Reconstruction & Transition MS Studies Ch. 6 Reconstruction & Transition

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 were free Whites had hard time accepting them as equal

Freed Slaves Freedmen’s Bureau was created to help former slaves with food, shelter, work, education and assimilate to freedom. Rumors stated that every black male would receive 40 acres of land and a mule.  This never happened. Most land was confiscated during the war was returned to the owners.

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Presidential Reconstruction Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction All Southerners, except high ranking Confederate officials, would be pardoned after signing oath of loyalty When 10% of people signed oath, they could create a state government and be readmitted. Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction Same as Lincoln’s except high ranking military and Confederate officials and those owning more than $20,000 worth of property were not pardoned.

Congress wanted tougher requirements and pressured Johnson to add the following: States must repeal Secession Ordinances Void their War Debt Ratify 13th Amendment

Lincoln & Johnson

Constitutional Convention 1865 William L. Sharkey named temporary governor by President Johnson MS was first to hold convention and everyone was watching. 100 men met on Aug. 14, 1865.  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 the delegates at the convention.

William Sharkey

Herschel Johnson led the state constitutional convention in 1865.

MS’s Post War Government Benjamin Humphrey’s was elected governor (former Confederate general). Most elected officials had served in the Confederate government and refused to grant rights to blacks. Legislature passed the Black Codes to control blacks. Black marriages legal, but interracial marriage was illegal. Blacks could sue in court, but blacks could not testify against whites.

Black could only rent or lease land in cities or towns. Blacks had to have employment contracts and were arrested if contract was broken. Blacks could not carry firearms or weapons. Blacks could not assemble without permission. Jailed blacks could be rented out to anyone who paid their jail fine.

Benjamin Humphreys

U.S. Congress U.S. Congress refused to seat MS Representatives and passed the 14th Amendment guaranteeing all people their rights “white or black”. March 2, 1867 Congress passed the Reconstruction Act which divided the South into 5 military districts and made readmission to the Union much harder. MS was in the 4th district and Major Gen. Edward O. Ord became military governor in MS.

14th Amendment

Reconstruction Map

MS During Reconstruction All eligible males registered to vote regardless of race. MS Politics included: Democrats – white southerners who did not support black rights Republicans – whites and blacks who supported black rights. Scalawags – southerners who supported the Republican Party Carpetbaggers – northern whites who were Republicans and moved to MS. The Republican Party used their majority of votes (black and white) to call for a new state constitutional convention.

Carpetbagger

Constitution of 1868 100 delegates – 17 black, 29 scalawags, 25 carpetbaggers, 17 Democrats They created the states 3rd and most democratic constitution. Universal male suffrage granted Free public education for ages 6 – 18 No discrimination in public transportation Property qualification for voting or holding office eliminated Property rights granted to women

Disfranchised all persons who supported secession and helped Confederacy Whites had to sign oath stating “all men are created equal” This constitution was not ratified at first because of the disfranchising clause and equality oath. When President Grant eliminated those provisions in 1869, the Constitution was ratified.

President Ulysses S. Grant

Primary School in Vicksburg

Freedmen school

Republican Rule Republicans ruled MS 1869 James Alcorn was elected governor. Republicans had majority in state legislature. State ratified 14th (citizenship/rights) and 15th (male voting rights) amendments and was readmitted to the Union on Feb. 23, 1870. Hiram Revels became the first black to serve in U.S. Senate when he was appointed to fill Jefferson Davis’ unexpired term Adelbert Ames was elected to the other Senate seat. Ames defeated Alcorn for governor in 1873.

James Alcorn

Adelbert Ames replaced James Alcorn as governor in 1873 Adelbert Ames replaced James Alcorn as governor in 1873. He was a Union General in the Civil War.

Hiram Revels born free in NC apprenticed as a barber Attended a seminary school and became a Methodist Episcopal preacher Served as principal to a black high school in Baltimore Fought in the Siege of Vicksburg Became a minister for Natchez, MS Founded schools for black children 1st black to serve in U.S. Senate and Congress

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

John R. Lynch

Blanche K. Bruce

1st African Americans in Congress

Education Constitution of 1868 created free public schools (tax based) State supported them with funding and elected a state superintendent who appointed county superintendents. The following colleges were created: University of MS (whites) expanded 1871 Alcorn State College (blacks) 1871 MS Agricultural and Mechanical College (whites). Now MS State University 1877 Jackson State (blacks) 1877 MS University for Women (whites) 1884 Millsaps College (whites) 1892 Mississippi College (whites) expanded 1907

University of MS

Alcorn College

MS University for Women

Millsaps College

Mississippi College

End of Republican Rule From the beginning of Reconstruction, white Democrats tried to regain political power in MS. Those who 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 became social outcasts if they did not become Democrat. Blacks were driven from voting polls with violence or forced to vote Democrat by their employers. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was the terror group used to intimidate voters.

Republicans won 4 of 6 congressional seats and claimed the majority in the state congress. Republican senators were later replaced by Democrats. Republican Governor Adelbert Ames was threatened with impeachment and resigned.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK) Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

1925 Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Presidential Election of 1876 Democrat candidate – Samuel Tilden Republican candidate – Rutherford B. Hayes Neither candidate won a majority.  Some electoral votes were contested. Commission was formed to pick a winner. Southern Democrats used a filibuster (continuous speechmaking to delay action) to slow the commission. If Hayes promised to withdraw troops from the South, Democrats agreed to stop the filibuster and support Hayes. Hayes won the election and military occupation ended

Rutherford Hayes & Samuel Tilden

Constitution of 1890 MS called Constitutional convention in 1890 MS reapportioned (redrew district lines) to give white majorities power over black populated areas Delegates met in Jackson in Aug. 1890 One black (Isaiah Montgomery) attended New voting requirements: Register at least 4 months before election Live in the state for 2 years before voting Live in voting district for 1 year

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 White voters dropped 30,000

Isaiah Montgomery