Civil War Amendments

The Civil War was the worst war fought on American soil to this day. Instead of working together to form one Union, the south wanted to govern them. The Civil War is considered a “Lost Cause”. This began the Reconstruction Era. Three very important amendments, known as the Reconstruction Amendment, were adapted. The Thirteenth Amendment was ratified in 1865. This amendment abolished slavery and the blacks were now free men. Before this time slave marriages were not recognized. After the emancipation most slaves made their marriages official. The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in 1868. The United States were guaranteed citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and granted them federal civil rights. Before this time the freemen were just considered men brought to America to be slaves. The slaves thought this was the only way of life. Their freedom was all they cared about even if they had nowhere to go.

No matter their “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”, this amendment stated that no one would be denied the right to vote. Nor were the votes declared an unconditional right. This amendment prohibited these types of discrimination. All three amendments were directed at ending slavery and providing full citizenship to freedmen. Since the freemen now had these privileges, they took an active part in voting and political life. These amendments also provided the building of many churches and helped community organizations to be started. In addition to the amendments the ten Southern state governments were, States Army. This was to recognize and protect the freedmen’s right to vote. Even though the Civil War was considered a “Lost Cause”, it did free the slaves. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments helped the slave’s to eventually come to know their potential in life after being ratified. The slaves were “Like birds let out of the