American History: The Barrow Plantation After the Civil War in America (Coursework Sample)

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American History
Several changes occurred in the Barrow Plantation after the Civil War, the changes included: former slaves became tenant farmers and David C. Barrow the land owner began renting plots of land to tenant families who planted cotton and other crops. Mr. Barrow of Oglethorpe became one of the first planters to divide his plantations into farms. Before the war, all the Negros lived in ‘the quarters’ which were houses close to each other, everything else in the place was under the absolute rule of an overseer (Barrow, 835). The size of land that was used for planting was between twenty-five and thirty acres, about half of which was planted cotton and the rest corn and patches of vegetable
The Indians experienced the challenge of lack of titles to land which was a great drawback since obviously no white nor Indian man could devote his energy to cultivate and improve land which he has no valid and sure title. The government also failed to protect Indians even in the exclusive land occupancy and to protect property pledged to them under stipulations of the treaty. The onward sweeping tide of emigration overran them altogether, despoiling them of their homes and possessions. We also find Christian Reformers sought to improve the lives of Indians; they tried to induce them to accept civilization at the same time induce their government to be just, kind and generous to Indians.
A populist orator from Kansas called Annie L. Diggs identifies 25 prominent women speakers and editors who played crucial roles in the Farmers’ Alliance and the Populist Party. Amongst them was Mrs. Mary E. Lease who rose to prominence as a platform speaker for the political party. Women mostly did farm work, due to their fear for the future of their children, they fiercely protected them from devouring and devastating plutocracy
These primary sources are historically valuable in helping us to understand the past and history in general since through them we learn about the striking changes in the Southern agriculture during reconstruction. We learn that after the civil war, the former slaves who remained signed labor contracts e.g. with owner David C. Barrow and they also grew cotton for wages in competing squads. They were paid a portion of the crop as wages to keep them interested. We also learn that men and women had different roles in farming, the labor of the farm was performed by men who did the plowing while their wives and children did the hoeing as he directed.
We learn that The Dawes Act of 1887 made Indians landowner citizens of The United States and corrected the problem of inability of Indians who were not citizens to contest in U.S. courts the fraudulent seizure of their lands (Washburn and Wilcomb,223). The Act, however, reduced Indian landholdings by nearly 65%.
The sources teach us about the role that women played in politics, for instance, we see that women of the Farmers’ Alliance greatly helped in political victory of the people of Kansas; they were eloquent and excellent public speakers. They took part in forming great ethical foundations in the labor mo...