History of Florida Chapter 15: Reconstruction & Renewal Analysis

Who is the author of this chapter and what information can you find about the author elsewhere in the text?      

 Jerrell H. Shofner. Other information I found about him is that he has written other books on the topic of slavery.

According to this chapter, list 2 things that were in desperate need of “reconstruction” 

 The government and the social relations between the U.S citizens of all backgrounds.

Florida stands apart from other areas of the South in the way that General Newton handled two main areas: politics & freedmen.  Discuss both.

Politics: Newton rolled with the new reconstruction policies and worked quickly to get Florida back up and running.

Freedmen: He told them they were all free and forced the former slave owners to give the freedmen land and a wage.

Demand for cotton was (increasing or decreasing) during the early years of reconstruction.

Decreasing.

White And black farmers alike were given a new structure in which to run their land (called by 3 different terms in the text).  What is one of the names of this new agricultural system used by the author?

 Sharecropping.

Josiah T. Walls, a former slave turned 
Florida representative. He was the first
black representative in Florida's history.

What 2 issues engulfed Florida as well as the entire nations, just as Lincoln feared it would?

 Readmission to the Union and the status of Freedmen. 

Shofner describes a very sticky situation in regards to President Johnson restoring land ownership to former confederates.  Reflect on how this affects the statewide condition at the time.

 By returning land to former Confederates, often being land that has already been resold, tensions across the state rose. 

What does the text mean about Lincoln’s “non-punitive ideas”?

 The text means that Lincoln's ideas were not aimed at punishing the Confederates. He wanted a passive regrouping of the nation.

We know that “Black Codes” took shape despite the efforts of the Freedman’s Bureau.  Discuss the ways that Florida fell into the practices.

 By not allowing black men to vote or run for office.

Why was the Civil Rights Act of 1865 so ineffective?

 Many representatives in the South were former Confederates.

What legislative measures marked the end of martial law in Florida?

 When, during the making of the Florida constitution, radical Republicans were locked out of the assembly hall, allowing for their opposing parties to get their votes in.

Describe the internal divisions that developed in Florida during the reconstruction years.

 The Republicans and Democrats in the state were at war with each other over what was to be done with the Freedmen.

What 2 measures were taken by conservative whites to prevent Freedmen from exercising their rights to suffrage?

 Violence: Murder and beatings

Intimidation: Scaring and threats

What is the contrasting difference between reconstruction effects in middle and peninsular Florida?

 Middle: Destroyed the plantation belt, caused a loss of an economic sector.

Peninsular: Opened up land for settlement, brought tourism.

When Shofner turns from reconstruction to renewal, list industries and individuals who played a role.

 Tourism: Hubbard Hart (St. Johns Tour boat), Fredrick DeBury (Lake Monroe Tour Boat/ Hotel)

Cargo: The Brock Line

Crops: Oranges (Henry S. Sanford) 

Cattle: Jacob Summerlin, Zibe King, Francis A. Hendrey and the Curry Family

The late entry of what industry had a negative impact on Florida’s renewal?

 Railroads.

The political temperature in Florida changed dramatically in the renewal years.  Expound on that and include the one negative piece of legislature that added to already active Black Codes.

During the renewal years, the political climate of Florida was as nasty as the natural climate. The political climate was fighting against itself. Constant bickering between the Republicans and the Democrats led to a turmoil of legislatures, including one that put a tax on polling to discourage blacks from voting.