Dbq Essay On African American States

Between the period of 1860-1877 the United States was experiencing one of the most difficult and controversial time periods in America History. Due to several issues that had been developing in the nation for a while, citizens were faced with a period of Civil War and Reconstruction, leading to a revolution. The expansion of the federal governments power through the National Banking Act and Supremacy Clause, increase in freedom for African Americans through Emancipation Proclamation, and addition of 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, as well as the major social changes in both the North and South show the revolutionary changes occurring in the nation at the time.
Since the United States became an independent nation the balance between states

People of African American descent were viewed as property in the eyes of American citizens for a great deal of time. However, between the years of 1860-1877, there was an unprecedented increase in freedom for African Americans. For example, the image in Document G, titled “The First Vote” shows black men casting their votes. This is a vast change from being unable to be considered anything but property to having a say in government and politics. Additionally, document G suggests the addition of the 15th amendment, stating the right of citizens to vote shall not be denied on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Document E, the petition of Freedmen to obtain their own land show that the right to owning land is a crucial freedom that these men were promised during the war. Thaddeus Stevens promised these men “40 acres and a mule” once they were freed and this petition is seeking equal rights and protection from the federal government, especially when people who are in rebellion are obtaining more opportunities than the freedmen are. Document E is bias because the Freedmen’s Bureau was created to educate and strengthen freedoms for previously enslaved people and advocate for equal rights, therefore causing them to have strong opinions about the Homesteads. Document F also contributes to the increase in freedom for African Americans because it

Daily life was affected and along with these newfound freedoms came a multitude of struggles, that all were impacted by. Document C, a petition from American Citizens of African descent presents the inequalities faced by African Americans. The petitions stated that if they were trusted with weapons during war, they should be trusted to vote. This issue was eventually resolved through the 15th amendment but caused lots of conflict among citizens. Document C additionally promoted equal rights for African Americans because it is a petition from Citizens of African descent. In addition, Document D also presents a conflict in the shift of power, as Lincoln’s secretary believes that the power of the federal government is to abolish slavery, but it ends there. they have limited power in defining the standards of freedom and equality that African Americans will experience after abolishing slavery. Along with the abolishment of slavery came many anti-African American societies as well as harsh discrimination. Document I shows the cruel conditions faced by African Americans even after slavery. The establishment of Jim Crow Laws and organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan show the issues that came along with this revolutionary time period, causing vast social and political