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Civil War Dbq

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The Civil War assessed several questions from the Philadelphia Convention. One of which was the idea of slavery. There was a clear contradiction between the principles stated within the Declaration of Independence and the institution of slavery. The Civil War also impacted the identity of the United States. Rather than aligning with their respective state, people began to identify as a part of a single united entity, or the Union. This allowed the federal government to take an impactful role in the enforcement of laws upon its citizens. Following the Civil War, the Civil War Amendments were designed to both ensure the rights of newly emancipated slaves as well as limit the state’s abuse of power. They were intended to apply the rights in the Bill of Rights to all people. The 13th Amendment was the first step to granting former slaves’ freedom, where it abolished slavery “within the United States, or in any place subject to their jurisdiction.” The idea of secession was also ended, with the Northern victory bringing forth the idea of the Union. Citizenship was another issue solved as a result of the victory. Previously, there wasn't any definition to begin …show more content…

Following secession, southern states that wanted to rejoin the Union had to ratify the Civil War Amendments. This imposed power from the federal government was also supplemented by the Reconstruction Act of 1867. This exercise of federal power over the states marked a major shift in the extent and power of the federal government to states rights. However this was limited to a certain extent as the influence from radical republicanism dwindled and southern states passed black codes thus allowing Jim Crow laws to arise which barred African Americans from voting. Even under the newly ratified Amendments, states still were not granting citizens their rights given under the

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829 Words | 4 Pages

In the aftermath of the civil war with the union the victors political change was inevitable. The north had just won a war fought over the issue of slavery and to not address the issue permanently after their victory would be a failure on their part. Despite heated tensions and many in the south opposed to any final resolution on the subject of slavery that did rule in their favor Abraham Lincoln and his allies were able to garner enough support in congress to pass the 13th,14th, and 15th amendments. These 3 amendments clarified finally the rights established in the constitution applied to African Americans just as much as those of European descent.

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1340 Words | 6 Pages

And in order for the rebellious states to be readmitted 10 percent of their voting population would have to take an oath in agreeance with the Unions rights. This would result in the southern states incorporating these rights and requirements into their constitutions. This allowed African Americans the rights to

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1095 Words | 5 Pages

When slavery became abolished, questions were raised as to whether the federal government would grant authority for their suffrage and enforce civil rights laws (Document D and E). The diary of Gideon Wells asserted that even though the power was within the states, only the federal authority could grant rights to suffrage as well as guaranteeing civil rights. Ultimately this was necessary in order to distribute equal rights evenly throughout the nation and prevent certain states’ discrimination toward African Americans (Document C). United, the states ratified the 13th and 14th amendments, declaring this through the federal government ensuring that the southern states could not object. This was all in hopes to further better the Union’s social development, but in return the South enforced black codes, as well as the creation of terrorist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, which limited the extent of social development after the Civil

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1106 Words | 5 Pages

The Civil War was a conflict fought between the Confederacy and the Union after the Confederacy succeeded from the Union because of new laws that were abolishing slavery. After the Civil war, America was severely unorganized and in need of reconstruction. Reconstruction was a series of attempts by the United States government to reconstruct society in the Southern states by adding laws that protected the rights of freedmen. As a result of the Union's victory in the war, the Confederacy was forced to rejoin and abide by its rules. The union began implementing civil rights amendments such as the right to freedom, the right to citizenship, and the right to vote for formerly enslaved African Americans to ensure equal rights and promote equality.

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841 Words | 4 Pages

The Civil War was a dark time in America’s history. Many causes led up to the gruesome fight that affected America forever. The North and South’s animosity created a large gap between the two. Eventually the South seceded, breaking the union. They became the Confederacy, and the North and South began to anticipate a horrific battle.

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727 Words | 3 Pages

This act also required the southern states to ratify the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment granted former slaves national citizenship and equal rights to all citizens. This amendment is also known as the Civil Rights amendment. The southern states were not allowed to reenter the Union until they had ratified the 14th Amendment. All of the southern states were readmitted into the Union by 1870 after ratifying the 14th Amendment.

