ISSUES OF ISSUES OF RECONSTRUCTIONRECONSTRUCTION

THE ECONOMY DRIVES IT ALLTHE ECONOMY DRIVES IT ALL

Economics of Economics of ReconstructionReconstruction

Economics – the way people Economics – the way people make and spend moneymake and spend money

THE SOUTHTHE SOUTH

The Southern Economy is The Southern Economy is AGRICULTURALAGRICULTURAL

Farming is the basis of all money Farming is the basis of all money making making

(Cash Crops – cotton, tobacco)(Cash Crops – cotton, tobacco)

All “luxury” items are imported from All “luxury” items are imported from the Norththe North

Agricultural Societies NeedAgricultural Societies Need

Cheap laborCheap labor

Transportation to ship goodsTransportation to ship goods

Accommodating ClimateAccommodating Climate

Rich SoilRich Soil

THE SOUTH HAD ALL OF THISTHE SOUTH HAD ALL OF THIS(Slavery was very cheap)(Slavery was very cheap)

The NorthThe NorthThe Northern Economy is very The Northern Economy is very

INDUSTRIALINDUSTRIAL

Business is the basis for all Business is the basis for all money makingmoney making

The North is self sufficient with some The North is self sufficient with some farms supplying food and industry farms supplying food and industry

providing luxury itemsproviding luxury items

INDUSTRIAL CENTER NEEDSINDUSTRIAL CENTER NEEDS

Cheap labor Cheap labor

Transportation for shipping goodsTransportation for shipping goods

Capital (money to invest)Capital (money to invest)

The North had all of this but did not rely The North had all of this but did not rely on Slavery as much as Southon Slavery as much as South

WITHOUT SLAVERYWITHOUT SLAVERY

The South loses CHEAP, The South loses CHEAP, FREEFREE laborlabor

The North gains the advantage – The North gains the advantage – they are used to they are used to PAYINGPAYING cheap cheap

laborlabor

Where are the Industrial cities?Where are the Industrial cities?

New YorkNew York ChicagoChicago ClevelandCleveland PittsburgPittsburg DetroitDetroit Others???Others???

Do you see a pattern here?Do you see a pattern here?

Where are the Where are the Agricultural cities?Agricultural cities?

????????????

Harder to pinpoint – but what region of the Harder to pinpoint – but what region of the country comes to mind???country comes to mind???

THE SOUTHTHE SOUTH

ECONOMICS DRIVES ECONOMICS DRIVES POLITICSPOLITICS

““It’s the economy stupid”It’s the economy stupid”

The NORTHThe NORTH

Tended to be RepublicanTended to be Republican NOT farmersNOT farmers Raised with “business sense”Raised with “business sense” Grew up in a racist culture, but had Grew up in a racist culture, but had

more exposure to difference in city more exposure to difference in city lifelife

THE SOUTHTHE SOUTH

Tended to be DemocratTended to be Democrat Were farmers who needed to Were farmers who needed to

protect their cropsprotect their crops Grew up in a racist culture that was Grew up in a racist culture that was

essentialessential to their way of life to their way of life

**REMEMBER****REMEMBER**

Women were not allowed to voteWomen were not allowed to votewhen speaking ofwhen speaking of

RECONSTRUCTIONRECONSTRUCTIONthey were still fighting for they were still fighting for

their own rights their own rights (voting, owning property etc…)(voting, owning property etc…)

Panic of 1873Panic of 1873

Economy slips (“It’s the economy, stupid”)Economy slips (“It’s the economy, stupid”)

Northerners and Southerners lose money Northerners and Southerners lose money and they blame the party in office and they blame the party in office

(REPUBLICANS)(REPUBLICANS)

Republicans lose support – Southern Republicans lose support – Southern states see rush of Democrats elected to states see rush of Democrats elected to state governmentstate government

ECONOMY AND SOCIETYECONOMY AND SOCIETY

The South is The South is occupied occupied by the North by the North

Army is rebuilding (“reconstruction”)Army is rebuilding (“reconstruction”)

