The Return of the Old South 1)Reconstruction Amendments 2)Southern Reaction

The Reconstruction Amendments 13th Amendment th Amendment th Amendment

13 th Amendment The Abolition of slaveryThe Abolition of slavery –It ends slavery in the United States

14th Amendment Rights of CitizensRights of Citizens –Grants equal rights, protection and citizenship to all people born within the United States. –No rights of any citizen can be taken away by the government without due process of the law *For freedmen, this gives them the same rights and privileges as whites

15th Amendment Grants the right to vote to African American men over 21. …yeah that’s right MEN. not women they can’t vote yet… …and frankly they never should have… …just kidding…

How the South tried to stop the blacks from keeping these rights

Poll Tax A law that required all citizens of a southern state pay a tax before they could vote. Most African Americans could not afford to pay the tax and therefore were not allowed to vote.

Sharecropping A system in which a landowner would rent a plot of land to a freedmen. In return the freedmen would receive a portion of the crops produced.A system in which a landowner would rent a plot of land to a freedmen. In return the freedmen would receive a portion of the crops produced. Often the crops given to the freedmen would be useless and the freedmen would never make money because they owed rent!!!Often the crops given to the freedmen would be useless and the freedmen would never make money because they owed rent!!!

Literacy Test Laws passed by Southern states which required all citizens to read a passage from the Constitution before they could be allowed to vote.Laws passed by Southern states which required all citizens to read a passage from the Constitution before they could be allowed to vote.

The Ku Klux Klan A group of southerners who would attack freedmen. They would burn their homes, beat or murder them.

Grandfather Clause A law made that allowed citizens to vote without passing the Literacy test if their grandfathers could vote before Jan …guess which people could not pass this requirement…..

Jim Crow Laws Laws passed by southern states that segregated or separated blacks and whites in society. Blacks could not go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants as whites or even use the same bathroom as whites.

The Supreme Court rules on the Jim Crow Laws 1896: Supreme Court case, Plessy vs. Ferguson. -- African Americans claim Jim Crow laws are unconstitutional (14 th Amendment) -- Supreme Court rules: -- segregation IS CONSTITUTIONAL -- “Separate but equal” -- “Separate but equal” -- Impact: segregation in the south continues for atleast the next 60 years!

Plessy vs. Ferguson Upholds racial segregation (Jim Crow laws)Upholds racial segregation (Jim Crow laws) “Separate but Equal”“Separate but Equal” Homer Plessy

THE SEGREGATED SOUTH 1896 – 1964 A history of LEGAL segregation in southern society

Memphis Law No Whites on Tuesday. Blacks can only visit Zoo on Tuesday

White School Black School

White School Black School

Segregation in 2010? Legal segregation (de jure segregation) is unconstitutional BUT segregation by fact (de facto) is still ramped!Legal segregation (de jure segregation) is unconstitutional BUT segregation by fact (de facto) is still ramped! Example:Example: Town 1: 93 % White, 3% BlackTown 1: 93 % White, 3% Black Town 2: 70% Black, 1% WhiteTown 2: 70% Black, 1% White Town 3: 82% White, 6% BlackTown 3: 82% White, 6% Black Town 4: 99% White, 1% BlackTown 4: 99% White, 1% Black Babylon Village Wyandanch West Babylon Cold Spring Harbor