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.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to the New South Era

This paragraph introduces the concept of the 'New South,' a vision for the post-Civil War Southern United States. It discusses the Old South's defeat and the emergence of a new vision for the region, led by figures like Henry Grady, who advocated for industrial growth, economic diversity, and laissez-faire capitalism. Grady's ideas gained traction, leading to industrial expansion in some Southern cities and the rise of new manufacturing centers. However, despite these changes, the South largely remained agricultural, and the labor system of sharecropping kept many in a state akin to slavery. The paragraph also touches on the persistence of racial segregation and the removal of federal troops, which solidified segregation as the law of the land.

05:04

📚 The Impact of Plessy v. Ferguson and Resistance to Segregation

This paragraph delves into the legal and societal ramifications of racial segregation in the South, highlighted by the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson, which established the 'separate but equal' doctrine. The decision led to the widespread implementation of Jim Crow Laws, segregating nearly every aspect of public life. Despite these oppressive conditions, the paragraph also discusses the significant resistance movements, including the efforts of Ida B. Wells, who fought against lynching and Jim Crow Laws, Henry Turner, who facilitated the migration of black Americans to Liberia, and Booker T. Washington, who focused on economic self-sufficiency as a path to political power. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for students to subscribe for further educational support on the AP U.S. History curriculum.

Keywords

💡New South

The 'New South' refers to the vision of a post-Civil War Southern region that would embrace industrialization and economic diversity, moving away from its primarily agrarian past. It was a concept popularized by Henry Grady, who saw industrial growth and laissez-faire capitalism as the keys to the South's future. The term is central to the video's theme, illustrating the South's attempt to redefine itself after the devastation of the Civil War.

💡Sharecropping

Sharecropping was a system where landless farmers, often newly freed slaves, worked on plantations in exchange for a share of the crop produced. It's portrayed in the video as a new form of servitude, keeping many in a state of debt to the landowners. This system is key to understanding the continuity of the South's agricultural reliance and the socio-economic challenges faced by the black population post-emancipation.

💡Racial Segregation

Racial segregation was the enforced separation of different racial groups, particularly black and white, in society. The video discusses how, with the end of Reconstruction and the removal of federal troops, segregation became a legal and societal norm, leading to the 'Jim Crow' laws. This concept is pivotal to the video's narrative, highlighting the lack of progress in racial equality during the period.

💡Plessy v Ferguson

The 'Plessy v Ferguson' Supreme Court case of 1896 established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, which legally sanctioned racial segregation as long as the separate facilities were equal. This case is highlighted in the video as a landmark decision that provided a legal basis for segregationist policies, impacting all aspects of public life and further marginalizing the black community.

💡Jim Crow Laws

Jim Crow Laws were a collection of state and local statutes that legalized racial segregation. The video mentions these laws in the context of the widespread societal segregation that followed the 'Plessy v Ferguson' ruling, illustrating how they affected nearly every facet of public interaction and life for black Americans.

💡Lynching

Lynching refers to the extrajudicial killing by a mob, often without a trial, and was used as a form of social control and intimidation, particularly against black individuals. The video recounts the grim statistic that over a thousand black people were lynched in the 1890s, underscoring the violent reality and the climate of fear and oppression during this era.

💡Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells was an African American journalist, activist, and researcher who was a prominent voice against lynching and racial injustice. The video describes her work as an editor of a black newspaper, her receipt of death threats, and her eventual relocation to the North, where she continued her campaign against lynching and Jim Crow Laws. Wells is presented as a significant figure in the resistance against racial violence and segregation.

💡Henry Turner

Henry Turner was a black legislator and entrepreneur who founded the International Migration Society in 1894, which aimed to facilitate the migration of black Americans to Africa, specifically Liberia. The video discusses this initiative as an effort to seek better opportunities for black Americans, despite the challenges faced by the migrants in Liberia, including economic hardship and disease.

💡Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington was an influential African American educator and leader who advocated for black self-sufficiency and economic empowerment as a means to achieve political power. The video describes his controversial stance that blacks should focus on economic progress rather than direct political engagement for equality. Washington is depicted as a key figure in the pursuit of a different path to black advancement, despite the criticism his approach received.

