The "NEW" South [APUSH Review Unit 6 Topic 4] Period 6: 1865-1898

Summary

The video script from Heimler's History delves into the concept of the 'New South' during the period from 1877 to 1898, following the Civil War. It explores the vision of Henry Grady, who advocated for economic diversity and industrial growth to modernize the South. Despite industrial advancements in certain cities and a rise in manufacturing, particularly in textiles, the South largely remained agricultural, with a labor system based on sharecropping that kept many in a state akin to slavery. The script also addresses the rigid racial segregation that became institutionalized with the removal of federal troops and the 'separate but equal' doctrine established by the Plessy v. Ferguson case. It highlights the resistance against these injustices by figures like Ida B. Wells, Henry Turner, and Booker T. Washington, each advocating for change in their own way. The summary underscores the complex and often grim realities of the 'New South,' while acknowledging the resilience and activism that emerged in response.

Takeaways

• 📰 The term 'New South' was coined by Henry Grady, editor of The Atlanta Constitution, who envisioned a future for the South based on economic diversity, industrial growth, and laissez-faire capitalism.
• 🏭 Southern cities began to grow with the establishment of industrial centers, and by the late 19th century, southern states had become leading textile manufacturers, surpassing New England.
• 🚂 The South experienced significant growth in population and infrastructure, with new railroads being constructed at a rate that matched or exceeded other regions in the country.
• 🏞 Despite industrial advancements, the majority of the South remained agricultural, and the plantation system continued to rely on laborers through the sharecropping system.
• 👩‍🌾 Sharecropping was a system that allowed those without land to work on plantations, sharing a portion of the harvest with the owner, but it often resulted in a cycle of debt for the workers.
• 🚫 Racial segregation became more entrenched after the Compromise of 1877, leading to the societal structure of segregation becoming the norm in the South.
• 🏛 The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, which legally sanctioned racial segregation as long as facilities were equal in quality.
• 📜 The Jim Crow Laws further institutionalized racial segregation across various aspects of society, including public facilities and transportation.
• 📉 African Americans lost many of the gains made during Reconstruction, facing restrictions on serving on juries, running for public office, and were often subjected to extrajudicial violence.
• ✊ Ida B. Wells, Henry Turner, and Booker T. Washington were among the notable figures resisting racial injustice and advocating for social and political equality for black people.
• 💼 Booker T. Washington's approach to black empowerment focused on economic self-sufficiency as a means to achieve political power, although it faced criticism for not directly addressing political equality.

Q & A

What was the 'New South' concept introduced by Henry Grady?

The 'New South' was a vision for the post-Civil War South, proposed by Henry Grady, which emphasized economic diversity, industrial growth, and laissez-faire capitalism. Grady believed that the South needed to adopt more of the North's industrial advancements to recover from the war.

How did the South's industrial growth compare to the rest of the country during the 'New South' period?

The South experienced significant industrial growth, with Southern cities growing and new industrial centers being built. Southern states even surpassed New England states in textile manufacturing, and the growth in population and new railroad construction was on par with or exceeded that of other regions in the country.

What was the primary economic activity in the South despite the industrial growth during the 'New South' period?

Despite industrial advancements, the primary economic activity in the South remained agriculture. The region continued to rely heavily on farming, with plantation owners requiring laborers to work the fields.

What was the sharecropping system and how did it affect newly emancipated black people and poor whites?

Sharecropping was a system where individuals without the means to own or rent land could work on plantation fields in exchange for a share of the harvest. While it theoretically could have been beneficial for newly emancipated black people and poor whites, in practice, it often resulted in a form of debt peonage, keeping many sharecroppers in a state of economic dependency on the landowner.

How did racial segregation become legally established in the South?

Racial segregation became legally established with the Compromise of 1877, which ended Reconstruction and led to the removal of federal troops from the South. This allowed for the rise of segregationist laws, culminating in the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, which upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

What was the impact of the 'separate but equal' ruling on black communities in the South?

The 'separate but equal' ruling led to the widespread implementation of Jim Crow Laws, which segregated nearly every aspect of society, including public facilities, transportation, and even drinking fountains. This segregation was often accompanied by unequal facilities and opportunities, leading to a loss of many gains made by black people during Reconstruction.

What was the role of Ida B. Wells in the resistance against racial segregation and violence?

Ida B. Wells was an editor of a black newspaper in the South, where she fiercely editorialized against lynching and Jim Crow Laws. Despite receiving death threats and her presses being destroyed by a mob, she continued her anti-lynching campaign after moving to the North.

What was Henry Turner's contribution to the fight for black equality?

Henry Turner founded the International Migration Society in 1894, which facilitated the migration of black Americans to Africa, specifically Liberia. Although the venture was not sustainable due to economic challenges and health issues in Liberia, it represented an effort to provide black Americans with new opportunities outside the oppressive environment of the South.

What was Booker T. Washington's approach to achieving equality for black people?

Booker T. Washington believed that black people should focus on becoming economically self-sufficient rather than fighting for political equality. He felt that economic empowerment would naturally lead to political power. As a former enslaved laborer who had achieved self-sufficiency, Washington worked to help others do the same, despite his approach being seen as impractical by some due to the systemic disadvantages faced by black people in the South.

What were some of the negative consequences for black people during the 'New South' period?

During the 'New South' period, black people faced numerous negative consequences, including being forbidden to serve on juries or run for public office, being subjected to accusations of crimes without due process, and being victims of vigilante justice through lynching, with over a thousand black people lynched in the 1890s alone.

How did the 'New South' period reflect both progress and continuity with the past?

The 'New South' period reflected progress through industrial growth and urban development in certain areas, surpassing New England in textile manufacturing and experiencing population and infrastructure growth. However, it also showed continuity with the past in its continued reliance on agriculture, the persistence of sharecropping, and the establishment of legal racial segregation and the Jim Crow system.