Transcript The New South and Trans

The New South and Trans-Mississippi
West
 New South– a redefined persona of itself
after the Civil war;
 South needed to rejoin the Union and gain
economic strength and power—too much for
the Northern tax base to bear alone.
 Henry W. Grady, more than any other
southerner built the new persona of the
“New South”
 By 1870, South needs a new image—distancing
itself from the Old Slavery image— to stimulate
investment and economy.
 Grady’s famous speech: Made three important
points—1) No longer two separate nations—
Mason-Dixon lined erased;
 2) Southern economy embracing industrialization
over agriculture;
 3) Race relations had changed—Blacks now
partners with whites in this “New South.”
Henry W. Grady
 An Atlanta businessman
 A Journalist
 Owner of the Atlanta
Constitution
 Determined to to bring
the South into the
industrial age
 We can assess Grady’s points by assessing economy
and race relations!
 1) Economically—major infrastructure construction
taking place (transportation, ports, roads, and
communications); Federal money supported this
infrastructure.
 1880s, South very good RR system—Good Ports
system—Richard H. Edmund along with Grady
encouraged Northern and Foreign investment;
 Southerners also clamored for Industrialization—
Cotton/agriculture too unstable
 There were three economical/industrial
advancements:
 Cotton Industry, Iron and Steel, and Tobacco.
 Cotton—transformed into a cotton industry
of mills and factories—sponsored by outside
capitalists
 (1880= 161 factories—1900= 400+)
 Unfortunately used racist hiring policies to
keep Blacks in agriculture and keep Unions
at bay
Southern Industry
 2) Iron and Steel—large rich coal and ore deposits in the
South—South led the world in coal production;
 Increased investments in Iron and Steel—Andrew
Carnegie controlled these industries—Birmingham a big
steel center;
 3) Tobacco—grown in the South but rarely processed in
the South—changed by the 1880s—Duke Tobacco
brothers etc …The South had transformed industrially, but
it fails the test in race relations.
 (3 big industries—Timber and Naval Stores will also be
big)
Share Cropping and Tenancy
 Emerged after the
emancipation of the
Slaves.
 Sort of a land lease
program to help Freedmen
who owned no land to
farm and share in the
profits of the Whites who
did own the land;
 Would receive all
necessary to plant, reap
and process, but
essentially renting the
items and the land.
Sharecropping and Tenancy
 Farmer always ended owing more than
return—so it was a perpetual indebtedness;
 Tenant Farming—the renter furnished most
of the equipment, animals, and all of the
labor—the owner furnished the land and
they shared in the profits;
 Possible to emerge out of tenancy in
theory—reality was different –by 1930
there were 1.8 million tenant and
sharecropping farmers in the South.
Constitutional Processes
 Second part to Grady’s
litmus test of change.
 First deal with
Constitution
 13th amendment—
guaranteed citizenship
regardless of previous
servitude (unless
criminal)
 14th amendment—
essentially guarantees
“Due process” and
“Equal protection”
Constitutional Processes
 Section 2 of the 14th also stated that all
people would be counted as a whole;
 (Except Indians).
 This dismantled the 3/5ths compromise of
1787
 Also for electoral college votes it would
only pertain to males 21yrs or older
 Any debt or property loss due to rebellion is
also forgone—cannot recoup lost slave
money.
 15th amendment—essentially sanctioned
male suffrage in the U.S.
Constitutional Reality
 Blacks disenfranchised
with state enactments
of the “Jim Crow”
Laws; (more on this later)
 A system to ensure
racial segregation in
transportation,
accommodations,
schools, courts, etc …
 Race relations in fact
did not transform
The West
 “Old West” is a post
Civil War
phenomenon (18651890);
 Settlement of 430
million acres—more
than at any other time
in American History.
 3 big empires rose and
fell-Mining, Farming,
and Cattle.
The West
 Ten new states entered the union; by 1912
the lower forty-eight were complete
 Devastating Indian wars and relocation of a
people;
 Gunslingers, the Marlborough man, the
rugged individualist; John Wayne, Audie
Murphy and Clint Eastwood;
 Independent and free; and of course
HOLLYWOOD!!!
The West
 Many myths about the
Old West—some true
and most embellished.
 Three questions:
 1) where was the old
west?
 2) when was the old
west?
 3) what comes to mind
when we hear the term
“the old west?”
The West
 Before Civil War-referred
to as the “Great American
Desert—unfit for life or
cultivation.” (Surveyor
Stephen H. Long labeled
this).
 This retarded migration—
sometime around the Civil
War—the exploits of the
Mountain Men appeared
in novels etc … attitude
changed to “The Bountiful
Garden.”
The West
 What changed? Charles Dana Wilber and
industrialization.
 Wilber preached that if settlers followed the
science and plow—also would rain and
bounty follow.
 Bizarre—1870s Plains witnessed unusually
high levels of rain fall—this encouraged
settlement. “In God we trusted, but in
Kansas we busted.”
The West
 So, the West is more
than geographical
terrain. More than a
time line of 25 to 30 yr
dominance in our
history.
