Reconstructing Democracy : Grassroots Black Politics in the Deep South after the Civil War / Justin Behrend.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Behrend, Justin, 1972-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy--Mississippi--Natchez (District)--History--19th century.

Democracy.

Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)--Mississippi--Natchez (District).

Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877).

Freed persons--Mississippi--Natchez (District)--History--19th century.

Freed persons.

African Americans--Mississippi--Natchez (District)--Politics and government--19th century.

African Americans.

Natchez (Miss. : District)--Race relations--History--19th century.

Natchez (Miss. : District).

Natchez (Miss. : District)--Politics and government--19th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (376 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Manufacture:

Baltimore, Md. : Project MUSE, 2015

Place of Publication:

Athens : The University of Georgia Press, [2014]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Former slaves, with no prior experience in electoral politics and with few economic resources or little significant social standing, created a sweeping political movement that transformed the South after the Civil War. Within a few short years after emancipation, not only were black men voting but they had elected thousands of ex-slaves to political offices. Historians have long noted the role of African American slaves in the fight for their emancipation and their many efforts to secure their freedom and citizenship, yet they have given surprisingly little attention to the system of governanc

Contents:

Constructing democracy

Into the arms of strangers

Emancipated communities

New friends

Maintaining democracy

"A new machinery of government"

"True to one another"

A deep interest in politics

Constricting democracy

"Organized terrorism and armed violence"

Return of oligarchy.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780820347851

082034785X

OCLC:

900011483