Movie about after Reconstruction and Freedomwith the end of the civil war and passage of 13th amendment they could embark on freedom ventures (desired independence - from owners, in houses, schools ect.●Deeply committed to improving families and toward new futures●Willing to work very hard (exploit themselves with long work days) but wanted to control hours and work off of there own land.●Desired to integrate into american lifeCotton and economic dismay●Laborers were the most important part of cotton southern economy●Blacks had the same ability of whites (demand equal respect) this challenged everything to the bitter core of white peoples soles○This worried whites-that the blacks would take revenge○or that they wouldn't work and spur cotton economy any more●Blacks trying to improve themselves (were seen as competitors to the illiterate whites who were also trying to do the same)●this combined with Johnson lenient policies resulted in vigilant KKK groups attacking blacksReconstruction and Political and social freedom●White resistance to bi-racial government increased●blacks seeking freedom could count on less help from northerns and government and could count on more attacks from racist white supremacist groups●the explaniantion was that the freedmen were unequipt for freedomEND OF RECONSTRUCTION●crime and piunsihment changed●effectively criminalized black life○couldnt walk aside rail road○couldnt spit, be drunk in public, or yell in womens presence●exaggeration of black criminalization ●pig laws (enhancing penalties to felony offense)○theif of pig (5 yrs in prision)○stealing 8 cent ring could be labor●IF not employed you could be considered a criminalSouthern states placed blacks in indutries where they could be closely watched (if the states paid the industires)●it said slavery was abolsihed except within the nature of a crimePrisioners could be a source of profit (they abused this-making blacks criminal whenever)●they increased revenue through this ●all states throughout south (leased CONVICTS to some private industries)○land owners○industry owners
