154 Years Ago Today; Amy Spain is murdered by CSA - last slave executed

[Scubamatt]

11. The period after the Civil War

known as “Reconstruction” has been the victim of a historical “hit job.” Contrary to popular belief, real, meaningful reform was started, blacks’ rights to participate in all levels of society (including governmnet) were enforced and there was not the widespread corruption of the type popularized in Gone With the Wind. The negative view was popularized by Southern apologists as part of the “Lost Cause” mythology. Ultimately, though, the majority of the North was not committed to the long term effort, and the Democrats (recall that this was before the role reversal of the parties that started after the Depression) seized upon that, and some legitiamte instances of corruption, to reclaim control from the “Radical Republicans”. With the election of 1876 and the comporomise that lead to Hayes’ election, the North abandoned Reconstruction over the objection of many leaders who saw that the South was heading to Jim Crow. A fascinating, and depressing book covering this is : After Appomattox - Military Occupation and the Ends of War by Gregory Downs.