A New South

Carpetbaggers Carpetbaggers – Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction Many were eventually elected or appointed to a position in the South’s new state government Called carpetbaggers b/c they arrived in the South w/ suitcases made of carpet fabric White Southern Democrats hated them!!!

Scalawags Scalawags – white Southerners who worked with Republicans and supported Reconstruction Scalawag is an old Scott-Irish term for a weak, underfed, worthless animals White Southern Democrats hated them

Scalawags Scalawags were a diverse group of Southerners: Small farm owners who didn’t want wealthy planters to regain control Old Whigs who didn’t want to secede from the Union Business people who favored the Reconstruction of the South for developing the Southern economy

A.A. and Politics After gaining the right to vote, A.A. quickly began organizing politically 1st African Americans in politics… Those who had lived in the North Those who had been educated before the war Those who had fought with the Union Army in the Civil War

A.A. in Government African Americans were in all levels of government… Mayors, police chiefs, school commissioners, state legislatures 14 to the House of Reps, 2 Senators Southern whites claimed that “Black Republicanism” ruled the South during Reconstruction This was an exaggeration!!!

The Ku Klux Klan Started in 1866 by former Confederate soldiers in Pulaski, Tennessee The Klan spread rapidly through the South Initial goal of the Klan… Drive out Union troops and carpetbaggers Regain control of the South for the Democratic Party Terrorize A.A. to prevent them from voting and participating in gov’t Keep white Republicans from voting

The Ku Klux Klan Terrorized supporters of the Republican governments (mostly at night) Broke up meetings Drove Freedmen’s Bureau officials out of their communities Burned African American homes, schools, and churches Wore robes and masks to… Cover their identity Strike fear in anyone who saw them

Fighting Back Republicans and African Americans formed their own militia groups They fought back against the Klan This only increased the violence in the South The Klan was not going to stop!

Enforcement Acts Grant and Congressional Republicans were outraged at the KKK’s activities 1870-1871 – Congress passed 3 Enforcement Acts to combat the violence in the South First Act – made it a federal crime to interfere w/ a citizen’s right to vote Second Act – put a federal elections under the supervisions of federal marshals

Enforcement Acts Third Act – also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act – outlawed the activities of the Klan Local authorities acting under the Enforcement Acts arrested more than 3,000 Klan members throughout the South HOWEVER, Southern juries convicted only about 600 Even fewer people served jail time