HIST 2112 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Homer Plessy, History Of The Southern United States, Grandfather Clause
Document Summary
Out with the old political economy, in with the new. The new south and hopes of henry grady: Move away from producing one cash crop: cotton. Leave caste system behind, less poor and wealthy class distinction. Crop lien system and peonage (loaning of convicts) Supported preservation of antebellum south, followers called them redeemers and opponents called them bourbons . Jim crow-nadir of black america, separation of races. Poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, threats and intimidation. Homer plessy, who is 1/8th black and light-skinned, sits in white railway car and is arrested for defying law. Defends actions on account of 14th amendment which calls for equal protection . Defense denied saying that as long as facilities are equal, the separation is upheld by law. Booker t. washington of the south, w. e. b. dubois of the north emerge as black leaders. Washington advocated that blacks should establish an economic base and prove their usefulness first, then strive for social equality.
