American History

The state of Arkansas experienced a number of changes after the Civil War ended and it rejoined the union in 1868. New constitutions were passed in 1868 and 1874. The final constitution was signed into law after the Brooks-Baxter War, which was a response to the signing of the 1868 constitution. Ulysses S. Grant, the president of the United States at the time had to intervene to stop this war.

Before the war, 25 of the population of Arkansas was made up of slaves. Once the slaves were free, the Democratic lawmakers worked hard to enforce segregation. Although all males were eligible to vote, laws were passed requiring literacy tests and poll taxes before a man could cast his vote or sit on a jury. The Democrats knew that most African American men and poor white farmers could either not read or afford the tax, and these laws allowed them to stay in absolute power. Because of these racist policies, Arkansas remained a one-party state until 1964.

Another big change in Arkansas was the birth of tourism. Thanks to the building of the railroad,  it was easier to travel. The Ozark Mountains proved to be a beautiful vacation spot when marketed correctly. Hotels, spas, and race tracks were built in and around Eureka Springs, and people flocked to this area to take advantage of the springs, which was thought by many to be  healing  water. The town became one of the premiere vacation destinations of the era. Immigrants also started coming to Arkansas on the railroad. Men from China, Italy, and Syria went to the Delta area to take advantage of farming opportunities. Rather quickly, the Chinese moved on from farming and opened stores near the Delta farms.

Farming remained a main source of income in the state. The state had an abundance of natural resources, such as water, forests, oil, and minerals. The timber industry began to boom and people, both immigrants and Northern opportunists, came to Arkansas to farm. The agricultural depression of the 1880s greatly effected the state but not much was done because of the Democrats controlling the state. Many people left Arkansas for the North or West to seek better opportunities.