Reconstruction in the South

Republicans in the South During Radical Reconstruction, Republicans controlled Southern state governments White northerners White southerners African Americans

Republicans in the South Carpetbaggers: White northerners who moved to the South after the war Looked down upon because they profited from Reconstruction Motives: Power, opportunity, wealth, service

Republicans in the South Scalawags: White Southerners who “betrayed” the South by voting Republican Scoundrel or worthless rascal Mostly pro-Union businessmen and non-slaveholding farmers.

Republicans in the South African Americans: Largest group of Republican voters

African Americans in Southern Politics During Reconstruction 600+ won election to state legislatures 16 were elected to U.S. Congress Hiram Revels- 1st African American to be elected to U.S. Congress African Americans could vote in South since 1867 Core voters= veterans

Senate & House Delegates Colored Rule in the South?

Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA Violence in the South Ku Klux Klan 1865 1865-1874? Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA

Wanted Democrats to regain control Violence in the South Wanted Democrats to regain control Terrorized African Americans and Republicans White Republicans (derided as “carpetbaggers” and “scalawags”) and black institutions such as schools and churches—symbols of black autonomy—were also targets for Klan attacks.

White Republicans (derided as “carpetbaggers” and “scalawags”) and black institutions such as schools and churches—symbols of black autonomy—were also targets for Klan attacks.

Violence in the South Little was done to stop the KKK until… Congress passed the Enforcement Acts of 1870 & 1871 Klan violence declined

Education 1870s  Reconstruction Governments in the South created public schools Academies or colleges were opened 50% white children and 40% African American children now attended schools

Sharecropping Sharecropping- System of agriculture in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crops produced on the land.

Kept farmers poor & in debt Sharecropping Furnishing Merchant Tenant Farmer Landowner Loan tools and seed up to 60% interest to tenant farmer to plant spring crop. Farmer also secures food, clothing, and other necessities on credit from merchant until the harvest. Merchant holds “lien” {mortgage} on part of tenant’s future crops as repayment of debt. Plants crop, harvests in autumn. Turns over up to ½ of crop to land owner as payment of rent. Tenant gives remainder of crop to merchant in payment of debt. Rents land to tenant in exchange for ¼ to ½ of tenant farmer’s future crop. Kept farmers poor & in debt Landowners chose the crops- many wanted cash crops while farmers wanted to grow food crops No way to ever save up money to buy your own land- cycle of debt and poverty