Citizen or Laborer? The Social Purposes of Black Schooling in Reconstruction Mississippi, 1862--1875
Span, Christopher Micheal
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/79606
Description
Title
Citizen or Laborer? The Social Purposes of Black Schooling in Reconstruction Mississippi, 1862--1875
Author(s)
Span, Christopher Micheal
Issue Date
2001
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Anderson, James D.
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
History, United States
Language
eng
Abstract
This study researches, from the freedmen's perspective, the educational history of Mississippi's postbellum black masses between 1862--1875; the period commonly referred to as the Reconstruction era. It has a twofold purpose. First and foremost it highlights Mississippi blacks' educational progression within the state's turbulent postbellum political economy. This is inclusive of Mississippi blacks' independent educational activities, their combined efforts with the various northern-based missionary associations in postwar Mississippi, and local whites' responses to Mississippi blacks' various schooling opportunities. Concomitantly, this study demonstrates that Mississippi blacks' schooling opportunities had a definite social purpose, however, this purpose varied based each of the aforementioned groups' expectations of Mississippi blacks in slavery's aftermath. For example, overwhelmingly Mississippi blacks sought an education to enhance their overall opportunities as state citizens in slavery's aftermath, most northerners promoted black schooling as a way to assist the state's ex-slaves and demonstrate their ability to be both effective citizens and laborers in the state. Comparably, Mississippi whites sought control over Mississippi blacks' schooling opportunities to promote their own self-interest. As such, this study offers a detailed educational history of how this postbellum contention unfolded.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
