Reconstruction Webquest - Reconstruction Social - Revision history

Admin: /* The Ku Klux Klan */

2025-01-12T01:31:42Z

The Ku Klux Klan

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:31, 11 January 2025
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	== The Ku Klux Klan ==		== The Ku Klux Klan ==

	[[image:kkkimage.jpg\|thumb\|left\|~~300px~~\|]]		[[image:kkkimage.jpg\|thumb\|left\|500px\|]]

	Despite the progress African Americans made in the South after the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, racism still existed, and angry whites sometimes resorted to violence to intimidate African Americans. The most notorious of these initiatives was the Ku Klux Klan, a secret society of white supremacists using the social hierarchy to terrorize African Americans, catholics, Jews, and anyone who was not a WASP (White Anglo Saxon Protestant). Klansmen, who wore white hoods to conceal their identities, harassed and beat African Americans, carpetbaggers (Northern Whites), and scalawags (Whites & African Americans), and sometimes even conducted lynchings—mob killings, usually by hanging.		Despite the progress African Americans made in the South after the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, racism still existed, and angry whites sometimes resorted to violence to intimidate African Americans. The most notorious of these initiatives was the Ku Klux Klan, a secret society of white supremacists using the social hierarchy to terrorize African Americans, catholics, Jews, and anyone who was not a WASP (White Anglo Saxon Protestant). Klansmen, who wore white hoods to conceal their identities, harassed and beat African Americans, carpetbaggers (Northern Whites), and scalawags (Whites & African Americans), and sometimes even conducted lynchings—mob killings, usually by hanging.

Admin at 01:31, 12 January 2025

2025-01-12T01:31:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:31, 11 January 2025
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	[[file:reconstructionwebquestbanner.jpg\|center\|300px\|]]		[[file:reconstructionwebquestbanner.jpg\|center\|300px\|]]
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	<h1> Social Reconstruction </h1>		<h1>Social Reconstruction</h1>

	== Race in the Antebellum South ==		== Race in the Antebellum South ==
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	== Race Post-Civil War ==		== Race Post-Civil War ==

	In the post-Civil War era, racial ideas, especially in the South, became even more pervasive as Southern whites sought to re assume control during and after the Reconstruction period. We see this through competing ideological racial notions on the part of whites; through the pervasiveness of violence (lynchings and race rioting); and its institutionalization through legislation and American culture (through literature, movies, and advertising). Both the actions of whites and the responses by African Americans in the post-Civil War years would come to shape race relations in America for well over half a century.		In the post-Civil War era, racial ideas, especially in the South, became even more pervasive as Southern whites sought to re assume control during and after the Reconstruction period. We see this through competing ideological racial notions on the part of whites; through the pervasiveness of violence (lynchings and race rioting); and its institutionalization through legislation and American culture (through literature, movies, and advertising). Both the actions of whites and the responses by African Americans in the post-Civil War years would come to shape race relations in America for well over half a century.

	After the Civil War, the beaten South sought to cope with the severe social dislocation caused by the war and emancipation. The abolition of slavery had robbed the South of its chief means of structuring Southern society through a hierarchical racial order. Despite class differences among whites, there was racial unity in which even the poorest whites could still feel themselves a step above the lowest rung on the hierarchy. Thus, putting race in a hierarchical order was not simply to keep African Americans down, but to keep poor whites from directing their discontent at the upper-classes. In other words, whites would have someone to look down on no matter how bad their own social or economic position might be.		After the Civil War, the beaten South sought to cope with the severe social dislocation caused by the war and emancipation. The abolition of slavery had robbed the South of its chief means of structuring Southern society through a hierarchical racial order. Despite class differences among whites, there was racial unity in which even the poorest whites could still feel themselves a step above the lowest rung on the hierarchy. Thus, putting race in a hierarchical order was not simply to keep African Americans down, but to keep poor whites from directing their discontent at the upper-classes. In other words, whites would have someone to look down on no matter how bad their own social or economic position might be.
	But the very social system of the South was subverted by emancipation and Reconstruction, and social institutions that had governed the South were no longer relevant. Thus Southern Whites, upon retaking control of their state governments after the withdrawal of Union troops in 1877, sought to rebuild that racial hierarchy in a post-slavery south that would once again reassert white supremacy.		But the very social system of the South was subverted by emancipation and Reconstruction, and social institutions that had governed the South were no longer relevant. Thus Southern Whites, upon retaking control of their state governments after the withdrawal of Union troops in 1877, sought to rebuild that racial hierarchy in a post-slavery south that would once again reassert white supremacy.

