Florida's Reconstruction and Renewal

 Chapter 15 – Reconstruction & Renewal                Name: Austin Blackburn

                                                                                              

Who is the author of this chapter and what information can you find about the author elsewhere in the text?JERRELL H. SHOFNER

In his book on Florida during that period, Nor Is It Over Yet, Jerrell Shofner writes: “The moderate Republicans who implemented the 1867 Reconstruction acts in Florida had  never given Negro rights more than secondary consideration.

According to this chapter, list 2 things that were in desperate need of “reconstruction” 

Florida’s government and the Economy were in desperate  need of reconstruction after the war.  

 

 

Florida stands apart from other areas of the South in the way that General Newton handled two main areas: politics & freedmen.  Discuss both. After then war there a buffer when Florida needed to make a  decision on what to do with the upcoming winter. They needed  to find a way to be sure crops would get planted. General Newton took initiative by essentially making the farmers hire

 their slaves, paying in half the crops. The labor system was the  replacement of slavery and was in-forced by the Army.  Demand for cotton was (increasing or decreasing) during the early years of reconstruction. Pg ^. 260

                                                   CIRCLE ONE             

 

 

White And black farmers alike were given a new structure in which to run their land (called by 3 different terms in the text).  What is one of the names of this new agricultural system used by the author? Labor System .

 

 

 

What 2 issues engulfed Florida as well as the entire nations, just

as Lincoln feared it would?

Florida’s readmission to the Union and the status of  freedmen as citizens were matters that consumed  much time and left a bitter legacy.

 

Shofner describes a very sticky situation in regards to President Johnson restoring land ownership to former confederates.

 Reflect on how this affects the statewide condition at the time. This essentially depresses the reconstruction of Florida. I  would think because a it would be very di fficult for the freedmen to gain land for their own.   

 

 

 

What does the text mean about Lincoln’s “non-punitive ideas”?  Lincoln tried to rebuild loyal governments in Union-occupied   territories such as northeastern Florida while the war was still  being fought.

 

 

We know that “Black Codes” took shape despite the efforts of the Freedman’s Bureau.  Discuss the ways that Florida fell into the practices.

 

 

 

 

Why was the Civil Rights Act of 1865 so ineffective? The 1865 Civil rights act was so ine       ffective due to the congress and president Johnson not being on the  same page I’m regards to the freedmen

What legislative measures marked the end of martial law in

Florida? President Johnson vetoed the legislation and proclaimed   an end to the “insurrection” in the South, with the apparent intention of removing martial law.

 

 

 

Describe the internal divisions that developed in Florida during the reconstruction years.

There was a major in di   fference between president johnson and the Congress. The congress had their best interest in protecting the freedmen as president Johnson was more interested  in returning to Civil law, encouraging the continuing abuse to the previously enslaved people.       

 

What 2 measures were taken by conservative whites to prevent Freedmen from exercising their rights to suffrage?

Vigilantes such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Young Men’s Democratic  Clubs used violence and intimidation to discourage or prevent newly  enfranchised blacks from exercising their voting privileges.

 

What is the contrasting difference between reconstruction effects in middle and peninsular Florida?

Reconstruction brought unwelcome changes and political and racial  strife to the Middle Florida plantation belt, it concomitantly helped to  open up peninsular Florida to settlement.

 

 

When Shofner turns from reconstruction to renewal, list industries and individuals who played a role.

-- Hubbard Hart’s line of steamers Frederick DeBary also transported people up/down the River as well  opened up hotels

- With three large hotels, Rockledge soon became  known as the southernmost winter resort in the nation. The late entry of what industry had a negative impact on Florida’s renewal?

 

 

The political temperature in Florida changed dramatically in the renewal years.  Expound on that and include the one negative piece of legislature that added to already active Black Codes.