African Americans and Southern State Governments During Reconstruction

Early Reconstruction Widespread discontent among the southern states concerning the new found freedoms awarded to African-Americans, particularly former slaves Widespread discontent among the southern states concerning the new found freedoms awarded to African-Americans, particularly former slaves Southern democrats angered by the Freedmen's Bureau Act, which created a body to protect the rights of African Americans Southern democrats angered by the Freedmen's Bureau Act, which created a body to protect the rights of African Americans

The Black Codes In response to the Freedmen's Bureau, many southern states implemented "Black Codes", state laws which sought to reverse the federally mandated rights awarded to African Americans after the Civil War In response to the Freedmen's Bureau, many southern states implemented "Black Codes", state laws which sought to reverse the federally mandated rights awarded to African Americans after the Civil War Included provisions for indentured servitude and convict labor, as well as the outlawing of inter-racial marriages Included provisions for indentured servitude and convict labor, as well as the outlawing of inter-racial marriages

Radical Republican Response to Black Codes The Radical Republican majority was outraged by the southern states implementations of the Black Codes The Radical Republican majority was outraged by the southern states implementations of the Black Codes In response, federal legislation was passed in an effort to counter the state's Black Codes In response, federal legislation was passed in an effort to counter the state's Black Codes The Civil Rights Act of 1866, the 14th Amendment The Civil Rights Act of 1866, the 14th Amendment

African American Convict Labor in the South

African Americans in Politics The Reconstruction Act of 1867 paved the way for African Americans to participate in the political system in the south The Reconstruction Act of 1867 paved the way for African Americans to participate in the political system in the south Large African American majority in the south led to the election of African Americans at the local, state and federal level Large African American majority in the south led to the election of African Americans at the local, state and federal level

Hiram Revels Served in the Mississippi State Senate from Served in the Mississippi State Senate from Elected, despite many hardships, to the United States Senate in 1870; first African American to hold a seat in the Senate Elected, despite many hardships, to the United States Senate in 1870; first African American to hold a seat in the Senate Determined to counter the anti-black sentiment in the south by supporting reconstruction style legislation Determined to counter the anti-black sentiment in the south by supporting reconstruction style legislation

Revels

John Lynch First African American speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, elected in 1869 First African American speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, elected in 1869 Experienced many obstacles before attaining his seat Experienced many obstacles before attaining his seat Served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Served in the U.S. House of Representatives from

Lynch

African Americans and the Economy: Sharecropping Sharecropping emerged as a replacement to the slave-based economy the south was dependent on before the Civil War Sharecropping emerged as a replacement to the slave-based economy the south was dependent on before the Civil War Perceived as advantageous to both parties, sharecropping was in fact largely detrimental to those African Americans who participated Perceived as advantageous to both parties, sharecropping was in fact largely detrimental to those African Americans who participated Largely a new form of slavery; considered indentured servitude Largely a new form of slavery; considered indentured servitude

Sharecropping

The Reality of Sharecropping

African Americans and Education The Freedmen's Bureau helped immensely with the education of African Americans during Reconstruction The Freedmen's Bureau helped immensely with the education of African Americans during Reconstruction The emergence of Freedmen's Schools, or schools for African Americans in the South The emergence of Freedmen's Schools, or schools for African Americans in the South Reconstruction ushered in the opportunity for African Americans to start universities Reconstruction ushered in the opportunity for African Americans to start universities Howard University in Washington D.C Howard University in Washington D.C Fisk University in Nashville and the Fisk Jubilee Singers-1867 Fisk University in Nashville and the Fisk Jubilee Singers-1867