 It conjures up images:
 Strong, self reliant,
Cattle barons, Pioneer
Women and men—
self-democracy Cowboy!!!!
Frederick Jackson Turner
 “The Significance of
the frontier in
American history.”
 Other than Dime store
novels, Turner was
responsible for the
academic
interpretation of the
Western reality and
how it influenced
America and its
people.
 What did Turner mean
by the frontier?
Significance of the Frontier
 Posited four valid points:
 1) West not a physical place, but a process,
a mind set of growth and expansion—point
where savagery meets civilization (a series
of west's as it were);
 2) The west is largely people leaving settled
areas for the frontier (mindset and
individualism)—struggle to live in such an
environment—explains American
development and exceptionalism;
Significance of the Frontier
 3) Frontier produces American democracy
and individualism—men are on their own
and must be innovative and develop
institutions outside the norm to function
according to conditions “Free land makes
Free men.”
 4) Finally, frontier is closed—this is the first
successful stage of American
development—America is settled and
civilized—eventually people will
subordinate to society—no need for further
expansion!
Frontier
 In sum, Civilization is a
process in which society
becomes evermore
complex (natural
progression of genius and
innovation).
 As complexities increases,
opportunities become
more limited (technology,
academia, skills);
 People will subordinate to
society.
The West-The Cowboy
 Folklore—hardened
individual, free spirit,
independent, rugged,
solely alone
interacting with nature
 Approx 35000
cowboys between
1864-1884.
 63% White; 25%
Black; and 12%
Mexican
Cowboys and Cattle Kingdom
 Folklore, the hard drinking, brave sort of
“Noble Savage” mentality that saved the
day and rescued the girl is the myth of
Hollywood. Tall dark and handsome.
Randolph Scott and Audie Murphy.
 In reality, most were derelicts of society,
ne’er do wells or adventure seeking-In a
Wyoming round-up of 1875—Cowboys
were wild-eyed, shaggy hair, butternut
trousers, great boots and in need of hygiene.
Hollywood’s Cowboy
Cowboy in Reality
Cattle Towns
 Cattle towns in folklore;
Abilene and Dodge City
were not booming towns
dominated by Saloons and
Brothels;
 Certainly there were
some; but most governed
strictly by Law—Couldn’t
carry guns in town, Police
walked the streets—
seldom if ever was there
the famed street Gun Fight
of Hollywood.
Cattle Drives
 In 1865, Cattle were 3 to 4
dollars per head;
 Back east, they were
worth 10x that;
 Made sense to get the
western cattle to eastern
markets—usually by train;
 Over a 20 yr period 5
million cattle were driven
up the Chisholm trail from
Texas to Oklahoma or
Kansas and eventually to
Chicago.
Cowboy Labor
 Cowboys were not individualists, they
worked in close cooperation with each other
and the trail Boss; set of rigid range laws.
 Cowboys were everyday laborers who were
hired by the owner to move the cattle to
markets;
 Most Cowboys joined labor unions to
protect their interests ensure better working
conditions and better wages.(1884 Cattle driveKnights of labor-Cowboys on strike).
Labor Unions
 Many Cowboys joined the Knights of
Labor.
 The cattle barons also joined forces in
Cattlemen Associations—all were trying to
protect their interests;
 In reality no one went it alone; it does,
however, reveal a growing complexity in
American Society—Myth was just that a
myth!!!
Indian wars
 Civil war—many western troops went east to
fight;
 Indians took advantage of this to seek revenge on
the Whites for treaty and social abuses;
 After Civil war—Americans began their western
progress in full earnest;
 Moved for land, gold, commerce and adventure—
a slight reprieve on the encroachment of Indian
lands—sort of false sense of security of the
Indians.
Indian Wars
 Show down brewing between the old Americans
and the New “bullish” Americans imbibed with
Manifest destiny;
 The beseiged ‘Redman’ became threatened with
extinction—a fundamental choice by the Indian,
assimilation had been tried, appeasement too,
nothing seemed to slow down the advancement—
treaties made in good faith were worthless—
simple choice—
 Surrender or Fight!!!!!!! Many chose to fight.
Indian Wars
 25 year armed and
brutal conflict;
 Best described as
Guerilla skirmishes,
pursuits, massacres,
raids, expeditions,
battles and campaigns
of various sizes and
duration and intensity.
 Common denominator
was vicious brutality!
Indian Wars
 Civil War ended, no one expected to have to
fight one of the bloodiest wars in American
history.
 Usually a garrison of federal troops were
able to keep Indians at bay—Army focused
on Southern occupation and neutralizing
Maximillan’s attempts to colonize Mexico
and eliminating the Fenian threat at bay on
the northeastern border with Canada (Irish
Brotherhood)—a unreconstrcuted Rebels at
bay marauding the West.
Indian Wars
 This however consumed America and how
to deal with this Indian issue.
 Indians were a serious threat to American
Hegemony and expansion;
 Indians made some headway punishing
settlers and Military outposts until after
Custer’s debacle;
 To protect America’s vital internal interests
a comprehensive system of Forts were
established along the Oregon, California,
Bozeman, and Santa Fe trails.