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	== Social Segregation ==		== Social Segregation ==

	[[image:bathroomsign.jpg\|right\|400px\|]] As radical racism came to be the dominant mentality in the South at the turn of the century, it became institutionalized in three ways:		[[image:bathroomsign.jpg\|right\|400px\|]]

			As radical racism came to be the dominant mentality in the South at the turn of the century, it became institutionalized in three ways:

	* '''Disenfranchisement:''' African Americans would be prevented from voting through legal means (poll taxes, literacy tests) or intimidation.		* '''Disenfranchisement:''' African Americans would be prevented from voting through legal means (poll taxes, literacy tests) or intimidation.
	* '''Segregation (aka Jim Crow Laws):''' African Americans and whites would be separated in all public accommodations such as schools, hotels, trains and streetcars, restaurants, and even cemeteries in an effort to underscore the inferiority of African Americans. In other words, separate facilities would serve as a constant reminder to African Americans that they were unequal to whites.		* '''Segregation (aka Jim Crow Laws):''' African Americans and whites would be separated in all public accommodations such as schools, hotels, trains and streetcars, restaurants, and even cemeteries in an effort to underscore the inferiority of African Americans. In other words, separate facilities would serve as a constant reminder to African Americans that they were unequal to whites.
	* '''Social Mobility:''' As the South began to build industries, whites made it clear that industrialization would not include African Americans who were forced into low wage rural and domestic work. Permanent underemployment would reinforce economic subordination.		* '''Social Mobility:''' As the South began to build industries, whites made it clear that industrialization would not include African Americans who were forced into low wage rural and domestic work. Permanent underemployment would reinforce economic subordination.
			Both African Americans and whites were expected to uphold a racial etiquette intended to enforce this racism. While whites were expected to display their superiority, an African American was always to give-way on the side-walk, always give a title of respect to whites, never expect the same respect in return, and never resist. There was, in essence, no protection from the legal system should this etiquette be violated.
	Both African Americans and whites were expected to uphold a racial etiquette intended to enforce this racism. While whites were expected to display their superiority, an African American was always to give-way on the side-walk, always give a title of respect to whites, never expect the same respect in return, and never resist. There was, in essence, no protection from the legal system should this etiquette be violated.

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	<center>[[Image:previous.jpg\|75px\|link=Reconstruction Webquest - Reconstruction Economic]][[Image:next.jpg\|75px\|link=Reconstruction Webquest - Reconstruction The Amendments]]</center>		<center>[[Image:previous.jpg\|75px\|link=Reconstruction Webquest - Reconstruction Economic]][[Image:next.jpg\|75px\|link=Reconstruction Webquest - Reconstruction The Amendments]]</center>

Admin at 01:30, 12 January 2025

2025-01-12T01:30:49Z

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Admin: /* The Ku Klux Klan */

2025-01-12T01:13:49Z

The Ku Klux Klan

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:13, 11 January 2025
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	[[image:kkk.jpg\|thumb\|left\|300px\|]]		[[image:kkk.jpg\|thumb\|left\|300px\|]]

	Despite the progress blacks made in the South after the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, racism still existed, and angry whites sometimes resorted to violence to intimidate blacks. The most notorious of these initiatives was the Ku Klux Klan, a secret society of white supremacists ~~formed in Tennessee in 1866~~ to terrorize blacks. Klansmen, who wore white hoods to conceal their identities, harassed and beat ~~blacks~~, carpetbaggers, and scalawags, and sometimes even conducted lynchings—mob killings ~~of blacks~~, usually by hanging.		Despite the progress blacks made in the South after the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, racism still existed, and angry whites sometimes resorted to violence to intimidate blacks. The most notorious of these initiatives was the Ku Klux Klan, a secret society of white supremacists using the social hierarchy to terrorize blacks, catholics, Jews, and anyone who was not a WASP (White Anglo Saxon Protestant). Klansmen, who wore white hoods to conceal their identities, harassed and beat African Americans, carpetbaggers (Northern Whites), and scalawags (Whites & African Americans), and sometimes even conducted lynchings—mob killings, usually by hanging.

	The Klan often used these tactics to scare ~~blacks~~ away from the polls during elections and to punish those who did not obey their demands. In one extreme case, Klansmen murdered several hundred ~~black~~ voters in Louisiana in 1868. Congress, realizing the need to protect ~~blacks~~, passed the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 to try to curb the tide of violence and intimidation.		The Klan often used these tactics to scare African Americans away from the polls during elections and to punish those who did not obey their demands. In one extreme case, Klansmen murdered several hundred African American voters in Louisiana in 1868. Congress, realizing the need to protect African Americans, passed the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 to try to curb the tide of violence and intimidation.

