While it is true that by 1870 every southern state had adopted a constitutional provision establishing a public education system funded by a state fund, it was federal power that created an opening in which black political leaders could advance education as a fundamental right. Congress, by way of the Reconstruction Acts, empowered the occupying armies to call constitutional conventions to which delegates would be elected by male citizens, race, color, or previous condition.” Clothed in federal power, “whatever black politicians joined with Republicans to, for the first time, establish universal public education in the South. So influential was black political leadership under the cover of political power, that as part of the white South’s efforts to home rule,” the “restore political coalition of democrats, also known as the promised “bourbon “Redeemers,” black voters that they would not abolish universal education under their rule. [transition] In 1866, the Freepeople of Liberty County, Georgia, submitted a petition to the federal authorities: We the People of Liberty County . . . appeal to you asking aid and counsel in this our We learned from the Address of that distressed condition. general Howard We Were to to the and at a Return Plantation Work for our Former owners and find a and Reasonable contract as Freemen, Home Labor, Provided we can . . . . . . [while] agree. We cannot Labor for the Land owners our Infirm and children are not provided for, and are not allowed to educate or learn . . . . We and We are and to worke for a are a Working Class of People Willing Anxious But to Fair Compensation; return to work upon the Terms that are at Present offered to us, Would Be We Think going Backe into the state of slavery that We have just to some extent Been Delivered from. We to to the of the in our Appeal you Sir and through you Rulers Country . . . . Distressed We feel, unsettled as Sheep Without a Shepard, and beg and your advise and Assistance, Believe that this is an Earnest Appeal from A Poor But Loyal Earnest People.
While it is true that by 1870 every southern state had adopted a constitutional provision establishing a public education system funded by a state fund, it was federal power that created an opening in which black political leaders could advance education as a fundamental right. Congress, by way of the Reconstruction Acts, empowered the occupying armies to call constitutional conventions to which delegates would be elected by male citizens, “whatever race, color, or previous condition.” Clothed in federal power, black politicians joined with Republicans to, for the first time, establish universal public education in the South. So influential was black political leadership under the cover of political power, that as part of the white South’s efforts to “restore home rule,” the political coalition of “bourbon democrats, also known as the “Redeemers,” promised black voters that they would not abolish universal education under their rule. [transition] In 1866, the Freepeople of Liberty County, Georgia, submitted a petition to the federal authorities: We the People of Liberty County . . . appeal to you asking aid and counsel in this our distressed condition. We learned from the Address of general Howard that We Were to Return to the Plantation and Work for our Former owners at a Reasonable contract as Freemen, and find a Home and Labor, Provided we can agree. . . . We cannot Labor for the Land owners . . . [while] our Infirm and children are not provided for, and are not allowed to educate or learn . . . . We are a Working Class of People and We are Willing and Anxious to worke for a Fair Compensation; But to return to work upon the Terms that are at Present offered to us, Would Be We Think going Backe into the state of slavery that We have just to some extent Been Delivered from. We Appeal to you Sir and through you to the Rulers of the Country in our Distressed . . . . We feel, unsettled as Sheep Without a Shepard, and beg your advise and Assistance, and Believe that this is an Earnest Appeal from A Poor But Loyal Earnest People.
Riegel%20Constitutional%20LiteracyCLEAN.docx