💡Atlanta Constitution

The 'Atlanta Constitution' was a newspaper for which Henry Grady served as editor. It was through this platform that he popularized the concept of the 'New South'. The newspaper is significant in the video as the medium through which Grady disseminated his vision for a modernized, industrialized South.

💡Reconstruction

Reconstruction refers to the period following the Civil War during which the Southern states were readmitted to the Union and efforts were made to rebuild the region and integrate freed slaves into society. The video mentions the end of Reconstruction with the Compromise of 1877, which is pivotal to the narrative as it marks the beginning of a period of increased racial segregation and the rollback of civil rights for black Americans.

Highlights

The New South emerged from the ashes of the Old South, seeking to redefine the South's identity post-Civil War.

Henry Grady, editor of The Atlanta Constitution, coined the term 'New South' and advocated for economic diversity and industrial growth.

Grady's vision involved a shift towards industrialization and laissez-faire capitalism to compete with the North's industrial prowess.

Southern cities began to grow, and the region became a top manufacturer of textiles, with population and railroad expansion rivaling other parts of the country.

Despite industrial advancements, the South largely remained an agricultural region with a labor system based on sharecropping.

Sharecropping was a system that kept many newly emancipated black people and poor whites in conditions akin to a new form of slavery.

Racial segregation became legally entrenched after the Compromise of 1877 and the removal of federal troops from the South.

The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, which led to widespread racial segregation.

Jim Crow Laws further institutionalized racial segregation across various aspects of society, including public facilities and transportation.

Despite legal and societal setbacks, black people faced significant violence and vigilante justice, with over a thousand lynchings in the 1890s alone.

Ida B. Wells, a black newspaper editor, fought against lynching and Jim Crow Laws, despite facing death threats and her presses being destroyed.

Henry Turner founded the International Migration Society to facilitate black Americans' migration to Africa, particularly Liberia, as a form of resistance.

Booker T. Washington advocated for black economic self-sufficiency as a path to political power, despite the challenges faced by black people in the South.

The New South's progress was marked by both significant advancements and the persistence of old, oppressive systems.

The period saw a complex interplay between industrial growth, agricultural reliance, and the struggle for racial equality.

The New South's legacy is a mix of economic progress and the harsh realities of racial segregation and social injustice.

The story of the New South is not just about industrialization but also about the human cost of societal changes and the fight for civil rights.

Transcripts

Well hey there and welcome back to Heimler’s  History. WE’ve been going through Unit 6 of  

the AP U.S. History curriculum, and  in this video it’s time to talk about  

the New South. So if you’re ready to get  them brain cows milked, let’s get to it.

In this video we’re trying to answer the  following question: what were the various  

factors that contributed to continuity and  change in the “New South” from 1877 to 1898.

Now what in the world is the “New South?” I  mean, if you’ve been following the curriculum  

since the beginning, you know all about the  Old South, which is to say southern culture,  

politics, and economics before the Civil  War. But that Old SOuth had its hindparts  

handed to it in the Civil War and now  some folks were envisioning a new kind  

of South. One of those folks was Henry Grady  who was the editor of a newspaper called The  

Atlanta Constitution. He’s the one who coined the  phrase “New South” and laid out his vision in a  

dizzying array of editorials. Grady could see  that one of the reasons the South suffered in  

the war was because the North was  far more advanced industrially, so  

Grady envisioned a future for the south based  on economic diversity, industrial growth,  

and laissez-faire capitalism. In other words,  the South needed to be North-ified a little.

And this vision actually caught on. Southern  cities began growing along with industrial  

centers that were built within them. Along with  this, southern states actually surpassed New  

England states as the top manufacturers  of textiles. And the rate of growth in  

terms of population and miles of new railroads  constructed equaled or surpassed that of any  

other place in the country. So baby, it looks  like a new future for the South, all the past  

is left behind , and everything is… WELL< NOW  HOLD YER BRITCHES, SON… Let’s not get crazy.

