The emergence of segregation and disfranchisement offered a solution that industrialization and modernization presented for the South. Who controls it? The controversial presidential election of 1876 lead to the Compromise of 1877. This effectively marked the end of the Reconstruction era. This resulted in the Republican party withdrawing troops from the South and gradually lead to the development of the “New South”. Historians view the development of the “New South” as a tragedy. C. Vann Woodward presented the argument that the South experienced a transformation post-Civil war. This transformation represented a departure from the agrarian South and promoted industrialization and urbanization. This movement and Progressivism was mostly lead
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“Popular disgust with fraudulent elections was sincere and widespread.” The threat of the Populist movement and possible unification of both poor whites and blacks became problematic for the middle-class and elitists. By creating barriers of poll taxes and literacy tests, this decreased corruption and limited populist influence. The decline of populism allowed the rise of the middle-class and Redeemers who believed that “corruption in political life would contaminate business and social relations.” Disfranchisement also allowed violence to be used to repress the black vote. For example, “Three years after Tillman 's disfranchising constitution went into effect some twelve Negroes were killed and several wounded during an election …show more content…
Woodward states, “For it was not the Radicals nor the Confederates but the Redeemers who laid the lasting foundations in matters of race, politics, economics, and law for the modern South.” The Redeemers prioritized economy development and expansion. “To a democrat of Alabama, it was not a matter of ethics but of economy.” Mississippi led the way towards a segregated and disfranchised South specifically the “Mississippi plan” of 1975 and “Second Mississippi plan”. This allowed the South to be gradually dominated by one party, the all-white conservative Democrats with minimum opposition to make segregation and disfranchisement concrete. It is important to note that “The western counties of Virginia were "very much more interested in economic questions" than in "questions of suffrage," in "railroad domination" than in "Negro domination," said their delegates, 20 and as the price of their support of disfranchisement demanded and got a corporations commission.” Some delegates were motivated by economic reasons and with the support of the railroad, disfranchisement was vital to there cause. The importance of the railroad is emphasized by both Ayers and Woodward. The railroad influenced disfranchisement as well as facilitating
“Popular disgust with fraudulent elections was sincere and widespread.” The threat of the Populist movement and possible unification of both poor whites and blacks became problematic for the middle-class and elitists. By creating barriers of poll taxes and literacy tests, this decreased corruption and limited populist influence. The decline of populism allowed the rise of the middle-class and Redeemers who believed that “corruption in political life would contaminate business and social relations.” Disfranchisement also allowed violence to be used to repress the black vote. For example, “Three years after Tillman 's disfranchising constitution went into effect some twelve Negroes were killed and several wounded during an election …show more content…
Woodward states, “For it was not the Radicals nor the Confederates but the Redeemers who laid the lasting foundations in matters of race, politics, economics, and law for the modern South.” The Redeemers prioritized economy development and expansion. “To a democrat of Alabama, it was not a matter of ethics but of economy.” Mississippi led the way towards a segregated and disfranchised South specifically the “Mississippi plan” of 1975 and “Second Mississippi plan”. This allowed the South to be gradually dominated by one party, the all-white conservative Democrats with minimum opposition to make segregation and disfranchisement concrete. It is important to note that “The western counties of Virginia were "very much more interested in economic questions" than in "questions of suffrage," in "railroad domination" than in "Negro domination," said their delegates, 20 and as the price of their support of disfranchisement demanded and got a corporations commission.” Some delegates were motivated by economic reasons and with the support of the railroad, disfranchisement was vital to there cause. The importance of the railroad is emphasized by both Ayers and Woodward. The railroad influenced disfranchisement as well as facilitating