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1017 Words | 5 Pages

The Union victory in the Civil War in 1865 gave millions of slaves their freedom, however, the process of rebuilding the South during what is known as the Reconstruction Era, that took place between 1865 and 1877, introduced a whole new set of significant challenges. The most important part of reconstruction was to secure rights for former slaves. Radical republicans, aware that newly freed slaves would face racism and inequality, passed a series of progressive laws and amendments in Congress that protected blacks’ rights under federal and state law. This included the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments that granted black men citizenship and the right to vote. However, before the 14th and 15th amendments were passed, the Civil Rights Act of

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286 Words | 2 Pages

After the Emancipation Proclamation the North now had a unifier, the emancipation of southern slaves. As the Civil War continued it became less about securing the Union but instead the liberation of slaves, this was supported by the majority of Northerners as they were strongly anti-slavery from before the war. Once the War was over and the reconstruction of the United States began three amendments were added to the Constitution highlighting the rights freed slaves now possessed. The 13th amendment banned slavery in any recognized American territory, the 14th gave citizenship to all freed slaves and their children, and the 15th gave freed male slaves the right to vote. These amendments constitutional overthrew the previous system of racial

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284 Words | 2 Pages

As a result of the end of the Civil War in 1865, which was fought over the system of slavery, three amendments were passed in order to achieve equality between whites and African Americans. Slavery was abolished by the 13th amendment, citizenship was given to all African Americans in the 14th amendment and suffrage for men was provided under the 15th amendment. Although these rights were given to African Americans, many southern states found ways to still mistreat them. Furthermore, one of the biggest mistakes during the Reconstruction Era was not to give any kind of economic resources or opportunities for African Americans. Although they technically had freedom, many found themselves forced to go back to their previous job as they had no

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503 Words | 3 Pages

After the end of the Civil War, Black Codes were created by Southern states to make it illegal for African Americans to vote, testify in court against a white citizen and serve on juries. The ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment ended the Black Codes but the Southern states found a way around this. They used literacy tests and poll taxes to prevent blacks from voting. They also created a grandfather clause. It stated that anyone whose father or grandfather had been eligible before 1867 has the right to vote but before that time, slaves didn’t have the right to vote.

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591 Words | 3 Pages

These amendments abolished slavery formally, prohibited unequal protection under the law and granted African-Americans the right to vote. In order to be readmitted into the Union, the Southern states would have to have recognized and abide by these amendments. Nonetheless, Lincoln’s successor, Andrew Johnson was a very lenient man, who pardoned most Southern whites and felt it was up to the state to decide how they wanted blacks to be treated. As a result, Northerners were infuriated that former confederate leaders were able to gain power again and thus allowing Black Codes to be put in place.

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387 Words | 2 Pages

The 13th Amendment made slavery illegal and unjust. The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all people born in the United States except Indians. The 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote. Despite these laws being passed to prevent African Americans from being treated unfairly, racism and slavery continued to exist. Southern States came up with “Black Codes”, which were laws to limit the freedoms of newly freed African Americans and segregation became more prominent.

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259 Words | 2 Pages

Slavery is often seen as the key element of the Civil War, though the war did begin as a war for emancipation. The idea that slaves were freed and immediately lived glorious lives in meadows of equality was but a dream of the chained. In fact, the amendments that were supposed to grant them some rights, specifically the 13th, which outlawed slavery, were overshadowed with the South 's imposed Black Codes. The purpose of the Black Codes was to inhibit the freedom of newly freed slaves and force them back into labor conditions much like slavery. Congress retaliated with the 14th, and later the 15th, amendments, which granted African-Americans the right to vote, and prevented discrimination of race or former status as a

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687 Words | 3 Pages

Unfortunately these amendments were not always enforced by states. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were passed as the reconstruction amendments. They outlawed slavery, provided citizenship to anyone born in the US including formerly enslaved people, made everyone equal under the law, and gave them the right to vote. These laws made a big impact on African Americans lives. Blacks were now able to vote and run for office, and since the majority of the south’s population were blacks, they held the majority of the positions in state legislatures.

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1727 Words | 7 Pages

Thus, they enacted the 15th Amendment. “In 1869 Congress initiated the 15th Amendment to the Constitution… but the defeat of a version with fewer loopholes provided additional proof that the influence of the Radicals was waning” (Reconstruction). Despite efforts of the federal government, it was difficult to change the mind of a nation set in its ways. Since there were no additions that prevented loopholes, Southern states found many ways to prevent black Americans from voting other than violence, such as literacy tests rigged against black Americans. When Congress denied a more supportive 15th amendment, they opened

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