Chapter 6 - Reconstruction After the war, 800,000 acres of land was seized by the US government and given to newly freed black farmers (page 134). Titan Blaster #1: What soon happened to that land ? What does the myth “forty acres and a mule” mean ?

Reconstruction and Transition In 1860, Mississippi was one of the South’s wealthiest states. After the war, it was not. One-third of the adult white male population of MS died or were disabled during the war. There was extensive damage to Mississippi during the war that had to be repaired. Freedmen or former slaves were mostly homeless, jobless and uneducated. Many wandered from town to town looking for work, their family or just because they could.

After the War Blacks feared their former masters would try to re-enslave them. Whites had a hard time accepting blacks as free people. People did not understand the new expectations of blacks, whites or of the government.

After the War The Freedman’s Bureau was created to help former slaves adjust to freedom. They believed that the government would give or lease them confiscated (seized) land. After the war, the confiscated land was returned to the white owners.

After the War The Freedman’s Bureau was created to help former slaves adjust to freedom. They believed that the government would give or lease them confiscated (seized) land. After the war, the confiscated land was returned to the white owners.

Presidential Reconstruction Reconstruction – the rebuilding of the South after the war. Lincoln had his own plan, but after he was killed, former Vice President Johnson took over with a different plan.

Presidential Reconstruction Under Johnson’s plan, Southern States had to repeal their secession order void their war debt ratify the 13th Amendment. The provisional governor of MS in 1865 was William L. Sharkey.

The Constitutional Convention of 1865 Suffrage is the right to vote. 100 Mississippi officials met in Jackson to amend the MS constitution to be more favorable to blacks. They did not. Most of these men were the same people who ran MS during and before the war. Only the Order of Secession was repealed. President Johnson strongly suggested that educated blacks and landowners be allowed to vote. The new MS constitution did not agree.

The Election of 1865 In the midst of Reconstruction, Mississippi voted for new leaders. Many white planters worried there would not be enough workers for their fields. Titan Blaster #2: Work the four It’s Your Turn Questions on page 138.

The Election of 1865 General Benjamin Humphreys won the state governor’s election. Many elected officials were former Confederate leaders. Most of these leaders opposed letting blacks vote or even testify in court.

Black Codes These were passed “to help the freedman,” but they did not help them at all. The Civil Rights Act of 1865 made it legal for black citizens to marry other blacks. Interracial marriages were still illegal. It also prevented blacks from testifying in court if it involved a white person. Blacks could rent or lease land within a town, but that meant no farming. Blacks could not own weapons, gather together without permission, or be unemployed.

Black Codes A black who was arrested and could not pay the fine could be rented out to someone who would pay their fine. A group of blacks petitioned the governor and asked if slavery had really ended in Mississippi.

Black Codes The government was outraged. In 1866, the state legislature passed new laws to weaken the black codes. The 14th Amendment was passed making blacks citizens of the United States.

Congressional Reconstruction When Mississippi refused to ratify the 14th Amendment, the US congress took over. The Reconstruction Act put MS in District 4

Congressional Reconstruction General Edward O. Ord was placed in charge of the MS military district. He registered thousands of men to vote in MS. Southern whites who supported the Republican party were called scalawags.

Congressional Reconstruction Northern white supporters were called carpetbaggers. Since newly freed blacks favored Lincoln, they were Republicans.

Governor Adelbert Ames

MISSISSIPPI of 1868 Titan Blaster #3: What is the difference between a scalawag and a carpetbagger? Why would Mississippi re-elect former Confederates back into public office?

The Constitution of 1868 Of the 100 delegates, 17 were black, 29 were scalawags, 25 carpetbaggers, and 17 conservative democrats. Most delegates were scalawags. Three black ministers Rev. Thomas Stringer, Henry Jacobs and Aaron Moore led the black delegates. Two main points – universal male suffrage (every man could vote) and free public education for all.

The Constitution of 1868 Two main points – universal male suffrage (every man could vote) and free public education for all.

Problems with the constitution The former Confederate soldiers were disenfranchised, which means they were not allowed to vote. The new constitution was voted down because of disenfranchisement. Also, the Ku Klux Klan intimidated many voters meaning many conservative whites refused to vote. President U.S. Grant resubmitted the plan without the clause against the Confederates, and it passed.

Republican Rule in MS James Alcorn was elected governor in 1869. Adelbert Ames from Maine and Hiram Revels, a black preacher from Natchez were elected to the US Senate. Robert H. Wood became probably the first black mayor of an American city.

Blanche K. Bruce He was the only black senator to serve a full term in the US Senate until 1966.

Blanche K. Bruce He was very influential in his work in the US Senate and called for Congress to investigate voting fraud in Mississippi and to pay “bounties” to black Civil War soldiers.

The Constitution of 1868 During the Reconstruction of Mississippi, many new state colleges and universities would be opened for both blacks and whites (see page 144-147). Titan Blaster #4: List four colleges that opened in MS. Give their original name and the year each opened.

Education In 1870, the MS state legislature started free public schools in each county. By 1875, more than 89,000 black children and 78,000 white children attended school. Ole Miss was expanded. Alcorn State College was created for black students.

Education Mississippi A&M (later named Miss. State University) was started in 1871. In 1884, the Mississippi University for Women was opened in Columbus. Jackson State University opened in 1877 as the Natchez Seminary for Freedmen.

The End of Republican Rule Redeemers were white Mississippians who wanted to return control of MS to the native whites. In December 1874, about 500 whites went to the Warren County courthouse and demanded the resignation of black sheriff Peter Crosby. When blacks from the county showed up to help Crosby get his job back a riot broke out where 2 whites and 29 blacks were killed. Federal troops stepped in and put down the riot.

Filibuster A filibuster is continuous speechmaking to delay a vote.

The Constitution of 1890 There was a call for reform in 1890. Many people felt that it was time to change many laws written by blacks and Northern carpetbaggers. Reapportionment is the redrawing of lines for voting precincts. This was requested by whites who felt there was an unfair drawing of lines in the Delta.

The Constitution of 1890 The new constitution had an understanding clause that was added to allow illiterate whites to register and vote. It also added a $2.00 per year poll tax. Two years after the adoption of the Second Mississippi Plan, black registered voters dropped from 142,000 to 8,615. Whites lost 30,000 who were too poor to pay.