End of End of Reconstruction in AR Reconstruction in AR

Arkansans Regain PowerArkansans Regain Power

Most whites who had been kept Most whites who had been kept from voting during from voting during Reconstruction got the vote back Reconstruction got the vote back in 1872 when Congress passed in 1872 when Congress passed the Amnesty Act.the Amnesty Act.

What effect do you think this had What effect do you think this had in AR?in AR?

Money ProblemsMoney Problems

The state began to be greatly in debt.The state began to be greatly in debt. People began to worry about the People began to worry about the

costs of Reconstruction programs.costs of Reconstruction programs. To make things worse the state’s To make things worse the state’s

revenues declined as cotton, the chief revenues declined as cotton, the chief crop, fell in price by 14 cents per crop, fell in price by 14 cents per pound in 1874.pound in 1874.

Republican Party SplitsRepublican Party Splits

The Republican party in AR split into two The Republican party in AR split into two different groups.different groups.

Democrats took advantage of this to play Democrats took advantage of this to play one group against the other and weaken one group against the other and weaken the party.the party.

Powell Clayton remained in control of the Powell Clayton remained in control of the Republican party in AR when he became Republican party in AR when he became a U.S. senator in 1871.a U.S. senator in 1871.

Opposition to ClaytonOpposition to Clayton

By 1872 another Republican leader, By 1872 another Republican leader, Joseph Brooks began forming an Joseph Brooks began forming an opposing group in AR.opposing group in AR.

Brooks hoped to become governor Brooks hoped to become governor in 1872.in 1872.

He sought support of the Democrats He sought support of the Democrats to help him defeat Clayton.to help him defeat Clayton.

Election of 1872Election of 1872

This gubernatorial election was the final This gubernatorial election was the final split of Republicans in AR.split of Republicans in AR.

Clayton’s “Regular Republicans” chose Clayton’s “Regular Republicans” chose Elisha Baxter as their candidate.Elisha Baxter as their candidate.

The opposing Republicans got behind The opposing Republicans got behind Brooks.Brooks.

““Minstrels” vs. the “Brindletails”Minstrels” vs. the “Brindletails”

It was a close and confusing election.It was a close and confusing election. In some areas there were two polling In some areas there were two polling

places, and people cast ballots at both.places, and people cast ballots at both. Brooks people believed he had won by Brooks people believed he had won by

1,500 votes out of 80,000 cast.1,500 votes out of 80,000 cast. But, the election officials were Clayton’s But, the election officials were Clayton’s

men.men. They threw out entire returns from four They threw out entire returns from four

counties.counties. They claimed Baxter had officially won by They claimed Baxter had officially won by

3,000 votes.3,000 votes.

Baxter Takes PowerBaxter Takes Power

While Brooks appealed his case to the While Brooks appealed his case to the courts, Baxter took office as governor.courts, Baxter took office as governor.

He tried to win over the Democrats.He tried to win over the Democrats. To do this he appointed many of them to To do this he appointed many of them to

offices.offices. He then gave Arkansas’s printing contract to He then gave Arkansas’s printing contract to

the the Arkansas GazetteArkansas Gazette, the Democratic , the Democratic newspaper.newspaper.

This upset Powell Clayton, who began to This upset Powell Clayton, who began to support Joseph Brooks.support Joseph Brooks.

Brooks-Baxter War Brooks-Baxter War BeginsBegins

In April 1874, a Pulaski County In April 1874, a Pulaski County circuit court declared Brooks the circuit court declared Brooks the legal governor.legal governor.

Brooks then marched on the state Brooks then marched on the state house with a band of armed men house with a band of armed men and threw Baxter out.and threw Baxter out.

WarWar

Baxter moved down the street to a Baxter moved down the street to a hotel and began to gather armed hotel and began to gather armed supporters.supporters.

At the state house, Brooks put up a At the state house, Brooks put up a barricade on the grounds and barricade on the grounds and assembled his armed force.assembled his armed force.

