Radical Reconstruction

We, as a nation, faced many changes however the South, especially, endured an abundant amount of transformations. Transformations included events such as, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the New South, and the impact the New South had post its time period. The New South’s time period, in particular, engendered transformation within the South, and also had a tremendous impact on the South, until the beginning of the 20th century. The term the ‘New South’ emerged, after 1877. Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution, coined the term ‘New South’.

However, prior to the New South was reconstruction and preceding reconstruction was, the Civil War. The Civil War occurred during 1861-1865, therefore, post-Civil War, is known as the, Reconstruction

This act “divided the South into five military districts and called for the creation of new state governments, with black men given the right to vote” (Foner, Give Me Liberty, II, 573). Following this event, initiated the era of Radical Reconstruction. Radical Reconstruction concluded in 1877. In the election of 1868, Ulysses S. Grant won the election and in result, the 15th amendment was established. The 15th amendment granted the rights of citizens to vote despite of race. However, even though the Reconstruction era brought about changes and granted black men’ rights, many feminists opposed of the 15th amendment because it didn’t emancipate or pertain to women. However, the bargain of 1877 concluded in Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president after Grant. Reconstruction ended because in 1877, President Hayes removed the last federal troops from the South, and also republicans were wary of the fight for equality, for African Americans, hence the collapse of Radical Republicans and the end of

Also, during this time, the economic industry was booming, advancement in technology, farming influence, politics, businesses, natural resources, transportation and railroads. By the end of 19th century, the middle-class Americans, were known as trusts. Trusts were known as people who controlled competition in the industry. In the late 19th century, the first major trust was John D. Rockefeller, who controlled a substantial part of the oil industry. Andrew Carnegie was another major trust, that controlled the steel industry and stated in the Gospel of Wealth (1889), that if a person consumed wealth, they’re supposed to live frugally and use the extra money to help people in need (Foner, Voices of Freedom, II, 28). “During the Gilded Age, large numbers of businessmen and middle-class Americans adopted the social outlook known as Social Darwinism” (Foner, Vocies of Freedom, II, 32).William Graham Sumner however, represented Social Darwinism (a derivative of Charles Darwin’s theory), in order to oppose Andrew Carnegie’s theory; Sumner believed that we can’t separate from racism and he advocated “survival of the fittest”. Many opposed of, Social Darwinism, including, Henry George a journalist who wrote “Progress and Poverty” , in 1879- George wanted to prevent the economy from advancing into a depression therefore his solution was the ‘single tax’. The