Reconstruction & Transition MS Studies Ch. 6 Reconstruction & Transition

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

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)

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)

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Presidential Reconstruction Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction All Southerners, except high ranking Conf. officials, would be pardoned after signing oath of loyalty 10% of people signed oath, they could create a state gov. and be readmitted. Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction Same as Lincoln’s except high ranking military & Conf. officials and those owning more than $20,000 worth of property were not pardoned. Congress wanted tougher requirements & pressured Johnson to add the following. States must repeal Secession Ordinances Void their War Debt Ratify 13th Amendment Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Lincoln & Johnson Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Constitutional Conv. 1865 William L. Sharkey named temp. Governor by Pres. Johnson MS was first to hold Conv. & everyone was watching 300 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 this Convention. Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

William Sharkey Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Herschel Johnson led the state constitutional convention in 1865 Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

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)

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Benjamin Humphreys Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

U.S. Congress U.S. Congress refused to seat MS Representatives & passed the 14th Amendment. 14th Amendment guaranteed all people their 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 4th district and Major Gen. Edward O. Ord became military governor in MS. Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

14th Amendment Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Reconstruction Map Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

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)

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Carpetbagger Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Constitution of 1868 100 delegates. 17 black, 29 scalawags, 25 carpetbaggers, 17 Democrats They created the states 3rd & 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 Disfranchises all person who supported secession and helped Confederacy Whites had to sign oath stating “all men are created equal” This constitution failed to ratify due to the disenfranchising clause & equality oath. These were eliminated by Pres. Ulysses S. Grant in 1869 & the Constitution was ratified. Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

President Ulysses S. Grant Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Primary School in Vicksburg Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Freedmen school Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Republican Rule Republicans ruled MS 1869 James Alcorn elected governor. Republicans had majority in legislature State ratified 14th & 15th amendments & was readmitted to the Union Feb. 23, 1870. Hiram Revels (black) filled Jefferson Davis’ unexpired Senate term & Adelbert Ames was elected to the other. Revels is the first black in the U.S. Senate Ames defeated Alcorn for governor in 1873 Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

James Alcorn Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Aldelbert Ames replaced James Alcorn as governor in 1873 Aldelbert Ames replaced James Alcorn as governor in 1873. He was Union General in Civil War. Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Hiram Revels Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Adelbert Ames Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

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)

John R. Lynch Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Blanche K. Bruce Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

1st African Americans in Congress Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

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)

University of MS Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Alcorn College Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

MS University for Women Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Millsaps College Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Mississippi College Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

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 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 w/ impeachment and resigned. Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Ku Klux Klan (KKK) Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Ku Klux Klan (KKK) Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

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

Presidential Election of 1876 Dem. Candidate Samuel Tilden & Repub. Candidate Rutherford B. Hayes No 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. Democrats agreed to stop the filibuster and support Hayes, if Hayes promised to withdraw troops from the South Hayes won the election & military occupation ended Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Rutherford Hayes & Samuel Tilden Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)

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. 1890 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)

Isaiah Montgomery Chapter 6 (Reconstruction)