It’s true. Despite all the gains made in  service of this vision for the New South,  

it really only took hold in a few  places in the southern states. So yes,  

there were definitely a few isolated cities that  were transformed by industry, but mostly, the  

South remained agricultural as it had always been.  And speaking of the way things always had been,  

that agricultural machine apparently didn’t  like change all that much. The fields were  

still growing and that meant plantation owners  still needed laborers to work the field. And that  

system of labor was known as sharecropping.  Now I talked about this in the last video,  

so I’ll just summarize here what I said there.  Sharecropping was a system by which folks without  

enough capital to buy or rent land of their own  could sign on to work the fields of a plantation  

owner on the condition that a portion of the  harvest was shared with the owner. Now, in theory,  

this could have been a good thing for newly  emancipated black people and poor whites as well,  

but in reality it was really a new form of slavery  since many sharecroppers remained indebted to  

the landowner. And the truth is, that wasn’t an  accident. That’s how the southerners wanted it.

Now another way that the South emphatically did  NOT become new during this period was with respect  

to racial segregation. You may remember that at  the end of Unit 5 we talked about the Compromise  

of 1877 which officially ended Reconstruction  in the South, and one of the key provisions of  

that compromise was the removal of federal  troops from the southern states. Now the  

troops were there to ensure that new laws  and Constitutional amendments were upheld,  

and so once they left, racial segregation  became the societal structure du jure.

Now this insistence on the separation between  the white and black races reached its climax in  

the landmark Supreme COurt case Plessy v Ferguson  in 1896. The case came from Louisiana which had a  

law that required separate railcars for black and  white passengers. In 1892 a man named Homer Plessy  

was tasked with challenging this law. Plessy,  as it turned out, was seven-eighths white and  

one-eighth black, which meant, under Louisiana  law, he was black. So he challenged the law by  

riding in a whites-only passenger car, and when he  was asked to leave, he refused and was arrested.

When the case reached the Supreme  Court, the ruling went like this.  

Racial segregation was in fact constitutional  just as long as the separate facilities are  

equal in kind and quality. This is where we get  the phrase “separate but equal.” And in this way,  

southerners who held to the notion of white  supremacy could plead innocence regarding  

the fourteenth amendment, which guaranteed equal  protection under the law. And this decision was  

all Southerners needed to go ahead and  segregate all of society. Now, it probably  

won’t surprise you that while the races were kept  separate, the facilities were in no way equal.

The result of this decision was a wave of laws,  known as Jim Crow Laws, which segregated dang  

near every facet of society. Bathrooms were  segregated. Water fountains were segregated.  

Public transportation was segregated. Any public  facility that could be segregated was segregated.

In addition to the demoralizing separation  of the races, black people lost many of the  

gains they had made when Reconstruction  had begun. During this time black people  

were forbidden to serve on juries or run  for public office. And on a darker note,  

black people were often accused of crimes and  not even given the dignity of a court appearance.  

Instead lynch mobs dealt out vigilante  justice apart from the law. In fact,  

in the 1890s alone, more than a thousand black  people were violently lynched in this way.

Now, despite how dark these times were, it  is always incumbent on us to remember that  

along with all this violence, came  significant resistance as well. And  

while many reformers continued to fight for  political and social equality for blacks,  

I’m only going to introduce you to three of  them. First, Ida B. Wells. She was the editor  

of a black newspaper based in the South and in  it she fiercely editorialized against lynching  

and Jim Crow Laws. And for her efforts, she  received many death threats, and eventually  

her presses were destroyed by a mob. However, she  fled to the North where she continued her crusade.

Second, Henry Turner. He founded the International  Migration Society in 1894 which facilitated  

the migration of black Americans to Africa,  specifically, Liberia. Several thousand black  

AMericans made this trip, but in the end it wasn’t  a sustainable venture since Liberian inhabitants  

often lacked economic opportunity and suffered  pretty significantly from African diseases.

The third resistor you should know about is  Booker T. Washington. Now, Washington was a  

controversial figure in the fight for equality  because his view was that black people did not  

in fact need to fight for their equality on  a political level. Instead, Washington argued  

that black people needed to become self-sufficient  economically and that would lead to power in the  

voting booth. As a former enslaved laborer, he had  done this for himself and he went to great lengths  

to help others do it as well. However, since the  political and economic dice were loaded against  

black people in the South, Washington’s  vision was deemed impractical by many.

Okay, that’s what you need to know about Unit  6 topic 4 of the AP U.S. History curriculum.  

If you need help getting an A in your  class and a five on your exam in May,  

videos then go ahead and subscribe  and I shall oblige. Heimler out.