FOA: April 15th, 2016 In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of a Louisiana law passed in 1890 "providing for separate railway carriages for the white and colored races." The law, which required that all passenger railways provide separate cars for blacks and whites, stipulated that the cars be equal in facilities, banned whites from sitting in black cars and blacks in white cars (with exception to "nurses attending children of the other race"), and penalized passengers or railway employees for violating its terms. Homer Plessy, the plaintiff in the case, was seven-eighths white and one-eighth black, and had the appearance of a white man. On June 7, 1892, he purchased a first-class ticket for a trip between New Orleans and Covington, La., and took possession of a vacant seat in a white-only car. Duly arrested and imprisoned, Plessy was brought to trial in a New Orleans court and convicted of violating the 1890 law. The case went to the Supreme Court. (1) How do you think the Supreme Court ruled? (2) Was segregation (the separation of races) legal?

FOA Answer The Supreme Court ruled that segregation was okay (“separate but equal”)… That the 14th Amendment only applied to political and civil rights… not social rights (like riding in a certain rail car or using a certain water fountain)… However…

1 Judge Disagrees Luckily, at least one judge had some good sense. He said, “in view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens. There is no caste here. Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens."

Reasons For End of Reconstruction Grant’s Presidency Recall of troops in 1877

Ulysses S. Grant’s Presidency President Grant’s (a Republican) cabinet is corrupt and scandals break out People move away from Republican party as a result Grant thought of as one of worst Presidents

Election of 1876: End of Reconstruction

1876 Presidential Tickets

1876 Presidential Election

1876 Presidential Election Rep. Hayes vs. Dem. Tilden Tilden won electoral and popular vote, but Republicans charged South with corrupt voting practices - - there are votes in dispute! A commission is formed to decide election

Compromise of 1877 Hayes won with concessions: pulling out of all federal troops from South patronage for southern politicians South decides on enforcement of new Amendments and regulation

U.S. Troops Recalled Army that Congress sent to South to supervise Reconstruction were called back in 1877 by President Rutherford B. Hayes Effectively ends supervision in the South Southern Democrats (segregationists) are now in control

When the Federal Government Left the South Alone, What Happened?

Blacks’ dreams for justice ends at the close of Reconstruction at the end of the 19th century

Voting Restrictions Poll Tax - a fee to vote (stops poor from voting) Literacy Tests - Had to read a paragraph to vote (Blacks given harder passages) Grandfather Clause - You could avoid a poll tax or literacy test if your grandfather voted prior to 1867. Blacks were poor, uneducated, and had no grandfathers who voted. These laws stopped Blacks (Republicans) from voting, allowing Democrats to gain control

Segregation Jim Crow laws - Laws that forced separation of whites and Blacks Separating the races is called segregation Examples of Jim Crow laws Separate areas in theaters, restaurants, and railcars Different schools for whites and Blacks

Supreme Court on Segregation Several cases went to Supreme Court saying that segregation and Jim Crow laws were in violation of the 14th Amendment Court rules the 14th Amendment only pertains to government actions, so private people and businesses can segregate

Reconstruction Successes Southern economy rebuilt and more diverse (not just cotton anymore) Education in place for both whites and blacks Black colleges and universities created Blacks received temporary rights in government and society

Reconstruction Failures Blacks lose rights at the end of the Reconstruction Era Sharecropping is the main job of blacks in the South (not much better than slavery) Governments in the South run by racist leaders and supported by courts Jim Crow South established - no future for blacks

Success and Failures of Reconstruction Successes Union restored and South rebuilt 14th and 15th amendments guaranteed African Americans equal protection under the law Freedman’s Bureau helped many black families get housing, jobs, and schooling South adopted mandatory tax-supported education for blacks Failures Blacks remained in cycle of poverty KKK kept blacks from voting Racist attitudes remained Long lasting bitterness in South towards Republicans and the North South economy continued to emphasize agriculture Did not address concerns of other groups such as women

Legacy of Reconstruction

Political Participation: The Big 3 13th Amendment 14th Amendment 15th Amendment Abolished slavery Granted citizenship (overturns Supreme Court case Dred Scott v. Sanford) Equal Protection Voting Rights

Establishment of Historically Black Colleges

Failures of Reconstruction

Sharecropping

Jim Crow Laws Article Answer the following 3 questions… Read ENTIRE article- it is a good review for the quiz… 1. 2. 3.

Reconstruction Quiz Take out a separate sheet of paper 8 multiple choice questions Grading scale: -0 = 50/50 -1 = 45/50 -2 = 40/50 -3 = 35/50 -4 = 30/50 -5 = 25/50 -6 = 20/50 -7 = 15/50 -8 = 10/50