why hadn't racial equality been achieved from reconstruction Flashcards
why was radical influence declining
- scandals surrounding republicans
- tax increasing in south for black schools
- old leaders died or retired
- north prioritised their economy
what impact did the Great Depression of 1873 have
support for republicans declined and in 1874 democrats controlled the house of representatives
what impact did the 1872 general amnesty act have
democrat redeemer governments soon elected in the south
what was the 1872 general amnesty act
act restored political privileges to ex-confederates
what was the Mississippi plan
to gain control of the states government by…
1. convincing 10-15% of republicans to vote democrat
2. intimidate black voters
what was the impact of the Mississippi plan
democrat majority of 30,000 in 1875
what did Grant do following the Coushatta Massacre
he used troops to remove democratic legislators
what was the impact of Grants actions following the Coushatta Massacre of 1875
caused national outrage and accusations of bayonet rule
US v Cruikshank
Supreme Court dismissed federal indictments brought against white citizens in Louisiana who were accused of fraud and violence used to prevent black people from voting
US v Reese
recognised right of states to exclude people from voting by the imposition of voting qualifications
The Slaughter House decision
14th amendment only protected national rights but not the civil rights that individual Americans receive from state citizenship
who did the democrats and supremacist groups stake anger against and give example
Scalawags and Carpetbaggers
1870 Georgia - KKK murdered three scalawag legislatures
What happened to klansmen who received indictments
most klansmen were released as there were so many indictments that the federal court system couldn’t cope
what did white mobs and supremacist groups target
black people in their schools, homes, churches and other places
what was the response of Grant to White violence
enforcement acts 1870
why were there divisions between black people?
there were divisions against ex-slaves and some free born blacks who considered themselves superior
how were black people unable to dominate political life in the south
none of the upper houses in the state legislatures had a majority of blacks and there were no black state governors elected
what did congress decide to do with the freedmen bureau
1868 - instructed the bureau to wind down its activities
1872 - closed the bureau
why did congress shut the bureau
due to southern white hostility
why was congress distracted from the needs of the landless slaves?
they were fighting with the White House due to Johnsons vetoes of acts and sacking of military commanders he perceived to be too sympathetic towards radical reconstruction
who was the task of economic reconstruction left to and what did this impact
task of economic reconstruction was left to souths large landowners who encouraged blacks to stay as sharecroppers
consequence of the military reconstruction acts
- new governments appeared as living reminders of military defeat
- programs of economic development and school construction increased taxes and state debts
consequence of freedmen’s bureau
- failed due to the pressures of Southern white
- didn’t achieve much towards racial equality due to fight between congress and White House
why weren’t the enforcement acts that helpful
they only undermined the power of the KKK and not the violent resistance to black Americans voting
