The Reconstruction Era In Texas

Everybody knows that slaves were mistreated, but exactly how bad was it?
During the reconstruction era in Texas, when slaves were freed, a massacre occurred against the freed slaves from whites. The white Texans did not like that the slaves were free and were allowed to make a living on their own. Even though the slaves were now freed, it was hard for them to find any job in Texas. If the slaves left their master without their permission, the slaves were killed by their masters. White Texans did not want to loose their slaves, they would try and force the free slaves back into slavery and if they would refuse they would end up dead. The white Texans brutalized the free slaves so bad that a woman noticed how bad they were being treated and decided to address the president of the United States Andrew Johnson about the issue. A native Tennessee woman, Mrs. L.E. Potts, in the letter she described how she perceived the slavery issue and asked for federal protection for the black population. …show more content…
There was one man who would stop at nothing to try and earn a seat in politics. This man was described as “a man of integrity.” A union newspaper described him as “a colored man of education, character and ability, and an honest man.” A democratic newspaper begrudgingly viewed him as “a good fellow in a bad lot.” This man is George T. Ruby, he wanted to fight for blacks political rights. He believed that blacks should have the same political rights as the whites. He had various difficulties gaining respect from white Texans. The white Texans did not believe that blacks should be holding office for any political party. The union league, a secret organization that allowed the opportunity to be a part of patriotism without the interference of whites. Although whites Texans disapproved, this is how Ruby got his spot in