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Reconstruction-Era Education and Long-Run Black-White Inequality

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Listed:
  • Daniel B. Jones
  • Ethan Schmick

Abstract

The Reconstruction era of American history (c. 1866–1877) saw widespread efforts to educate recently freed people—efforts that were partially curtailed after Reconstruction. This paper examines the impact of childhood exposure to educational opportunity during Reconstruction on later-life outcomes for recently freed people. Using data on the number of teachers in Black schools and a linked census sample, we find that Black children exposed to greater educational opportunity during Reconstruction had improved occupational standing as adults. Their sons also experienced gains, suggesting that Reconstruction-era educational efforts, had they persisted, would have impacted Black-White gaps into the twentieth century.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel B. Jones & Ethan Schmick, 2025. "Reconstruction-Era Education and Long-Run Black-White Inequality," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 17(3), pages 165-196, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:165-96
    DOI: 10.1257/pol.20230125
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Luke C D Stein & Constantine Yannelis & Francesca Cornelli, 2020. "Financial Inclusion, Human Capital, and Wealth Accumulation: Evidence from the Freedman’s Savings Bank," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 33(11), pages 5333-5377.
    2. Zachary Ward, 2023. "Intergenerational Mobility in American History: Accounting for Race and Measurement Error," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(12), pages 3213-3248, December.
    3. Jonas Helgertz & Joseph Price & Jacob Wellington & Kelly J Thompson & Steven Ruggles & Catherine A. Fitch, 2022. "A new strategy for linking U.S. historical censuses: A case study for the IPUMS multigenerational longitudinal panel," Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(1), pages 12-29, January.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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