Indian Wars
 Garrisons were
designed to
reconnoiter and
protect the trails;
 Early successes,
between 1855-1857
US Troops had
severely beaten back
hostile Sioux and
Comanche tribes;
 Assumed post civil
war would be same
result
Indian Wars
 Very different; this time
the Indians were more
consolidated in a unified
effort;
 We start with the great
Sioux uprising in 1862;
 This was in response to
the US breaking the
Fitzpatrick treaty of Fort
Laramie of 1851.
 Lands ceded were now
coveted and taken by
Whites moving west due
to the Homestead Act of
1862.
Indian wars
 Red Cloud saw
through the trick of
isolating each tribe on
separate tracts of
land—eminent domain
now comes into
effect– creates a
fraction in Indian
solidarity.
 Systematic stealing of
lands began—some
time the Indians
fought back as in
1864—Black kettle
Black Kettle
 Saw the futility of fighting the Americans—sued
for peace—was told that Indians would be fought
until all Indian Arms were laid—
 Assumed that meant peace—went to old lands
from the Old Treaty in Sand Creek basin and
settled –hopefully in peace
 Nov 28, 1864, Col. Chivington surrounded the
sleeping village at dawn—attacked—Black Kettle
waved the American flag to prove his alliance—
 Many were butchered and killed –women and
children—Soldiers used the butts of the rifles to
kill children and babies to conserve ammunition.
Retribution
 The Sioux and Comanche took this
seriously—500 of their brethren had been
massacred—they in turn massacred and
butchered many frontier families and
settlers.
 By 1866, Indiansd tired of war agreed to
surrender with the notin they may not settle
these lands but retain hunting rights—Sand
Creek lands.
 Red Cloud protests the building of the
Powder river road (Bozeman Trail)through
Indian hunting lands—decides to go to war
Retribution
 Red Cloud formidable and vicious—Captain William J.
Fetterman’s massacre went out on the Bozeman Trail to
protect some woodcutters and Water bearers—saw a group
of Indian—put up a chase—Indians fled;
 Fetterman followed them over a hill—never came back—
all 80 men were massacred in the most horrendous
fashion—bodies were mutilated—some Troopers had over
80 arrows in them—younger Braves used the bodies as
target practice.
 New Recruits were warned to never run out of
ammunition—always save the last bullet for yourself—
more humane than what the Indians would do to them if
caught alive.
Gov’t response
 1) end the slaughter of both Whites and
Indians on the frontier—more humane and
equable policies—many knew the system
was to blame—too harsh punishment
inflicted on Indians even for minor
infractions—placating Indians with
Whiskey and guns was counterproductive
 2) If they cannot be controlled on
Reservations, then they are to be treated as
hostiles and forced on Reservations—this
meant open warfare on any Tribe who
refused to submit or did not understand the
conditions of the treaty.
Custer gets Involved
 Again Black Kettle is involved. Along the
Washita—Present day Fort Sill, Lawton
Oklahoma—Black Kettle’s tribe is being
systematically starved due to abuses and
misappropriations—they took to raiding for food;
 Sherman and Sheridan decide to punish a might
blow to them—Custer uses Chivington’s model of
attacking at dawn and killing everyone he could—
lucky for him Braves were off on hunting trip.
 Sherman and Sheridan report there should be little
trouble left in the Indians—How wrong they were.
Custer
 The raids and skirmishes intensify in
number and viciousness—
 Gold in the Black Hills—Custer assigned
protection duty of miners and surveyors—
Government issues warning—enter Black
Hills at own risk—no protection from
military (wink, wink).
 By 1875-76 Indians were no off the reservation
and retaliating every chance they got. Custer and
the 7th cavalry assigned the duty of putting them
back on the reservation.
Custer
 Gov’t put out decree
late in the season(dec)
declaring any Indians
caught off reservation
by Jan would be
considered hostile—
too late for many—
they were too far north
or south to get back to
mid-western
reservation—Indians
travel as villages not
as small parties
Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull
 Stay put forge for food
and protect their
village and people;
 Set up camp along the
Big Horn River—a
well defended area;
 Custer part of an Army
Group assigned to Gen
terry and gen crook—
to force Sitting Bull
back onto reservation.
Custer’s last stand
 Custer, impetuous and
crazy brave attacked
Sitting Bull’s village
before Terry or Crook
arrived. It ended in his
complete slaughter and
massacre.
 Fatal victory for the
Indians—Government
now determined to rid
itself of the Indian
question—ended the
major Indian wars—some
Geronimo and Cochise
excursions in the
southwest but essentially
over-culminating in
‘Wounded Knee”
Conclusion of Indian wars
 Sporadic skirmishes
for several years;
 Wovoka, a Paiute
messiah promised in a
vision if one returned
to the old ways and
performed ritual ghost
dances the Whiteman
would disappear—
Sioux adopted the
“Ghost Dance.” Army
wanted it stopped. To
disarm an unarmed
people it ended with
“Wounded Knee.”
Conclusion of Indian wars
 In reality, this brought to a final tragic end a
30 year war in which the U.S. subdued a
segment of its own population whose only
crime was an insistence on maintaining
their cultural identity rather than assimilate
into a Euro-centric society