1. Reconstructing Society
Chapter 12, section 2

2. Main Idea and Key Terms
Various groups contributed to the rebuilding of Southern society after the war
Scalawag
Carpetbagger
Hiram
Revels
Sharecropping
Tenant farming

3. Conditions in the Postwar South
Even though the Southern states had all reentered by 1870, the north did not want to end reconstruction, they wanted to make economic changes in the South

4. Physical and Economic Conditions
Since most of the war had been fought in the south, the south had the most rebuilding to do
Property values had plummeted
Farms were ruined and in disrepair
Everyone was poorer
1/5 of adult males died in the war

5. Public Works Programs
The governments built roads, bridges, and railroads as well as establishing orphanages and institutions for care of the mentally ill and disabled
Also created the first public school system
Taxes were raised to pay for all this, draining the already hurting economy

6. Politics in the Postwar South
Different groups of the Republican party in the south had conflicting goals
Scalawags – white southerners who joined the republican party: wanted to industrialize the south and prevent the aristocrats from regaining power

7. Carpetbaggers – Northerners who moved to the South after the war: some worked the freedman’s bureau, teachers, and ministers who felt a moral duty to help former slaves

8. African American Voters
African Americans gained the right to vote with the passage of the 15th amendment
9 out of 10 were republican
In some areas as many as 90% of former slaves showed up at the polls
This is despite “fatigue, hardship, hunger, and threats of employers”

9. Political Differences
There are splits within the republican party
Some republican governors appointed democrats to office to gain votes
Not everyone agreed with equality
Southerners had trouble adjusting

10. Former Slaves face Challenges
After the war, 4 million slaves gained new rights
Many slaves moved to get away from the plantation and to search for new lives
Urban population in the ten largest southern cities doubled between 1865 and 1870

11. Reunification
After the war, many slaves were able to search for their families for the first time
i.e. – in 1865, one slave walks 600 miles from GA to NC in search of his family
The Freedman’s bureau tried to help in searches as well

12. Education African Americans established educational institutions
Some southerners responded violently
Regardless, by 1870 over 600,000 African Americans were in elementary school

13. Churches and Volunteer groups
After the war many African Americans founded their own churches
They were usually Baptist or Methodist
They also formed thousands of volunteer groups

14. Politics
African Americans began to hold office, although only in south Carolina did they have a majority in the state legislature
Hiram Revels becomes the 1st African American Senator
There are 15 House members

15. Laws against Segregation
By the end of 1866, most black Codes were repealed
African Americans were more interested in building their own communities as opposed to integration, although some integration occurred

16. Changes in the Southern Economy
Few Africans had land, and whites were reluctant to sell it to them
Sherman promised slaves that followed him 40 acres and the use of army mules
In 1865 President Johnson orders land returned to the original owners

17. Restoration of Plantations
The Planter Class wanted to restore plantations
They didn’t want to pay former slaves
Worried they couldn’t make a profit
Faced a labor shortage

18. Sharecropping and tenant farming
The need for work forced many former slaves to sign labor contracts with plantation owners
Wasn’t good for either group
Forced each group to look at sharecropping and tenant farming

19. Sharecropping
Landowners divided their land and gave each worker a few acres as well as seed and tools
At harvest time, the sharecropper gave the land owner a share (usually ½) of their crop

20. Tenant Farming
If the farmers could save up money, they could buy their own tools and seed, and rent land from landowners
This gave them a chance to move up the economic ladder

21. Former King Cotton
Cotton demand from the south had declined during the war
PEOPLE Tried to grow more TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE, but this drove down prices even more