Episodes Nearest to January 1, 1862 to December 31, 1883: 1 through 25 of 25

  1. Wiley College Founded
    date 1873map HARRISON, Texastags African-Americans, Church/Religious-Activity, Education

    Wiley College is the first historically black college located west of the Mississippi River. It was co-founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop Isaac Wiley and the Freedmen's Aid Society as a black teachers' college. Administered by white men for the first two decades of its existence, black Methodist leaders took over the leadership of the school in 1893. Wiley became an important...

  2. CULLMANN'S COLONIZATION: The Inception of Cullman County Alabama
    date January 5, 1873map CULLMAN, Alabamatags Economy, Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    Colonel John Gottfried Cullmann, a Bavarian immigrant, came to the United States in order to flee the wrath of Bismarck, a tyrant who terrorized Germany in the mid-nineteenth century. After docking, Cullmann found his way to Cincinnati, Ohio where we managed to reconnect with friends from the old country. Realizing his dream, a colony for immigrants specifically from his country, Cullmann ventured...

  3. Supreme Court Overrules Decision in United States vs. A. Given
    date January 9, 1873map NEW CASTLE, Delawaretags African-Americans, Race-Relations

    In order to make the Fifteenth Amendment ineffective in Delaware and fend off potential black voters for the Republican Party, the Democratic legislators enacted the Assessment and Collection Laws of 1873. These laws were a means of assessing property and establishing voter eligibility. Simply put, these laws made it the responsibility of a Delaware resident to see that his name was on the assessment...

  4. Fighting in the Schoolyard
    date January 10, 1873map AUGUSTA, Virginiatags African-Americans, Crime/Violence, Education, Race-Relations, Women

    The schoolyard of the Colored Academy at Pine River was alive with excitement on the afternoon of the tenth of January, 1873. George Green, a sturdy young man of around eighteen years, attempted to kiss the little bronze beauty Roberta. When Professor Thomas Henaforth discovered what had transpired outside of his school, he set out to punish the mischievous youth. At four o'clock in the afternoon,...

  5. The Death of John H. Crease
    date December 15, 1872map PULASKI, Arkansastags Church/Religious-Activity, Health/Death, Education

    News traveled slowly in the late nineteenth-century South, but on occasions such as a death in the family, news traveled faster by way of telegram. John Crease's daughter received a letter from her grandmother expressing her condolences. The grandmother had written the letter on December 15, 1872, when she had received a telegram notifying her of Crease's death. The grandmother assured Crease's...

  6. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Completed
    date January 29, 1873map HENRICO, Virginiatags Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway began as the Louisa Railroad of Louisa County, Virginia in 1836. By 1850, the Louisa Railroad was built east to Richmond and west to Charlottesville. As the railway extended, it was renamed the Virginia Central Railroad. Desiring to move forward with internal improvements, the Commonwealth of Virginia allotted money to continue to expand the line. Moving westward,...

  7. Mississippi House Signs a Social Equality Bill
    date February 5, 1873map HINDS, Mississippitags African-Americans, Race-Relations

    On Wednesday, February 5, 1873, the Mississippi House passed a bill forbidding owners of hotels, theaters, or other places of amusement, common carriers, etc., from making any distinction on account of color. Under this enactment, a proprietor would face heavy penalties for disobeying the act. An African American member of the House introduced the bill, and the proposal passed along a virtually...

  8. Augusta, Georgia Holds an Agricultural Convention
    date February 11, 1873 to February 13, 1873map RICHMOND, Georgiatags Agriculture, Economy

    On February 11, 1873, the Agricultural Convention was held in Augusta, Georgia. The states of Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and New York were represented. Roughly two hundred delegates attended this conference. At the convention, attendees discussed the economic condition of the South, and they also proposed and passed resolutions to remedy this situation. The main issues debated included...

