MS Studies Ch. 6 Reconstruction & Transition

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)2 After The War MS went from very wealthy to ruins –Cities, roads, bridges, towns, buildings, all were destroyed 1/3 of white males were killed or injured during the war 400,000 freedmen (former slaves) now existed –Homeless, uneducated, jobless MS social order was gone –Blacks Free –Whites had hard time accepting them as equal

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)3 Freed Slaves Freedmen’s Bureau – created to help slaves find food, shelter, work, & assimilate to freedom. Rumors stated that every black male would receive 40 acres of land and a mule. This never happens. Most land confiscated during the war was returned to the owners.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)4

5 Lincoln & Johnson

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)6 Constitutional Conv William L. Sharkey named temp. Governor by Pres. Johnson MS was first to hold Conv. & everyone was watching 300 men met on Aug. 14, Most were pre-war leaders They created a government just like the one before the war. Blacks were not given voting rights Most white Mississippians agreed with this Convention.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)7 William Sharkey

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)8 MS’s Post War Government Benjamin Humphreys elected Governor (Conf. General) Most elected officials had served in the Confederate Government & refused to grant blacks rights Legislature passed the Black Codes to control blacks –Black marriages legal, blacks could sue in court. –Interracial marriage illegal, blacks can’t testify against whites –Blacks could rent or lease land in cities or towns –Blacks had to have employment contracts and were arrested if they broke the contract. –Blacks could not carry firearms or weapons, and could not assemble w/o permission –Jailed blacks could be rented out to anyone that paid their jail fine.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)9

10 Benjamin Humphreys

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)11 U.S. Congress U.S. Congress refused to seat MS Representatives & passed the 14 th Amendment. –14 th Amendment guaranteed all people their citizenship rights “white or black” March 2, 1867 Congress passed the Reconstruction Act. –South divided into 5 Military districts and readmission to the Union was much stricter. MS was in the 4 th district and Major Gen. Edward O. Ord became military governor in MS.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)12

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)13 MS During Reconstruction All eligible males registered to vote regardless of race MS Politics included –Democrats – White southerners that didn’t support black rights –Republicans – Whites and blacks that supported black rights. –Scalawags – Southerners that supported the Republican Party –Carpetbaggers – northern whites that were Republicans and moved to MS. The Republican Party used their majority of votes (black & white) to call for a new state constitutional convention

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)14 Carpetbagger

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)15 Constitution of 1868 They created the states 3 rd & most democratic constitution. –Universal Male Suffrage granted –Free Public Education Ages 6-18 –No discrimination in public transportation –Property qualification for voting or holding office eliminated. –Property rights granted to women –Whites had to sign oath stating “all men are created equal” Passed by Pres. Ulysses S. Grant in 1869 & the Constitution was ratified.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)16

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)17 President Ulysses S. Grant

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)18 Primary School in Vicksburg

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)19 Freedmen school

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)20 Republican Rule Republicans ruled MS 1869 James Alcorn elected governor. Republicans had majority in legislature MS was readmitted to the Union Feb. 23, Hiram Revels (black) filled Jefferson Davis’ unexpired Senate term. –Revels is the first black in the U.S. Senate Alderbert Ames defeated Alcorn for governor in 1873

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)21 Hiram Revels

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)22 James Alcorn

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)23 Aldelbert Ames replaced James Alcorn as governor in He was Union General in Civil War.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)24 Adelbert Ames

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)25 Black Political Power Blacks served as early as 1868 in political roles 1868 Benjamin Montgomery became justice of the peace. Believed to be first black to hold public office in MS Many blacks served in the MS House and Senate. A.K. Davis elected Lt. Governor in 1873 John Lynch served as MS’s only black member in the U.S. House of Reps. Blanche K. Bruce of MS was the first black elected to the U.S. Senate and the first to serve a full term.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)26 John R. Lynch

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)27 Blanche K. Bruce

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)28 1 st African Americans in Congress

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)29 Education Const. of 1868 created free public schools (tax based) State supported them with funding and elected a state superintendent who appointed county superintendents. The following was created –University of MS expanded 1871 –Alcorn State College (black only) 1877 –MS A & M (later MS State) –MS University for Women 1884 –Jackson State 1877 –Millsaps College 1892 –Mississippi College 1892

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)30 University of MS

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)31 Alcorn College

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)32 MS University for Women

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)33 Millsaps College

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)34 Mississippi College

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)35 End of Republican Rule From the beginning of Reconstruction, white Democrats were trying to regain political power in MS Those that wanted to return control of the state to the Democrats were called Redeemers The election of 1875 was the turning point –White Republicans were threatened with violence and becoming a social outcast if they didn’t become Democrat –Blacks were driven from voting poles with violence, or forced to vote Democrat by their employers. –The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was the terror group used to intimidate voters. Democrats won back the House and Senate Republican Governor Adelbert Ames was threatened w/ impeachment and resigned.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)36 Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)37 KKK March on Washington D.C.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)38 Presidential Election of 1876 Dem. Candidate Samuel Tilden & Repub. Candidate Rutherford B. Hayes No candidate won a majority. Commission was formed to pick a winner. –Democrats agreed to support Hayes, if Hayes promised to withdraw troops from the South Hayes won the election & military occupation ended

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)39 Rutherford Hayes & Samuel Tilden

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)40

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)41 Constitution of 1890 MS called Constitutional convention in 1890 MS reapportioned (redrew district lines) to give white majorities power over black populated areas Met in Jackson in Aug One black (Isaiah Montgomery) attended Constitution said –Voters had to Register at least 4 months before election Live in the state for 2 years before voting Pay a $2 poll tax Pass Literacy Test. Had to read any section of the state constitution or “understand it when read to them”. This was the understanding clause Black voters dropped from 142,000 to 8,615

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)42 Isaiah Montgomery