Freedmen’s Bureau (1865)

Freedmen’s Bureau (1865)

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.

Many former northern abolitionists risked their lives to help southern freedmen.

Called “carpetbaggers” by white southern Democrats.

Freedmen’s Bureau Seen Through Southern Eyes

Freedmen’s Bureau Seen Through Southern Eyes

Plenty to eat and

nothing to do.

Freedmen’s Bureau School

Freedmen’s Bureau School

FreedmenFreedmen’’s Bureau Success:s Bureau Success:Educational OpportunityEducational Opportunity

Spelman Graduates - 1892

Morehouse CollegeFounded in 1867

Howard Universitynamed after head ofFreedmen’s Bureau

Establishment of Historically Black Colleges in the South

Establishment of Historically Black Colleges in the South

Civil War AmendmentsCivil War Amendments

Amendment 131. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriatelegislation.

Amendment 131. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriatelegislation.

Civil War AmendmentsCivil War Amendments

Amendment 14Amendment 141. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.  

  

Civil War AmendmentsCivil War Amendments

Amendment 151. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied orabridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, orprevious condition of servitude.2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriatelegislation.

Amendment 151. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied orabridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, orprevious condition of servitude.2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriatelegislation.

Main Failure of 15Main Failure of 15thth Amendment Amendment

DisfranchisementDisfranchisement• During Reconstruction, Freedmen were During Reconstruction, Freedmen were allowed to vote because of presence of allowed to vote because of presence of the military. Several black legislators were the military. Several black legislators were elected to Congress and state elected to Congress and state governments. Mississippi was only state governments. Mississippi was only state with a totally black delegation to Congress.with a totally black delegation to Congress.

• After 1877, blacks were systematically After 1877, blacks were systematically disfranchised in a number of ways.disfranchised in a number of ways.

Black Senate & House Delegates

Black Senate & House Delegates

Blacks in Southern PoliticsBlacks in Southern Politics Core voters were black veterans.

Blacks were politically unprepared.

Blacks could register and vote in states since 1867.

The 15th Amendment guaranteedfederal voting.

Work SessionWork Session• Using your netbooks OR your textbooks, Using your netbooks OR your textbooks,

explain the following methods of explain the following methods of disfranchisement used by Southerners.disfranchisement used by Southerners.

• Grandfather ClauseGrandfather Clause• Literacy TestLiteracy Test• Poll TaxPoll Tax• White Primary SystemWhite Primary System• Why was it impossible for most blacks to meet Why was it impossible for most blacks to meet

the standards of these methods?the standards of these methods?• What happened to each of the methods What happened to each of the methods

eventually?eventually?

Black CodesBlack CodesPurpose:

* Guarantee stable labor supply now that blacks were emancipated.

* Restore pre-emancipationsystem of race relations.

Forced many blacks to become sharecroppers [tenant farmers].

Origins of the Ku Klux KlanOrigins of the Ku Klux Klan • Also known as the Also known as the Invisible Empire of the SouthInvisible Empire of the South

• 1st branch was established in Tennessee May 18661st branch was established in Tennessee May 1866

• Branches grew up in Southern statesBranches grew up in Southern states

• 1868 - 1870 KKK played an important role in 1868 - 1870 KKK played an important role in restoring White rule in Southern statesrestoring White rule in Southern states

• Similar organisation existed called…Similar organisation existed called…

– White BrotherhoodWhite Brotherhood

– Men of JusticeMen of Justice

– Constitutional Union Guards Constitutional Union Guards

– Knights of the White CameliaKnights of the White Camelia

Origins of the Ku Klux KlanOrigins of the Ku Klux Klan • Also known as the Also known as the Invisible Empire of the SouthInvisible Empire of the South

• 1st branch was established in Tennessee May 18661st branch was established in Tennessee May 1866

• Branches grew up in Southern statesBranches grew up in Southern states

• 1868 - 1870 KKK played an important role in 1868 - 1870 KKK played an important role in restoring White rule in Southern statesrestoring White rule in Southern states

• Similar organisation existed called…Similar organisation existed called…

– White BrotherhoodWhite Brotherhood

– Men of JusticeMen of Justice

– Constitutional Union Guards Constitutional Union Guards

– Knights of the White CameliaKnights of the White Camelia

The “Invisible Empire of the South”

The “Invisible Empire of the South”

SharecroppingSharecropping

Tenancy & the Crop Lien System

Tenancy & the Crop Lien SystemFurnishing Merchant Tenant Farmer Landowner

Loan tools and seed up to 60% interest to tenant farmer to plant spring crop.

Farmer also secures food, clothing, andother necessities oncredit 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 inpayment of debt.

Rents land to tenant in exchange for ¼ to ½ of tenant farmer’s future crop.

The Failure of Federal Enforcement

The Failure of Federal Enforcement Enforcement Acts of 1870 &

1871 [also known as the KKK Act].

“The Lost Cause.”

The rise of the“Bourbons.”

Redeemers (prewarDemocrats and Union Whigs).

The Civil Rights Act of 1875The Civil Rights Act of 1875

Crime for any individual to deny full &equal use of public conveyances andpublic places.

Prohibited discrimination in jury selection.

Shortcoming lacked a strong enforcement mechanism.

No new civil rights act was attemptedfor 90 years!