How Black People's Lives Changed after Civil War * Flashcards
What incidents of racial violence occured in May and August 1866?
May 1866, two horse drawn carriages collided in Memphis Tennessee.
The black man driving one of the carriages was arrested and black war veterans defended him. Three days of race riots with Irish police and firemen attacking the South Memphis shantytown where former black soldiers lived followed with 46 black people dead and 5 women raped as a consequence. Houses, schools, and churches had been robbed or burned as a result.
August 1866, New Orleans, a procession of black soldiers was led to support elected delegates who would draw constitution for black suffrage. 34 blacks killed, 100 injured
Who did the KKK support and attack?
Where did it mostly operate?
Who disassociated himself from it?
What social groups supported the KKK and other groups?
The KKK was supportive of plantation owners, the Democratic Party, and all those opposing equality of slaves. It attacked anybody suspected of supporting economic independence of black people, such as Jack Dupree of Monroe County, Mississippi - his throat cut and disembowelled in front of his wife.
The KKK operated largely in the plantation belt in the South. They would leave behind a burning cross. Black people would flee to forests to evade attacks.
Nathan Forrest disassociated himself as leader of the KKK when it wouldn’t disband.
Many white people supported the KKK, White Brotherhood, and Knights of the White Camelia due to fear of black domination and cheap labour of black people, but doctors, dentists, and clergymen, wealthy men, supported the movement.
What were Enforcement Acts?
1870-1 Enforcement Acts by Congress - first act prevented intimidation to African American voters, secnd authorised federal supervision of elections, third (Ku Klux Klan Act), dealt with terrorism and allowed federal courts to intervene if states didn’t when black people were prevented right to vote. 1872 - KKK surpressed.
What happened to black people and land ownership?
With new freedom, black people were able to travel., families were reunited, and informal plantation marriages were legalised so by 1870 80% of African American families were strong units.
Many black people moved West and took advantage of the Homestead Act, or benefitted from the Southern Homestead Act (1866- 44 million acres of land in 5 southern states for former slaves, 4000 claimed land but it was poor and lack of resources to develop it).
Why did black land ownership fail?
Reform of land ownership was needed in the South, most couldn’t afford land. Few established efficient working farms, lacking capital to buy seed, tools, and equipment. 1865-66 many former slaves entered labour contracts, but wages dwindled and a small amount of crops were offered. Freedman’s Bureau assured them of gaining security, but prices fell and landowners blamed workers.
What was sharecropping?
1870 - sharecropping was used by freedmen and poor white farmers. Plantations were split into tenancies between 30-50 acres and half of crops could be given as rent to landowners. Former slaves reunited with their families. However, as sharecroppers entered debt, merchants would supply them for a claim on their next crops, leaving sharecroppers with nothing for themselves and permanent debt. Interest was high. Ownership of land was needed to vote, sharecroppers didn’t have this.
Who was Booker T Washington?
How did black people become more educated?
Booker T Washington was the son of a black slave woman and was educated when working as a houseboy by the wife of a mine owner. In 1872 attended Hampton Agricultural Institute and founded Tuskagee Negro National Institute to increase prospects of race. Became presidential adviser.
Schools opened in homes or using disused buildings to increase literacy, though adults attended irregularly. Black tradesmen gave labour for free. Black colleges of higher education founded in North. Universities such as Howard University and the Hampton Institute created new teachers and future political leaders.
What were the original independent black churches formed?
Slaves found comfort in Jesus Christ while captive, and church services helped them to share a growing sense of injustice. Independent black churches formed, started from the late 18th century with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Negro Baptist Church from plantations. Church provided school and social activities. As a result, the civil rights movement gained self awareness and established moral discipline with Church courts dealing with cases of immoral behaviour.
How did black people’s roles in politics change? Who was Blanche K Bruce?
Black people felt responsibility to represent the political interests of their people. Over 100 black ministers served on state legislatures between 1865-77 - only in South Carolina where African Americans were 60% of electorate was a majority vote commanded. Blanche K Bruce became the first black politician, born Virginia 1841. Escaping slavery during civil war, became a teacher and opened first school for black people in Missouri, 1864. 1869, moved to Mississippi and entered local politics. Gained support of white Republicans. Republicans were largely popular among black voters and non-slave owning white farmers but their popularity declined in the North by 1877.
What Court decisions limited African American rights?
Slaughterhouse Decision, 1873, protected black people’s national rights but not rights in state citizenship - Fourteenth Amendment.
Enforcement Act aspects deemed invalid. 1876 - Court threw out charges against 13 white men in Lousiana who shot 30 militia men who surrendered following a battle during Civil War.
1883 - Court decided KKK Act and Civil Rights Act, (1875), invalid.
1872 - Freedman’s Bureau legislation not renewed - legislation ceased to exist.
How did the Republicans decline?
White people felt republicans had gone too far and supported democrats. Radical Republics such as Thadeus Stevens had died by 1875 and states could modify Black Codes to eliminate the black vote, using clauses such as the Grandfather Clause.
What were limitations to education?
1870, $1 million spent on education. Trained black teachers rising in number. Teachers tended to come from North where families were free before emancipation. Teachers like ministers served in politics. 1865-77 70 black teachers entered politics securing seats in state legislatures. Strong opposition to educate former black slaves in south. In rural areas long journeys to school had to be made and KKK intimidated students. By 1877 80% of African Americans still illiterate.
