KGEAEY (5:52)
https://youtu.be/NYXZQ9BRiGw -
Page 187
In 1877, African-American Preacher Arthur St. Clair performed a marriage ceremony for a black man and white woman in North Tampa. On his way home, he was attacked by a white mob and lynched.
KKK Legacy
Many landmarks are named after members of the KKK, even today. Forrest County, Mississippi, Forest City in Arkansas,
As of 2007, Tennessee had 32 dedicated historical markers linked to Nathan Bedford Forrest, more than are dedicated to all three former Presidents associated with the state combined: Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson. Tennessee also holds Nathan Bedford Forrest Day each year on July 13th. There are hundreds of statues dedicated to Forrest or other klan members still on display in the American south.
The Confederate Flag
We still see the Confederate flag today. Why? Many southerners say that it represents southern pride and heritage.
The Confederate flag was first used as a battle flag during the civil war. It didn't exsist prior to the outbreak of the war over slavery. The modern version didn't represent the confederacy as a whole.
Today, Mississippi has the Confederate flag as part of the design of their state flag. South Carolina flies the Confederate flag from their state Capitol building.
Does it represent southern heritage before the civil war?
Do you think the Confederate flag should represent the southern black community?
Impeachment 1868
The president, Andrew Johnson, had disagreed with Congress on how reconstruction should be handled. He believed that forgiving former Confederates and repairing the union were most important. Congress collectively agreed that protecting the rights of the black people and ensuring a second civil war wouldn't kick off was more important.
Union soldiers were in the south enforcing the laws and loyalty but the Commander in chief, the president, opposed everything they were doing. So congress and the Senate passed a law placing control with General Ulysses S Grant. Nevertheless, Johnson didn't believe they had the power to do that. So when they least expected it, Johnson fired the most pro-black advocates and replaced them with more conservative appointments.
One man he particularly disliked was Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, a prominent abolitionist appointed by Lincoln. When he defied congresses' new law and fired Stanton, Stanton's replacement, Lorenzo Thomas went to Stanton's office to replace him, the two men had a brief standoff, contesting that they were both the rightful man, before popping open a bottle of scotch.
Congress declared this to be an illegal action, impeachment him and pressed charges in the Senate. Johnson was acquitted by a single vote. Johnson would remain president for his last year but Republicans no longer believed that he was the best man for the job.
The best thing to happen during Johnson's presidency was the purchase of Alaska. Russia sold it for $7.2 million or $140 million today. It became a territory for the next 90 years before becoming a state. At the time it was heavily criticized as foolish. Since then, it was discovered to be oil rich and proved to be an excellent investment. The secretary of state who negotiated the purchase grew up in Florida, New York.
Election of 1868
Ulysses S Grant
Grant had been a popular and successful general during both the Mexican-American war and the union in the civil war. He hadn't been overly interested in politics, only voting once in his life.
He had accepted an invitation by Andrew Johnson to attend his speaking tour. Johnson wanted to use Grant's popularity to boost his own but Grant was angered by what he heard in Johnson's speeches. General Grant was so disgusted with Johnson’s speeches that he “plead illness and left the presidential party and returned to Washington alone.” He wrote to his wife Julia regarding his feelings, “I have never been so tired of anything before as I have been with the political stump speeches of Mr. Johnson. I look upon them as a national disgrace.”
Texas, Mississippi and Virginia had yet to be reintroduced into the United States.
Andrew Johnson wasn't even considered for reelection and Grant was nominated as the Republican nominee unanimously.
When election day came, the KKK used violence to intimidate Republicans and black people in the south from voting. 11 Georgia counties with black majorities reported zero Republican votes.
The Seymour–Blair Democratic ticket's campaign slogan was: "Our Ticket, Our Motto, This Is a White Man's Country; Let White Men Rule"
In Louisiana, 1,000 blacks were killed to suppress Republican voting. In Georgia, blacks and Republicans also faced a lot of violence. The Klan's violence was primarily designed to intimidate voters, targeting black and white supporters of the Republican Party. The Klan's violent tactics backfired, as Grant, whose slogan was "Let us have peace", won the election and Republicans gained a majority in Congress.
Murder of George Ashburn- 1868
Page 29 of Freedom's Detective
Enforcement Act
Once president, Grant signed the Enforcement Act which gave the government and National guard greater power over policing the south and defeating the KKK.
'Anti-KKK' groups of unionists and Republicans policed the streets with the national government supporting them.
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Undercover Work
Freedoms detective - P163-165
The secret service was initially introduced to combat counterfeit money printing. However, during reconstruction it took to infiltrating and exposing the KKK. Page 172-175 Freedoms Detective
Voter Suppression
When it became clear that the freed population would never again but placed under slavery, many southerners worked hard to keep the black population out of power. They weren't able to prevent the black people from being citizen and having the right but they could require payments to vote. Many black people were still poor and many didn't have the funds to pay to vote. The southerners could claim they weren't denying them the right to vote but nobody could deny they were placing hurdles. Eitherway, it worked and Democrats came to dominate southern politics.
