POLS 2312 1st Edition Lecture 5 Current LectureReconstruction (to 1874): Republicans: Largely comprised of African-American and German voters, “the party of Lincoln,” some “scalawags” (local Republicans) and “carpetbaggers”Democrats: The party of white supremacy and states’ rights. The Reconstruction Constitution (1869): - Operating in Austin. - created a strong central state government - Governor given broad appointive and policy supervision powers- Local government closely controlled by state authorities- Taxes used to support an extensive system of public elementary and secondary education; school attendance made compulsory- Republicans subsidized railroads with bond issues and grants of landReturn of the Democrats (“Redemption”)- Beginning in 1872, former Confederates were allowed to vote again- Democrats regained control of the State Legislature- In 1873, Democrat Richard Coke defeated Edmund J. Davis in the gubernatorial election- In 1875, Texas held a new constitutional conventionThe New Blueprint: Limitation and Fragmentation (1876 Constitution)- Separation of Powers- Reduced salaries for state officials- Governor stripped of most appointive powers; most offices made elective- Terms of office shortenedThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- In order to ensure that their objectives were met, the authors of the Constitution went into explicit detail.Laissez faire: Abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free