  9. War Orphans
    date November 13, 1872map CHOCTAW, Mississippitags Church/Religious-Activity, War

    The Civil War was completely devastating to the citizens of the United States of America. Two percent of the entire population was killed as a direct result of the war. With over 500,000 people dead, the casualties far out number those of Americans in any other war. Americans were killing Americans, and the ruin that came about tore apart families and left many in complete bewilderment.

    ...

  10. War Orphans
    date November 13, 1872map LAUDERDALE, Mississippitags Church/Religious-Activity, War

    The Civil War was completely devastating to the citizens of the United States of America. Two percent of the entire population was killed as a direct result of the war. With over 500,000 people dead, the casualties far out number those of Americans in any other war. Americans were killing Americans, and the ruin that came about tore apart families and left many in complete bewilderment.

    C.M....

  11. The Other John Adams
    date February 17, 1873map RICHMOND, Virginiatags African-Americans, Economy, Health/Death, Race-Relations

    They were vultures, gorging shamelessly at the lifetime accomplishments of John Adams. Though he was not the founding father with the same name, this John Adams led an equally compelling life as a free black contractor and plasterer in Richmond. He was also one of the extremely few African Americans in the South who owned a substantial amount of property before the Civil War. Now, seven and a...

  12. Alabama Legislature Introduces a Civil Rights Bill
    date February 20, 1873map MONTGOMERY, Alabamatags African-Americans, Race-Relations

    As acquiring civil rights became a political mark indicating the party's commitment to its black supporters, the passage of these measures demonstrated the shift of priority and power that was occurring within the Republican Party. Indeed, the black constituency in the South greatly influenced and led legislation. Needing to consolidate the crucial black vote, Republican legislators pressed...

  13. THRILLS ON CAPITAL HILL: The Election of James T. Rapier
    date November 5, 1872map MONTGOMERY, Alabamatags African-Americans, Government, Race-Relations, Slavery

    November 5, 1872, was much more than Election Day in the State of Alabama. November 5, was a chance to right the wrongs of the election of 1870, only two years prior. The 1870 election included the race for secretary of state and James T. Rapier, born a free black in Florence, Alabama just thirty-three years prior, was on the ballot. Rapier became a prominent figure early in his life, participating...

  14. Mississippi Passes a State Civil Rights Bill
    date February 27, 1873map HINDS, Mississippitags African-Americans, Race-Relations

    During the time of Reconstruction, strong Republican parties grew as a result of heavy reliance of blacks as their constituency. Generating the overwhelming majority of the party's votes, blacks became the majority of the electorate in Southern states, such as South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi. As the black support increased, it was clear that policies and enactments had to be geared...

  15. Congress Passes the Timber Culture Act
    date March 3, 1873map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Agriculture

    Throughout the 19th Century, the American government as well as people continued to maintain the desire to push the move out West. Dealing with westward expansion and land ownership, the United States government passed a series of Homestead Laws over the decade in order to promote the settlement of Americans westward. In 1841, Congress passed the Pre-emption Act in response to the demands of the...

  16. President Ulysses S. Grant Gives Second Inaugural Address
    date March 4, 1873map Washington City, District of Columbiatags African-Americans, Race-Relations

    After reelection in 1872, President Grant presented his second inaugural address on a frigid March day the following year. Called “the most brilliant inauguration which ever took place in this country' by The Courier-Journal, the speech was witnessed by thousands of spectators who had been attracted to Washington simply for this occasion. The immense crowd cheered the President as he passed...

  17. Black Representation Increases in Federal and State Governments
    date March 4, 1873map Washington City, District of Columbiatags African-Americans, Race-Relations

    As Reconstruction progressed, blacks became more assertive and prominent in the southern Republican Party. African-Americans began to flex their political muscles despite common obstacles of white dominance. An example of momentary white repression occurred in South Carolina to black politician Robert B. Elliott, who later took a seat in the House. It is likely that South Carolina would have had...

