The Reconstruction after the Civil War and the School on Pine Street

---

After the Civil War, the leaders of our country were left with the great task of rejoining the Northern and Southern governments while at the same time aiding the large, former slave population. Not only were these freed slaves homeless and wandering, but they were greeted with animosity from most whites. Thus, the education of the black population in southern communities was not a priority. A few colored schools were constructed due to the Freedom Bureau, but the majority of the black population was supposed to rely on local tax funds to support their schools.

Arkansas left the Reconstruction Government the job of financing black education after slavery had ended. Foundations like Jeanes, Slater, and Rosenwald gave funds assisting these education programs, but even this was not enough. In 1866, a common school law was enacted which set aside 20 cents for every $100 dollars of taxable property. This money was used to support black education. Colored persons were not to be taxed. This was still not enough, so in 1875, another law was passed which put a tax of two mills on property of the state and a poll tax of $1 on each male citizen over the age of 21. The local tax was not allowed to exceed five mills per dollar for the support of public education.

When Faulkner County formed in 1873, the local communities were responsible for opening and maintaining their own schools. Blacks tried to provide money for the use of their own education, but they needed help. The 1880 census of Faulkner County stated that 20% of the black population was in fact of schooling age. It is unknown of what kind of school was available to these people, but it is during this time that the Pine Street School developed (Faulkner County 244).

Back to Pine Street School home page