Francis Butler, one of the people who lost their properties under the influence of Reconstruction, struggled to rebuild her family plantations. Francis Butler grew up in a family that held two extreme perspectives on slavery. Her father, Pierce Butler, the owner of the plantation, and he had been one of the richest of the rice aristocracy. On the contrary, her mother, Fanny Kemble, celebrated English actress, strongly opposed slavery, publicly announcing that she could not live with a slaveholder. When her parents got divorced, Francis Butler had to make a choice, and she decided to side with the South and with her father.
Soon, the Butlers were informed that their land was confiscated by the Union troops, so they headed back to the South to claim their property. They were able to regain their plantation, but the freedmen aggressively refused the Butler’s ownership. The Butlers had no choice but to negotiate with them, and the freedmen and the Butlers compromised to share the crop. However, the Butlers wanted something more than sharecropping, such as slavery that they had back in the days. Francis Butler told the people: “You have the freedom to leave, but I have freedom too. And what’s more, I own this land. And if you’re going to stay here, you have to do what I say.” However, she was not confident enough to have what she desired for.
What did you learn about Reconstruction as a result of researching this person?
I have always thought about only positive elements when I hear the word “Reconstruction”. It was meant to improve the present situation through reconstructing the harmful things. I firmly believed that everyone benefitted from the new proposal; slavery was abolished, and people gained equality and freedom. However, this was not true for everyone during the Reconstruction of Lincoln’s time. Through the research of Frances Butler, I have learned how people could not be well-treated and suffer losses during the Reconstruction. Frances Butler and Pierce Butler, originally the owners of St. Simon’s island in Georgia, lost their ownership because the victorious Union troops had confiscated their land. Anxious to reclaim their land, the Butlers headed back to the South shortly, and were able to regain their property. However, they encountered another hardship: the freedmen were strongly resisting the Butler’s ownership. The Butlers, who were already once not treated properly, were now losing their rights. Finally, the Butlers and the freedmen compromised, but the Butlers were still not satisfied. They could not act their rights and have "ownership" on their own land.
Francis Butler
Biography of Francis Butler:
Francis Butler, one of the people who lost their properties under the influence of Reconstruction, struggled to rebuild her family plantations. Francis Butler grew up in a family that held two extreme perspectives on slavery. Her father, Pierce Butler, the owner of the plantation, and he had been one of the richest of the rice aristocracy. On the contrary, her mother, Fanny Kemble, celebrated English actress, strongly opposed slavery, publicly announcing that she could not live with a slaveholder. When her parents got divorced, Francis Butler had to make a choice, and she decided to side with the South and with her father.
Soon, the Butlers were informed that their land was confiscated by the Union troops, so they headed back to the South to claim their property. They were able to regain their plantation, but the freedmen aggressively refused the Butler’s ownership. The Butlers had no choice but to negotiate with them, and the freedmen and the Butlers compromised to share the crop. However, the Butlers wanted something more than sharecropping, such as slavery that they had back in the days. Francis Butler told the people: “You have the freedom to leave, but I have freedom too. And what’s more, I own this land. And if you’re going to stay here, you have to do what I say.” However, she was not confident enough to have what she desired for.
What did you learn about Reconstruction as a result of researching this person?
I have always thought about only positive elements when I hear the word “Reconstruction”. It was meant to improve the present situation through reconstructing the harmful things. I firmly believed that everyone benefitted from the new proposal; slavery was abolished, and people gained equality and freedom. However, this was not true for everyone during the Reconstruction of Lincoln’s time. Through the research of Frances Butler, I have learned how people could not be well-treated and suffer losses during the Reconstruction. Frances Butler and Pierce Butler, originally the owners of St. Simon’s island in Georgia, lost their ownership because the victorious Union troops had confiscated their land. Anxious to reclaim their land, the Butlers headed back to the South shortly, and were able to regain their property. However, they encountered another hardship: the freedmen were strongly resisting the Butler’s ownership. The Butlers, who were already once not treated properly, were now losing their rights. Finally, the Butlers and the freedmen compromised, but the Butlers were still not satisfied. They could not act their rights and have "ownership" on their own land.
The Video:
Bibliography:
1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reconstruction/filmmore/fd.html2. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reconstruction/filmmore/pt_p2.html
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CqgEvRhcUg&list=PLD93F22A3BB8C9A22&index=1&feature=plpp_video