	== Radical Violence ==		== Radical Violence ==

Admin: /* The Black Codes */

2025-01-12T00:42:46Z

The Black Codes

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:42, 11 January 2025
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	== The Black Codes ==		== The Black Codes ==

	Despite the efforts of Radical Republicans in Congress, the white elite in the South did everything it could to prevent blacks from gaining civic power. In reaction to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, every southern legislature passed laws to restrict opportunities for blacks. These black codes, which ranged widely in severity, outlawed everything from interracial marriage to loitering in public areas. One code outlawed unemployment, which allowed white landowners to threaten their tenant farmers with eviction if they decided to give up their land. The black codes in Mississippi were arguably the worst: they stripped blacks of their right to serve on juries and testify against whites, and also outlawed free speech. Other codes forced black children into unpaid apprenticeships that usually led to fieldwork.		Despite the efforts of Radical Republicans in Congress, the white elite in the South did everything it could to prevent blacks from gaining civic (political) power. In reaction to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, every southern legislature passed laws to restrict opportunities for blacks. These black codes, which ranged widely in severity, outlawed everything from interracial marriage to loitering in public areas. One code outlawed unemployment, which allowed white landowners to threaten their tenant farmers with eviction if they decided to give up their land. The black codes in Mississippi were arguably the worst: they stripped blacks of their right to serve on juries and testify against whites, and also outlawed free speech. Other codes forced black children into unpaid apprenticeships that usually led to fieldwork.

	Southern whites passed these laws because they feared black political influence, especially in states like South Carolina where blacks outnumbered whites. Many racist white southerners also worried that freed slaves would seek revenge on their masters, rape white women, and ruin the economy. Wealthy southern landowners, for their part, supported the black codes because the codes ensured that they would have a stable and reliable black workforce. Some of the black codes forced former slaves to sign contracts, requiring them to work for meager wages, while some even required them to work on chain gangs in the fields.		Southern whites passed these laws because they feared black political influence, especially in states like South Carolina where blacks outnumbered whites. Many racist white southerners also worried that freed slaves would seek revenge on their masters, rape white women, and ruin the economy. Wealthy southern landowners, for their part, supported the black codes because the codes ensured that they would have a stable and reliable black workforce. Some of the black codes forced former slaves to sign contracts, requiring them to work for meager wages, while some even required them to work on chain gangs in the fields.

Admin: /* Race in the Antebellum South */

2025-01-12T00:35:59Z

Race in the Antebellum South

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:35, 11 January 2025
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	== Race in the Antebellum South ==		== Race in the Antebellum South ==

	Race has been attached historically and primarily to one attribute: color - and the relationship between "race" and "status" has a long history. While the concept of "Race" is a social construct (made up by people, and not based on science) racial ideas were useful in the structuring of society in the 19th century to keep blacks as slaves in Antebellum (pre-war) South and American Indians off valuable land everywhere. Thus, the recognition of race gave whites power - and this racial thought was ingrained within the American psyche after centuries of the assumptions that whites were superior. The idea that this was true neglected the fact that lack of good education, employment, accumulation of wealth, and healthcare, became roadblocks for ~~blacks~~ in order to climb the social, political, and economic ladder. These issues still exist in some forms today.		Race has been attached historically and primarily to one attribute: color - and the relationship between "race" and "status" has a long history. While the concept of "Race" is a social construct (made up by people, and not based on science) racial ideas were useful in the structuring of society in the 19th century to keep blacks as slaves in Antebellum (pre-war) South and American Indians off valuable land everywhere. Thus, the recognition of race gave whites power - and this racial thought was ingrained within the American psyche after centuries of the assumptions that whites were superior. The idea that this was true neglected the fact that lack of good education, employment, accumulation of wealth, and healthcare, became roadblocks for lower classes in order to climb the social, political, and economic ladder. These issues still exist in some forms today.

	== Race Post-Civil War ==		== Race Post-Civil War ==

Admin: /* Race in the Antebellum South */

2025-01-12T00:17:14Z

Race in the Antebellum South

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:17, 11 January 2025
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	== Race in the Antebellum South ==		== Race in the Antebellum South ==

	Race has been attached historically and primarily to one attribute: color - and the relationship between "race" and "status" has a long history. While the concept of "Race" is a social construct (made up by people, and not based on science) racial ideas were useful in the structuring of society in the 19th century to keep blacks as slaves in ~~the~~ South and Indians off valuable land everywhere. Thus, the recognition of race gave whites power - and this racial thought was ingrained within the American psyche after centuries of the assumptions that whites were superior. The idea that this was true neglected the fact that lack of good education, employment, accumulation of wealth, and healthcare, became roadblocks for blacks in order to climb the social, political, and economic ladder. These issues still exist in some forms today.		Race has been attached historically and primarily to one attribute: color - and the relationship between "race" and "status" has a long history. While the concept of "Race" is a social construct (made up by people, and not based on science) racial ideas were useful in the structuring of society in the 19th century to keep blacks as slaves in Antebellum (pre-war) South and American Indians off valuable land everywhere. Thus, the recognition of race gave whites power - and this racial thought was ingrained within the American psyche after centuries of the assumptions that whites were superior. The idea that this was true neglected the fact that lack of good education, employment, accumulation of wealth, and healthcare, became roadblocks for blacks in order to climb the social, political, and economic ladder. These issues still exist in some forms today.

