African American Dbq Essay

802 Words4 Pages

During the course of history, some have said that the change and continuity in the lives of African Americans in the south during 1865-1890 was not significant. On the contrary, African American lives changed significantly during this period of time. As the confederacy was being transformed during Reconstruction, the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments were passed which gave African Americans citizenship, freedom and the right to vote. These amendments changed their lives as African Americans now had the chance to be free and live a better life. Several other events also changed the lives of African Americans during this time period. Previous to the 14th amendment, Black Codes were created in southern states by old leaders which attempted to restore …show more content…

It states how African American lives will change for the better as they were deprived of many things in life prior. Thaddeus Stevens says that it is their duty to take care of them until they can care for themselves. Document C describes “The First Vote” of African Americans in 1867. It signifies the change in African American lives during this time period as black people were now granted citizenship, had freedom, and the right to vote. Both documents are important to the change in lives of African Americans as they were now being seen as equal through the …show more content…

Document F is a cartoon symbolizing that these groups made sure African Amricans felt inferior by being threatened and killed. Document H is a pamphlet from the point of view of a black freedman explaining his awareness of the fact that these white supremacists groups hated that Black's had been emancipated and made sure to make their lives horrible in order to keep their power. It is also explained that during reconstruction and southern states returning to the Union, southern states promised to follow the constitution but broke the promise as they made amendments invalid through Jim Crow Laws. This reveals the change in African American lives because although they were now free, they had to live in fear from groups like Ku Klux Klans who wanted to reduce Black voting, hiring, etc and basically just get rid of African