Du Bois Flashcards
What is the problem of the 20th century?
problem of the color-line
(relation of darker skin tones to lighter)
Global problem, not specific to US
What caused the civil war?
(caused really cuz of slavery)
–Officials claimed the war had nothing to do with slavery
Why does Du Bois focus on Freedmen’s Bureau?
“one of the most singular and interesting” efforts to address the problem of the color line within the U.S
What was the problem, and solution to black refugees from the civil war?
There was confusion over how to deal with these “black refugees,” with some suggesting that they should be returned to slave masters and others arguing they should be considered “contraband.”
Eventual solution: Put them to work by Union (Complicated things)
What did President Lincoln do?
Had these men sign up for the army
- Army = confused if they should feed / shelter those unqualified
Beginning of Freedmen’s bureau
How was work for black people after being freed?
Black ppl unsure if they’d receive pay for labour
- Bad in south
What was the goal of freedmen’s bureau (1865)?
wanted to establish systems of paid labour and schools
Give land and rations
What are the two main challenges the bureau faced?
- distribution of land (it was technically private property)
- running it effectively
What happened to the Bureau?
Expanded
retained a great many powers, including tax collection, law-making, criminal punishment, and so on.
What was the political climate of the south?
“waking from some wild dream to poverty and social revolution.”
- Even tho slavery is gone, feelings of hated from slave owners stayed
What did Du Bois argue was the bureau’s greatest success?
Education
” planting of the free school among Negroes, and the idea of free elementary education among all classes in the South”
- School programs for black children (free amongst all classes in the south)
What did Du Bois argue was the Bureau’s least successful endeavor?
Justice
Bureau courts tended to become centres simply for punishing whites, while the regular civil courts tended to become solely institutions for perpetuating the slavery of blacks
Outside court house, black people attacked / assaulted
How could the Bureau have remained a permanent institution?
If it hadn’t received wide spread hatred by southern white ppl