	== Race Post-Civil War ==		== Race Post-Civil War ==

Admin at 00:15, 12 January 2025

2025-01-12T00:15:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:15, 11 January 2025
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	But the very social system of the South was subverted by emancipation and Reconstruction, and social institutions that had governed the South were no longer relevant. Thus Southern Whites, upon retaking control of their state governments after the withdrawal of Union troops in 1877, sought to rebuild that racial hierarchy in a post-slavery south that would once again reassert white supremacy.		But the very social system of the South was subverted by emancipation and Reconstruction, and social institutions that had governed the South were no longer relevant. Thus Southern Whites, upon retaking control of their state governments after the withdrawal of Union troops in 1877, sought to rebuild that racial hierarchy in a post-slavery south that would once again reassert white supremacy.

	=== The Black Codes ===		== The Black Codes ==

	Despite the efforts of Radical Republicans in Congress, the white elite in the South did everything it could to prevent blacks from gaining civic power. In reaction to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, every southern legislature passed laws to restrict opportunities for blacks. These black codes, which ranged widely in severity, outlawed everything from interracial marriage to loitering in public areas. One code outlawed unemployment, which allowed white landowners to threaten their tenant farmers with eviction if they decided to give up their land. The black codes in Mississippi were arguably the worst: they stripped blacks of their right to serve on juries and testify against whites, and also outlawed free speech. Other codes forced black children into unpaid apprenticeships that usually led to fieldwork.		Despite the efforts of Radical Republicans in Congress, the white elite in the South did everything it could to prevent blacks from gaining civic power. In reaction to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, every southern legislature passed laws to restrict opportunities for blacks. These black codes, which ranged widely in severity, outlawed everything from interracial marriage to loitering in public areas. One code outlawed unemployment, which allowed white landowners to threaten their tenant farmers with eviction if they decided to give up their land. The black codes in Mississippi were arguably the worst: they stripped blacks of their right to serve on juries and testify against whites, and also outlawed free speech. Other codes forced black children into unpaid apprenticeships that usually led to fieldwork.
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	Once the Republican Party took control of Reconstruction, they forced southern state legislatures to repeal many of the black codes. Nonetheless, many wealthy white southerners continued to enforce the codes unlawfully for years, even decades, after Reconstruction.		Once the Republican Party took control of Reconstruction, they forced southern state legislatures to repeal many of the black codes. Nonetheless, many wealthy white southerners continued to enforce the codes unlawfully for years, even decades, after Reconstruction.

	=== The Ku Klux Klan ===		== The Ku Klux Klan ==

	[[image:kkk.jpg\|thumb\|left\|300px\|]]		[[image:kkk.jpg\|thumb\|left\|300px\|]]

Admin: /* Race Post-Civil War */

2025-01-12T00:14:27Z

Race Post-Civil War

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 After the Civil War, the beaten South sought to cope with the severe social dislocation caused by the war and emancipation.  The abolition of slavery had robbed the South of its chief means of structuring Southern society through a hierarchical racial order. Despite class differences among whites, there was racial unity in which even the poorest whites could still feel themselves a step above the lowest rung on the hierarchy.  Thus, putting race in a hierarchical order was not simply to keep blacks down, but to keep poor whites from directing their discontent at the upper-classes. In other words, whites would have someone to look down on no matter how bad their own social or economic position might be.
 But the very social system of the South was subverted by emancipation and Reconstruction, and social institutions that had governed the South were no longer relevant. Thus Southern Whites, upon retaking control of their state governments after the withdrawal of Union troops in 1877, sought to rebuild that racial hierarchy in a post-slavery south that would once again reassert white supremacy.
 == Radical Violence ==

Admin at 00:49, 5 January 2025

2025-01-05T00:49:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, 4 January 2025
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	<center>[[Image:previous.jpg\|75px\|link=Reconstruction Webquest - Reconstruction Economic]][[Image:next.jpg\|75px\|link=Reconstruction Webquest - Reconstruction ~~Political~~]]</center>		<center>[[Image:previous.jpg\|75px\|link=Reconstruction Webquest - Reconstruction Economic]][[Image:next.jpg\|75px\|link=Reconstruction Webquest - Reconstruction The Amendments]]</center>