ReconstructingSociety

Chapter 12, Section 2Societal Impacts for Freed Slaves and

the Economy

Post-Civil War

ConditionsThe South’s economy and society were completely devastated by the Civil War. Hundreds of millions of dollars of damage was done, 20% of the male population was dead, and property value was diminished.

The Republican government established a public works program to help rebuild roads, bridges, railroads, and setup schools and hospitals. This was costly though, and increased the southern money issues.

The ambitious project cost a lost of money and Northern capitalist were reluctant to invest in the regions. The Southern governments increased taxes to gain money, thus debilitating the existing resources and further slowing recovery.

Carpetbaggers &

ScalawagsTwo groups emerged in this time of turmoil:

Scalawags- White Southerners who joined the Republican Party, some in hopes of getting political and economic advantages.

Carpetbaggers- Northerners who moved South following the war, some were corrupt businesspeople while others hoped to help the South.

Newly Freed African-

AmericansWhen blacks were first freed, they took full advantage of their suffrage. 90% turned out to the polls to vote and 9 out of 10 voted Republican.

Southern whites did not take well to the freedom of blacks and the Democratic and Republican parties split widely over the “black” issue.

The new freedom given to blacks led to many traveling to escape the oppressive feeling associated with the plantations, and many went into cities to search for jobs.Many blacks went traveling to search for their families. The Freedmen’s Bureau and newspapers aided these people, but many were unsuccessful.

Education institutions and churches began being setup by blacks throughout the U.S. and politics opened up for blacks. Many of the segregation laws and black codes were repealed. Blacks seemed to be given a new start.

40 Acres & A Mule

Gen. Sherman promised freed slaves who joined his army 40 acres and a mule at the end of the war. This promise was granted but revoked when President Johnson ordered the land be given back.

When land was given to blacks in the Homestead Act, it was not good farmland and they lacked the tools and supplies to farm it well.

Cultural Adaptations

Southern Economy

Many freed slaves were forced to enter into a cycle of poverty due to sharecropping and tenant farming.

Finally, the Southern economy could no longer rely on cotton being their primary crop. Other countries produced cheaper cotton, and this led to the South taking their anger out on the African Americans.

Sharecropping was when landowners divided their land, tools, and seed amongst workers who would pay a share of the crop.

Tenant farmers would pay cash for land rentals and keep their harvest. These freed slaves were never able to save enough money to buy their own land and supplies.

Conclusions

The Postwar South was economically and physically destroyed by the Civil War.

Although attempts were made to help rebuild the Southern society, many failed due to tax issues, greed, and no free labor system.

Newly freed blacks faced the most challenge as they grappled with their new freedom and many found themselves stuck in poverty and debt.

HW: SpNotes 12.3 (p. 393-401)