Thomas Jackson’s Contributions To The Failure Or Success Of Reconstruction Efforts

The Reconstruction era marked the end of the Confederacy and slavery, and began the bid to entitle the freedmen, or freed slaves, with the rights of citizenship. Reconstruction was a massive turning point in American history, lasting until 1877, and would lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement. It is during this era that we start to see the true colors of those who very obviously support the freedmen, and Thomas Jackson is one such example of that support. His letters to the Freedman’s Bureau, detailed below, showcase a person who is utilizing everything at his disposal in order to make sure the freedmen can have a shot at a successful life. In Thomas Jackson’s letter to Garrick Mallery, dated May 1st, 1867, he describes his concerns about the amount of poor white and colored people. Jackson states that he has “inadequate” means to provide clothing and food, and that the Overseer of the Poor, Mr. Bunch, “lacks sympathy” when it comes to the conditions the poor are facing. Part of the poor are the freedmen, former slaves that have been freed and are now citizens with rights. They have much to learn about their newfound rights and freedom, and part of Jackson’s job is to ensure that they have a full understanding of their new rights. Jackson is not alone in his endeavors though, when he arrives to assist the freedmen, he meets C. R. Harris. Harris is a doctor who has already been treating the sick and elderly freedmen, most of the time free of charge due to the abundance of poor colored people in need of care. However, Harris cannot continue to support the freedmen on his own. This prompts Jackson’s multiple requests for additional medical aide. At the other end of this somewhat peaceful spectrum lies whites against “social equality”. While in certain areas whites are more tolerable, in Augusta County whites refuse to recognize the freedmen and their rights. They see the freedmen's advancements in society as an “encroachment” on their own rights. These actors all play a very specific part in the history of the Reconstruction efforts. Their actions in response to the freedmen obtaining their rights set the tone for the era after the war. This tone is hopeful, but still weighed down by inequality, discrimination, and injustice. This is evidenced by Jacksonswriting and perspective as an outsider looking in. Jackson viewed the role of the Freedmen’s Bureau to be a checks and balances of the freedmen. The Bureau was established to ensure that freedmen would be the ability to insert themselves successfully back into society. The Bureau, with Jackson’s help, is also helping to settle any contractual disputes that will arise from freedmen being recognized as citizens.Jackson knows that there is still discrimination, and part of Jackson’s job is to ensure that white citizens understand that the freedmen are citizens now as well. Jackson wants to try to give the freedmen a chance at their new life, with as much support as possible. Jackson writes multiple requests for medical “acquisitions” in order to help C.R. Harris treat the sick and elderly. He also suggests that it may help the freedmen to reunite them with lost family members. Jackson also wants to ensure that the Freedmen understand all of their rights as citizens, so he holds town meetings to ensure they understand everything. Jackson also fields potential altercations, gossip, and threatssurrounding the whites and the freedmen. One such

Lauren Millerthreat was the threat of retaliation should the freedmen vote “radical”. Jackson relayed his findings to The Bureau in a letter dated July 1st, 1867. He finds that there is no longer a substantial threat, that the whites have since backed off from pressuring freedmen not vote “radical”, andthat they are slowly growing more tolerant in some areas. As we can see in his other letters, though, that is not the case everywhere. Jackson’s primary role here is being the middleman between The Freedmen's Bureau and the freedmen. He has the ability to observe their day to day life and struggles, as well as speaking to them directly about how they are tackling life as citizens. These insights help Jackson to better understand what he needs to ask The Bureau for, in terms of medical assistance and general care. The letters from Jackson to the Freedman’s Bureau detail a society that is trying to transform itself into a more tolerant one. Freedmen are having to learn what their new rights represent and entail, as well as fight the potential pushback from whites who still refuse to acknowledge colored people’s rights. There are helpers along the way, such as C.R. Harris; the doctor who devoted his time and resources for free in order to treat the colored sick and elderly. It is beginning to seem like for every intolerant white, there is a tolerant one; whether it is providing medical care, jobs, or playing the role Jackson is currently in. You can see in Jackson’s writings that he truly cares about the prospects and the welfare of the freedmen. This shift in public opinion, albeit very small, is what the Reconstruction is all about.