Southerners are angry and poorSoutherners are angry and poor

Republicans won the war Republicans won the war and the election SO:and the election SO:

Republicans make the rulesRepublicans make the rules

(but remember the economy slips (but remember the economy slips and they are losing support)and they are losing support)

FEDERAL LAWSFEDERAL LAWS

US Congress suggests, US President US Congress suggests, US President enforces, US Supreme Court enforces, US Supreme Court

interpretsinterprets

A state A state cannotcannot pass a law that pass a law that infringes upon a federal lawinfringes upon a federal law

Federal Laws passed during Federal Laws passed during ReconstructionReconstruction

1313thth Amendment – Adds a section to the Amendment – Adds a section to the Constitution that says Constitution that says slavery is illegalslavery is illegal

1414thth Amendment - Adds a section to the Amendment - Adds a section to the Constitution that says Constitution that says former slaves are former slaves are citizens citizens (extends rights ensured by the (extends rights ensured by the Constitution to ex-slaves)Constitution to ex-slaves)

1515thth Amendment - Adds a section to the Amendment - Adds a section to the Constitution that says Constitution that says African Americans can African Americans can votevote

REDEEMERSREDEEMERS

Remember how the Republicans were Remember how the Republicans were losing power???losing power???

State elections were electing State elections were electing REDEEMERS – Southern Democrats who REDEEMERS – Southern Democrats who wanted to return the Southern society to wanted to return the Southern society to how it used to behow it used to be

BLACK CODESBLACK CODES

State and local laws passed by State and local laws passed by Redeemers that returned working Redeemers that returned working conditions to slave – like situationsconditions to slave – like situations

If you were African American and were If you were African American and were employed by a White person – you were employed by a White person – you were referred to as SERVANT and your white referred to as SERVANT and your white employer was to be called MASTERemployer was to be called MASTER

BLACK CODESBLACK CODES

Poll TaxPoll Tax

Literacy TestLiteracy Test

SegregationSegregation

Funding Cuts (Freedmen’s Bureau)Funding Cuts (Freedmen’s Bureau)

Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson

Homer Plessy Homer Plessy lookslooks white white He is 1/8 African American living in He is 1/8 African American living in

LousianaLousiana He boards a train and sits in the White He boards a train and sits in the White

CarCar He sues claiming that the state He sues claiming that the state

segregation law limits his right to pursue segregation law limits his right to pursue life, liberty and happiness (rights from life, liberty and happiness (rights from the Constitution)the Constitution)

THE FIGHT FOR THE FIGHT FOR PLESSYPLESSY

State and Local courts cannot State and Local courts cannot decide who is rightdecide who is right

SUPREME COURT DECISIONSUPREME COURT DECISION

Does segregation violate Does segregation violate the rights granted by the the rights granted by the

US Constitution???US Constitution???

RULING in RULING in Plessy v FergusonPlessy v Ferguson

NO – as long as segregation is NO – as long as segregation is

Separate but EqualSeparate but Equal

Only 1 of the Justices Dissents Only 1 of the Justices Dissents (disagrees)(disagrees)

John Marshall Harlan says:John Marshall Harlan says:

““In the eye of the law, there is in this country In the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens… Our Constitution is color – blind, citizens… Our Constitution is color – blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights all among citizens. In respect of civil rights all citizens are equal before the law.”citizens are equal before the law.”

WHAT DOES HARLAN MEAN?WHAT DOES HARLAN MEAN?

The law is not to be The law is not to be MORALIZEDMORALIZED

SIMILARITIES TO TODAYSIMILARITIES TO TODAY

How does the How does the Plessy v. Plessy v. Ferguson Ferguson debate seem debate seem

similar to the current debate similar to the current debate on a Gay Marriage Ban on a Gay Marriage Ban

Amendment?Amendment?

Plessy v Plessy v Ferguson Ferguson is is

overturned by overturned by Brown v BoardBrown v Board