The “armies” would grow to about 2,000 The “armies” would grow to about 2,000 on each side.on each side.

Each man declared he was legal Each man declared he was legal governor and demanded people take governor and demanded people take sides.sides.

There were some bloody skirmishes that There were some bloody skirmishes that took place in Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and took place in Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and along the Arkansas River.along the Arkansas River.

Around 200 people were killed in the Around 200 people were killed in the month that the “war” raged in AR.month that the “war” raged in AR.

U.S. Army troops stationed along Main U.S. Army troops stationed along Main Street between the two armed camps to Street between the two armed camps to prevent a major clash.prevent a major clash.

The President DecidesThe President Decides

The people of Arkansas turn the matter The people of Arkansas turn the matter over to President U.S. Grant.over to President U.S. Grant.

All they wanted was peace.All they wanted was peace. Brooks had the support of Clayton, but Brooks had the support of Clayton, but

Baxter had support of the Democrats and Baxter had support of the Democrats and most lawyers in Arkansas.most lawyers in Arkansas.

President Grant ruled in favor of Baxter.President Grant ruled in favor of Baxter.

Reconstruction EndsReconstruction Ends

With the end of the Brooks-Baxter war With the end of the Brooks-Baxter war comes the end of Reconstruction in AR.comes the end of Reconstruction in AR.

The real winners were the Democratic-The real winners were the Democratic-Conservatives called “Redeemers” who Conservatives called “Redeemers” who had freed the state from the Radical had freed the state from the Radical Republicans.Republicans.

They had Baxter in their debt, and they They had Baxter in their debt, and they controlled the legislature.controlled the legislature.

A New State ConstitutionA New State Constitution

In 1874 the Democrat controlled In 1874 the Democrat controlled legislature called for another legislature called for another constitutional convention.constitutional convention.

The new state constitution was a direct The new state constitution was a direct response to the burdens of Radical response to the burdens of Radical Reconstruction.Reconstruction.

It retained some features of the It retained some features of the Reconstruction constitution such as Reconstruction constitution such as support for public schools, but it made it support for public schools, but it made it very hard to raise taxes.very hard to raise taxes.

In addition it cut the power of the In addition it cut the power of the governor by changing his term from governor by changing his term from four years to two.four years to two.

It also took away much of his It also took away much of his appointment power.appointment power.

This constitution of 1874 is still the This constitution of 1874 is still the basic law that governs the state.basic law that governs the state.

It has been amended 90 times since It has been amended 90 times since 1874, but we still use it today.1874, but we still use it today.

A New GovernorA New Governor

The new constitution called for a prompt The new constitution called for a prompt election for a new governor.election for a new governor.

The Redeemers offered the job to Baxter, The Redeemers offered the job to Baxter, but he declined.but he declined.

The second choice was August Hill The second choice was August Hill Garland, who had served on the Garland, who had served on the Confederate Congress.Confederate Congress.

He was a man of learning and an expert He was a man of learning and an expert on constitutional law.on constitutional law.

Democrats Take PowerDemocrats Take Power

From 1874 into the 1880s, the From 1874 into the 1880s, the Democratic party was firmly in control of Democratic party was firmly in control of the state with no major threats to its the state with no major threats to its power.power.

Many of the leaders of the party were Many of the leaders of the party were planters, businessmen, and ex-planters, businessmen, and ex-Confederates.Confederates.

A small Republican party remained but A small Republican party remained but was to weak to elect people to statewide was to weak to elect people to statewide office.office.

Debt and Cutting CostsDebt and Cutting Costs

Democratic leaders were very concerned Democratic leaders were very concerned with cutting the cost of state government.with cutting the cost of state government.

The state debt was almost $18 million in The state debt was almost $18 million in 1877.1877.

The state had to pay a large amount of The state had to pay a large amount of interest each year on the debt.interest each year on the debt.