When it came to debating, southern politicians started wasting less time arguing against the black man's right to vote and instead argued that the Republican government was spending too much and taxes were too high. Many complained that their tax dollars were going toward building schools for black children. They didn't believe it was the government's job to help people and they certainly didn't want their money contributing to those black schools.
What do you think? Is it everyone's responsibility to help those in need? Should money you've worked for be given to those who didn't earn it? Should others be able to take a portion of your income? What would happen to public schools if everyone stopped paying taxes?
Jackson County War - 1869-1871
The KKK had perhaps the strongest and most violent hold on Jackson county, Florida. In a period of a year, between 150-200 Republicans were murdered. Nobody was ever charged with a crime and the sheriff of Marianna was even severely beaten by a mob of locals in broad daylight on main street. He then resigned, complaining of the states lawlessness.
Meridian Race Riots - 1871
KKK members chased black families into Mississippi. At night a group of the escaping blacks broke into the leaders house, kidnapped and beat him.
The black attackers were arrested and put in jail. The black population were outraged that their people would be arrested when KKK members routinely went free.
A militia of 50 white men came to watch the trial. In the courtroom, tempers were high and suddenly guns were drawn and fired from all sides of the room. The judge was shot dead along with a few others. Three black defendants escaped. The first was shot outside by a mob of whites. The second was chased 50 miles but escaped, catching a train to Jackson, Mississippi. The third was placed under the protection of two guards who ended up throwing him from a second story window. He was taken back into custody but his throat was cut that night. White mobs attacked the black side of town and burned down their church. Three further men were arrested but were found dead inside their cells by morning. In all, 30 black people were murdered. In a common theme of the south, nobody was ever charged with any of the murders.
The Push Back Against Black Freedom
https://youtu.be/LVQomlXMeek -
https://youtu.be/_xKP6J3dY6Q -
Election of 1872
Ulysses S Grant remained popular into 1872. He had effectively brought stability to the south and defeated the KKK. He won reelection in 1872.
However, his second term wasn't as successful. Democrats continued to criticize the government policing of southerners and the large amount of government money being used to support freed slaves. They kept the pressure on Grant and claimed mismanagement and called him a tyrant. They saw themselves as similar to the founding fathers, who broke away from the British because they were being made to do things they didn't want to do. It took a while for some states to regain voting rights because they resisted acknowledging the rights of freed slaves. Many southerners invoked the "no taxation without representation" cry of the founding fathers.
The next problem Grant faced was that he like to hire his military friends and many of them were corrupt, greedy and unethical in their work. Grant was a political outsider and he trusted members of the military more than the politicians of Washington. Not only did he give jobs to his friends over those who had worked for jobs but many of these friends would be guilty of corruption.
Colfax Massacre - 1873
Louisiana was a battle ground for both Republican Unionist Progressivism and Democratic Confederate White Supremacy. Some thought the Confederates who had broken away from the US and fought against the US shouldn’t have the ability to vote. Some believed they should be allowed to vote and so should the freed black populations. Many in the South believed that America was a White Man’s country and that Black opinions had no place in politics.
The election of 1872 was a hotly contested event in Louisiana. The resentment of the former confederates ran deep in the communities. One ballot box was placed within an Ex-Confederate owned store. The owner threatened to whip any man who tried to vote Republican. So Republicans in the state set up a second ballot box on a former plantation. The Ex-Confederates found out about it and threw the ballot box in the river. When President Grant sent troops to Louisiana to protect the integrity of the election, it was seen as yet more evidence that the Southern Ex-Confederates were being oppressed.
When the election was over, one county in Louisiana was disputed. Both Republicans and Democrats declared victory. The Unionist Republicans in power were afraid that the Ex-Confederate Democrats would try to take the local government by force. So the Republicans set up defenses around the County Courthouse and gave freed blacks rifles to defend it. The White population was furious to hear that their courthouse had been held by Northerners, Republicans and Black soldiers. They themselves formed a militia of 300 out of Ex-Confederates and KKK members. They surrounded the courthouse and opened fire. The Republicans shot back from the windows. After a short firefight, the Republicans surrendered. However, what happened next is disputed. The Southern Democrats claim that after surrendering, one of their own men was shot by a Republican inside the courthouse. Republicans claim that they were in the process of surrender when the man was shot by an overexcited member of his own force. Either way, the man was killed and the Southern Democrat response was swift. They rounded up the surrendering Republicans and took them prisoner. Democrats went through the courthouse killing unarmed men and then burned the building down. Later that day the Republican prisoners were executed. In all it’s believed between 105 and 150 Republicans died and only 3 Democrats.
“The bloodiest single instance of racial carnage in the Reconstruction era, the Colfax massacre taught many lessons, including the lengths to which some opponents of Reconstruction would go to regain their accustomed authority. Among blacks in Louisiana, the incident was long remembered as proof that in any large confrontation, they stood at a fatal disadvantage.”
Republican judges tried to charge those involved but failed. The Supreme Court ruled that the Enforcement Act of 1870 applied only to actions committed by the state and that it did not apply to actions committed by individuals or private conspiracies. This meant that the Federal government could not prosecute cases such as the Colfax killings. The court told those who were seeking justice to take it up with the state. Louisiana did not prosecute any of the perpetrators of the Colfax massacre; most southern states would not prosecute white men for attacks against freedmen. Thus, tragically, the enforcement of the Enforcement Act ended.