  18. Democrats Control the Thirteenth Legislature in Texas
    date January 4, 1873 to June 4, 1873map AUSTIN, Texastags Race-Relations

    Controlling both houses of the Legislature, the Democrats of the thirteenth legislature furthered the efforts of “redeeming' the state from the Republicans. They would also be crucial in bringing the Texas state government back into the hands of the Democratic Party. Although the Republicans still retained a stronghold in the beginning of 1873 through the office of Governor Edmund J. Davis...

  19. Women's Roles in the Rambin's Household
    date September 29, 1872map DE SOTO, Louisianatags African-Americans, Education, Women

    Running the Rambin household, Sally Young Rambin wrote to her sister on September 29, 1872, kept her far too busy to be a regular correspondent. Rambin explained to her sister that the effort she put into cooking, housework, and the washing caused her to seldom feel like writing. Rambin put special emphasis on the fact that she did her own washing, because many women paid others to do their washing...

  20. The Air-Line Railroad Completed
    date April 4, 1873map SPARTANBURG, South Carolinatags Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    Organized in 1870, the Atlanta & Richmond Air-Line combined the Georgia Air Line Railway and the Air Line Railroad Company of South Carolina under president Algernon S. Buford. The line was complete by 1873. Many people of South Carolina were overjoyed by the completion of this railway, because it finally gave the people a cheap route northward. <br /><br />For these people, the railway...

  21. The Political Struggle of Virginia is Forecasted
    date April 9, 1873map HENRICO, Virginiatags Race-Relations

    As the controlling Radical Republican Party mainly legislated reforms during Reconstruction, Virginia virtually avoided the reconstructive efforts because the Republicans never actually gained complete control over the state. Initially, Republicans shared power with the Democrats in the state. However, with state elections approaching in November, both parties began to prepare for the significant...

  22. The Atlanta Constitution reported that there have been riotous demonstrations on the part of colored men in the administrative subdivision of Louisiana called Grant parish. Here, some whites were ordered to leave the parish and after complying wi
    date April 7, 1873 to April 13, 1873map GRANT, Louisianatags African-Americans, Crime/Violence, Race-Relations

    The Atlanta Constitution reported that there have been riotous demonstrations on the part of colored men in the administrative subdivision of Louisiana called Grant parish. Here, some whites were ordered to leave the parish and after complying with the demand, had their residences plundered. This account reflected the immense racial tensions within a small part of Louisiana. This eventually soon...

  23. Mollie Netherland's Death
    date September 20, 1872map HAWKINS, Tennesseetags Arts/Leisure, Church/Religious-Activity, Health/Death, Migration/Transportation, Women

    On the afternoon of September 20, 1872, Mollie Netherland, a 22-year-old woman from Hawkins County, Tennessee, rode out from the town of Rogersville with a gentleman friend. On their return to town, her horse became frightened and unmanageable. The horse ran away, but Netherland's friend could do nothing to stop the horse. While Netherland managed to cling to the saddle for almost a mile, she...

  24. Slaughterhouse Cases of 1873
    date April 14, 1873map ORLEANS, Louisianatags New Orleans, Slaughterhouse Cases, Butchers, Health Codes 1873, Monopoly

    The smell of rotting, maggot infested corpses, stomach acid, and feces filled the humid air in New Orleans for years.  The look on the animal’s faces as they met their violent death was heartbreaking.   This butchering began what is now known as the controversial “Slaughterhouse Cases of 1873.”  Racial tension, public health issues, and a corrupt monopoly laid the foundation for the legal...

  25. Kentucky Holds Democratic State Convention
    date May 2, 1873map FRANKLIN, Kentuckytags African-Americans, Economy

    After the Civil War, Kentucky maintained a Democratic stronghold, where Republicans had a very difficult time even attempting to win elections. Because the border state of Kentucky had never seceded during the war, it did not have to be officially “reconstructed.' Following the war, the government established the Freedman's Bureau in Kentucky with offices created to aid African-Americans....