Some said they should cancel the debt Some said they should cancel the debt because the state should not have to pay because the state should not have to pay for the actions of the Reconstruction for the actions of the Reconstruction Republicans.Republicans.

Others pointed out that canceling the Others pointed out that canceling the debt would ruin the states credit rating.debt would ruin the states credit rating.

In the end, the debt was cancelled.In the end, the debt was cancelled. In 1877 the state Supreme Court In 1877 the state Supreme Court

declared part of the debt invalid.declared part of the debt invalid. In 1885 the legislature proposed and the In 1885 the legislature proposed and the

voters approved a constitutional voters approved a constitutional amendment that wiped out most of the amendment that wiped out most of the rest.rest.

People who had invested in Arkansas by People who had invested in Arkansas by buying bonds lost their money.buying bonds lost their money.

CutsCuts

Democrats kept taxes very low.Democrats kept taxes very low. So, state-funded programs had to be cut So, state-funded programs had to be cut

back or dropped.back or dropped. Three state treasurers had to resign Three state treasurers had to resign

because of scandals.because of scandals. To keep the cost of prisons low they To keep the cost of prisons low they

leased out the inmates to businesses and leased out the inmates to businesses and farms.farms.

EducationEducation

Low taxes hurt education in Arkansas.Low taxes hurt education in Arkansas. The new public school system was still in The new public school system was still in

place but hurt for lack of funding.place but hurt for lack of funding. School terms were very short, and School terms were very short, and

schools closed down for planting and schools closed down for planting and harvest.harvest.

No law required students to attend No law required students to attend school, and in 1900 only about ½ of the school, and in 1900 only about ½ of the children in AR were going to school.children in AR were going to school.

20% of Arkansans still couldn’t read.20% of Arkansans still couldn’t read.

The New SouthThe New South

Democratic-Conservative leaders in the Democratic-Conservative leaders in the state wanted to promote industry.state wanted to promote industry.

All over, people were talking about a All over, people were talking about a “New South” that would have its own “New South” that would have its own factories.factories.

But Arkansas lacked money to invest, But Arkansas lacked money to invest, skilled laborers, people wealthy enough skilled laborers, people wealthy enough to buy goods, and good transportationto buy goods, and good transportation

Slow DevelopmentSlow Development

Industry was slow to develop in AR.Industry was slow to develop in AR. By 1900 there were only 4,794 By 1900 there were only 4,794

“manufacturing establishments”, in AR.“manufacturing establishments”, in AR. Most of these only had 5-10 workers.Most of these only had 5-10 workers. Only 2% of Arkansans were listed as Only 2% of Arkansans were listed as

wage earners in industry in 1900.wage earners in industry in 1900.

RailroadsRailroads

To promote railroad building the state To promote railroad building the state offered few or no taxes and little offered few or no taxes and little regulation to railroad companies regulation to railroad companies instead of bond money.instead of bond money.

The U.S. government aided the The U.S. government aided the building program by giving the building program by giving the railroads huge grants of public land railroads huge grants of public land along their routes.along their routes.

By 1900, Arkansas had more than By 1900, Arkansas had more than 3,000 miles of track.3,000 miles of track.

Though large areas of the Ozarks Though large areas of the Ozarks and Ouachitas were still out of reach, and Ouachitas were still out of reach, railroads covered much of eastern, railroads covered much of eastern, central, and southern Arkansas.central, and southern Arkansas.

They also opened routes to the rest They also opened routes to the rest of the nation.of the nation.

The railroad had the power of life and The railroad had the power of life and death for Arkansas towns.death for Arkansas towns.

Railroads Bring PeopleRailroads Bring People

The railroads joined the state in trying The railroads joined the state in trying to attract new settlers. to attract new settlers.

In 1875, the railroad brought in news In 1875, the railroad brought in news writers from the North and West to tour writers from the North and West to tour the state as “New Arkansas Travelers”the state as “New Arkansas Travelers”

Some effort was even made to attract Some effort was even made to attract European settlers.European settlers.