Tag Archives: Reconstruction

southern social war?

The National Government “has freed the four millions of slaves by its own deliberate acts, and it is bound to take care that this freedom shall benefit, and not injure them.” – hopefully with the support of the state governments … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Aftermath, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

suffering exodus

From The New-York Times June 6, 1865: The Destitution of the Freedmen in Alabama. The following letter has been received by Mr. F.G. SHAW, the President of the National Freedman’s Relief Association. It discloses a state of things which loudly … Continue reading

Posted in Aftermath, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“perhaps necessary that we should pass through this last ordeal”

Things are thankfully winding down here but wanted to mention that 150 years ago today I could have read all about the June 1st Day of Humiliation and Prayer called by President Johnson for the purpose of mourning the assassination … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Aftermath, Northern Society, Reconstruction | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

free to vote?

150 years ago today President Johnson reportedly opined that the question of whether blacks should be allowed to vote in the South should be decided by loyal whites in the South. From The New-York Times May 26, 1865: The President … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Aftermath, Reconstruction | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

May Day Memorial Day

It’s been over four years now since JASPER, The New-York Times’ correspondent wrote from Charleston in the seceded South Carolina. After the United States’ surrender of Fort Sumter in April 1861 JASPER was made to leave town. Now that Charleston … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Aftermath, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

just another rebel?

If it turned out that Jefferson Davis was not implicated in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, why should he be punished any more severely than all the other rebels who fought the United States for over four long years? From … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Aftermath, Confederate States of America, Reconstruction | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

lashless society

150 years ago today: “President Andrew Johnson appoints General Oliver O. Howard to head the Freedman’s Bureau.” A May 12th editorial argued that, just as the conduct of black soldiers upset preconceived Southern notions of African-American competence, free black labor … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Aftermath, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Richmond rubble

According to the Library of Congress photographer Andrew J. Russell spent some time at the corner of Carey and Governor streets 150 years ago this month.

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Confederate States of America, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , | Leave a comment

mutual respect society

An editorial wasn’t too happy that William T. Sherman kept reporters away from General Johnston’s April 26, 1865 surrender; apparently General Sherman thought the Confederate officers would be embarrassed giving up in front of the gawking Yankee press. America would … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Aftermath, Confederate States of America, Northern Society, Reconstruction, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

the right executive’s in the mansion

The Democrat Reveille found some kind words to write about Abraham Lincoln after his death. It seems that Southerners and Northern Democrats appreciated President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and the lenient terms of surrender offered Southern armies. Here a presumably … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Lincoln Administration, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society, Reconstruction | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment