The Reconstruction Era
Post War
After the war, the south's economy was left in ruins. The Freedman's Bureau was created to provide food, clothing, and medical care for poor southerners who had lost everything in the war. It also set up schools and helped people find work.
At this time, a set of laws called black codes were passed that made it illegal for African Americans to own or rent farms.
In 1869, the 15th amendment was passed that allowed African Americans to vote.
Many people wanted to help rebuild the south, but new schools and improved infrastructure cost a lot of money, so state governments raised property taxes in order to acquire the funding for these projects.
Sharecropping was a system of farming in which a farmer works and manages land for an owner who provides the equipment and seeds, but they also receive a share of the crop. This was seen as just slightly above slavery.
After the war, the United States entered a severe depression under President Grant, which caused the powerful banking firm of Jay Cooke and Company to declare bankruptcy. These events, with others triggered the panic of 1873
At this time, a set of laws called black codes were passed that made it illegal for African Americans to own or rent farms.
In 1869, the 15th amendment was passed that allowed African Americans to vote.
Many people wanted to help rebuild the south, but new schools and improved infrastructure cost a lot of money, so state governments raised property taxes in order to acquire the funding for these projects.
Sharecropping was a system of farming in which a farmer works and manages land for an owner who provides the equipment and seeds, but they also receive a share of the crop. This was seen as just slightly above slavery.
After the war, the United States entered a severe depression under President Grant, which caused the powerful banking firm of Jay Cooke and Company to declare bankruptcy. These events, with others triggered the panic of 1873
Textile mills started springing up throughout the south, especially in Alabama, where the industry number increased rapidly.
The American Tobacco Company, developed by James Duke of North Carolina came to control of all tobacco manufacturing in the country.
Debt was a big problem, but the south possessed an abundance of cheap and a reliable supply of labor.
Poor farmers needed to continue planting things to make a profit so they began to buy supplies with credit. Unfortunately, merchants who provided credit, also charged high prices causing farmers debts to rise extremely high.
The price of cotton went down which led to farmers planting mainly cotton, but still, the south remained very much so agriculturally and economically poor.
The American Tobacco Company, developed by James Duke of North Carolina came to control of all tobacco manufacturing in the country.
Debt was a big problem, but the south possessed an abundance of cheap and a reliable supply of labor.
Poor farmers needed to continue planting things to make a profit so they began to buy supplies with credit. Unfortunately, merchants who provided credit, also charged high prices causing farmers debts to rise extremely high.
The price of cotton went down which led to farmers planting mainly cotton, but still, the south remained very much so agriculturally and economically poor.