Louisiana: Race Relations During Reconstruction and Race Term Paper

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Louisiana: Race Relations During Reconstruction

Reconstruction and Race Relations

Louisiana: A Case Study in Race Relations during Reconstruction

Louisiana: A Case Study in Race Relations during Reconstruction

Southern Louisiana during the Civil War was quickly occupied by Union troops and the slaves began to flee plantations to Union-controlled cities like New Orleans and Natchez (Steedman, 2009). The influx created problems for the Army since they were both wartime refugees and de facto free, despite parts of southern Louisiana being excluded from the Emancipation Proclamation. As the war drew to a close in 1864 President Lincoln used Union-occupied Louisiana as a showcase for Reconstruction. Elections were held, governor and representatives selected, but Congress refused to recognize Louisiana's representatives. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment was enacted making any form of slavery illegal in the United States (Goluboff, 2001).

When elections were held again in 1865, control of Louisiana shifted to Southern Democrats (Steedman, 2009). Reconstruction under President Johnson resulted in Confederate soldiers having their lands returned, which made it difficult for the Freedmen's Bureau to find land that could be given to former slaves. Black Codes had been enacted by legislatures throughout the Southern states limiting the work opportunities of freedmen and race riots in New Orleans and Memphis made it obvious that second class citizenship was the only 'accepted' option available to former slaves and non-white free citizens. With Southern Democrats in control of the state government many whites were entertaining the possibility of restoring plantations to their former political and social glory.

Congress responded by placing Louisiana under military rule and former slaves began to run for political offices (Steedman, 2009). Republicans began to regain control of the state and local governments. A Constitutional Convention was convened in Louisiana and close to half the representatives in attendance were black. By 1870, slavery had been outlawed and a completely revised Constitution was enacted. The reaction, with hindsight, was fairly predictable. The only African-American running for office in the Ouachita Parish was shot and killed in 1868 and the use of violence to influence the political fate of Louisiana increased.

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A local newspaper in Ouachita Parish, the Quachita Telegraph, told planters not to hire any laborers who were members of the Republican Party or who would remain neutral when called upon to promote the planter's interests. The Democratic Party in Ouachita Parish also began to issue work permits to freed slaves if they joined the party.

The violence surrounding the 1968 elections prompted Congress to enact the Enforcement Acts between 1870 and 1871, giving the President the authority to enforce the law with force if necessary (Steedman, 2009). Prison terms and fines could be imposed on anyone convicted of interfering with elections. At the same time, Congress eliminated any restrictions on former Confederates wishing to run for office. The result was the least violent election in recent Louisiana history in 1872, but by far the most fraudulent. Polling places were closed early or moved and ballot boxes stuffed by both parties. By the time the dust had settled, two inaugurations for the newly elected governors were held and two legislative bodies were seated in New Orleans. When President Grant recognized only the Republican governor and his legislature and promised to use troops to enforce his will, white Democrats throughout the state began to talk about overthrowing what they viewed as an illegitimate government.

Citizen clubs (all white) began to form in an effort to restore control of the government to the 'people' (Steedman, 2009). Tax resistance was one of the initial strategies, but conservative newspapers like the New Orleans Times and Picayune urged citizen clubs to make their strength and power known (through violence if necessary). In April of 1873, hundreds of freed black men were burned alive after retreating to a courthouse in Colfax. Any freedmen that tried to escape were gunned down. The next year, both black and white Republican politicians were executed in Coushattam. The….....

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