Bias Language
In 1950, during the Civil Rights movement, a commemorative plaque was placed on the cite of the Colfax Massacre. It read:
“On this site occurred the Colfax Riot in which three white men and 150 ne were slain. This even on April 13, 1873 marked the end of carpetbag misrule in the South.”
The sign was removed in 2021 and placed in a museum.
Result - Bottom of 224
Coushatta massacre - 1874
A black farmer was murdered by the KKK in Louisiana. The KKK had suspicions of a revenge attack by the black population. So the KKK arrested several black men for planning a rebellion. Rumors of a black uprising caused hundreds of men from miles around to show up. Six white Republicans were murdered. Random attacks took place on local blacks. 4 died and one had his arms and legs broken before being burned alive. 2 black men were hanged. Nobody was ever charged with a crime.
Turning Against the Republican Party
Republicans were getting frustrated with the difficulty of Reconstruction. Many believed that slavery had ended and that was enough.
Government spending was at an all time high in stabilizing the south and protecting the black population.
Grant's administration had been guilty of all kinds of corruption. His friends hired for jobs were making political decisions and giving land grants to companies they were personally invested in. Scandal after scandal was discovered and Grant claim ignorance to each. However, the public was losing faith in him.
Governmental force scared many and prompted them to question when it's appropriate for the government to force you to do something. Many looked back at the founding fathers and their residence to Great Britain as inspiration contrary to their government of their time.
Should the government be able to force you to do things against your will? Common good? Public safety.
Yazoo County Riot - 1875
Middle of 235
Breaking Point
As Reconstruction became more and more unpopular and the US government was perceived as a "nanny state", overly involved in every dispute, Grant and the Republicans held back. When appeals for further protection came in following the Yazoo County Riot, Grant, himself tired of such calls, said, "The whole public is tired out with these annual outbreaks in the south." And "There's no sense in trying to save Alabama if doing so loses Ohio."
The Republican party was now concerned with losing votes in the North.
259-260 Freedoms Detective
Many of these former KKK members had successful and prosperous lives after getting released. They were recieved as heroes in the south and given much support and opportunity. One of the men arrested for the Ashburn murder became mayor of Pensacola, FL and the panhandle town of Chipley is named after him.
Election of 1876
Grant and Reconstruction had lost popularity within the Republican party. Many had lost confidence in them.
The Republican's nominated Rutherford Hayes as their leader, he was
He was friends with railroad tycoons, many of whom urged for peace with the south, eager to protect their southern investments. Mutual business interests have bought peace in the past and Hayes was urged to do the same now.
The election was extremely close. Three states were contested, Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina. Eager to keep control and with three states undetermined, both parties began negotiations. The southern Democrats were more concerned with the politics of their state than the presidency.
The Bargain of 1877
Behind closed doors, the two candidates worked out a deal. It came to be known as "The Bargain of 1877", "The Great Comprise" and "The Great Betrayal". Not much is known about it. What we do know is that the Democrats stopped contesting the election in those three undetermined states and Hayes became president. Immediately upon becoming president, Hayes withdrew federal troops from the state capitols of South Carolina and Louisiana. Historians believe the Republican's traded an undisputed presidency for a looser grip on the south. They agreed not to interfere in southern politics and in return, the Democrats would recognize Hayes as their president. It was the end of reconstruction.
Result
The "Bargain of 1877" became common knowledge and although Hayes was president, he became known as RutherFraud and His Fraudulency.
With federal management now absent from the south, former slaves were denied the vote, discriminated and denied any power. Some have come to call it another form of slavery. Racist laws known as Jim Crow would dominate southern states for almost 100 years.
During Reconstruction, many schools had been integrated. After 1877, schools would be segregated for the next 70 years.
During Reconstruction, Louisiana had two black governors and the next black governor of any state wouldn't be elected until 1990. 117 years later.
During Reconstruction there were black 6 lieutenant governors. The next wouldn't be until 1975. 102 years later.
During Reconstruction there were 9 black secretaries of state. Another wouldn't be elected for 99 years.
During Reconstruction there were 4 superintendents of education. Another wouldn't be instated until 99 years later.
During Reconstruction, there were two state treasurers. Another's wouldn't be named for 91 years.
During Reconstruction there were three black senators. The next wouldn't be for 86 years.
Reconstruction ended with years of pain and suffering of Black Americans. The preservation and defense of material interests, protection of industrialists property trumped that of the poor and vulnerable.
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Page 250
A "web of economic, political and social oppression. In illiteracy, malnutrition, inadequate housing and a host of other burdens, blacks paid the highest price for the end of reconstruction."
"With politics eliminated as an Avenue to power, and displays of militancy likely to be met by overwhelming force, ambitious and black men turned to education."
"Black activity turned inward. Assuming a defensive cast, it concentrated on strengthening the black community rather than challenging white society."
Progress isn't a straight line
Civil War
Jim Crow
Civil Rights
Every step forward is met with a counter push backwards
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