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How Did Reconstruction Change The Social Structure Of The Northern And Southern States?

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Slavery was one of the most notorious institution that happened in the United States. Being prevalent in 1619 through 1865, during this time the Northern and Southern states were living two different lifestyles prior to the war. The Northern states’ objective was to expand industrialization further south, however the Southern states’ completely disagreed and wanted to remain rural and continue white supremacy. Owning slaves was a way of life for the Southern elites, they wanted to maintain black subordination. In 1865-1877 there was a period called Reconstruction that took place after the Civil War. The main purpose for Reconstruction was to “rebuild” the United States after the physical and economic devastation caused by the war. Due to the …show more content…

When the Radical Republican party wanted to give the same rights to African American, white supremacy immediately opposed it because of the fact that it would change how the social structure was organized. According to the Confederate States people of African descent were meant to be inferior and white superiority should ultimately continue in power. Equality enforced by the Radical Republicans would completely distort the ideology of white superiority. After the Civil War the 14th and 13th amendments were both ratified. The 14th amendment addresses protection and equal rights for all freedman, while the 13th amendment addresses the discontinuation of slavery. Due to the ratification of the amendments, many southern elites could not stand the fact that African Americans were freed. One solution that was developed was to destroy reconstruction by murdering Black Americans. The Ku Klux Klan was then formed, this group consisted of vindictive Confederate Army veterans. Sought out to be heros to many southern democrats, but a nightmare for African American families. The Ku Klux Klan terrorized many African American families, burned down churches, drove thousands of families out of their homes, and caused great mayhem. Fortunately, In 1871 congress passed a Force Bill giving the government power to prosecute the Ku Klux Klan. Later on the Freedmen’s Bureau was established, this agency helped plenty of African American families who were separated from one another to reunite. The Freedmen’s Bureau also helped former slaves education wise. Reading and writing was highly important to the government and the Freedmen's Bureau taught them as well.This gave many benefits to freedmen, however, the confederate states highly disapproved because they knew it would change the social structure. Education is what determines your social class and the Southern elites knew it would be a matter of time

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Republican politicians, coupled with the assistance from Northern missionaries, used government as a vehicle to push for social reform—most notably through the creation of the Freedmen’s Bureau in 1865. “Most northern missionaries went south with the preconceived idea that the slave regime was so brutal and dehumanizing that blacks were little more than uncivilized victims who needed to be taught the values and rules of civil society.” Newly-emancipated African-Americans argued that “self-determination in the educational sphere” prompted greater autonomy and agency. Anderson’s argument about African-American self-determination challenges the dominate narrative that federal largesse from the Freedmen’s Bureau and white Northerners established universal education in the South.

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Another way the reconstruction failed was by giving way to white supremacy groups. One white supremacy group that was created was the Ku Klux Klan in 1865. The Ku Klux Klan was created by six Confederate army veterans and it was appealing to many because it provided them a way to get rid of their anger for losing the war. The Klan's goal was to use violence such as riots and the killing of black Americans to reestablish white supremacy in the South. One of their main targets were African Americans and Freedman Bureau who was trying to help the African Americans by providing them homes and money.

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The KKK treated the African Americans badly such as they would either drive by and burn down houses and other buildings and in the proces murder tons of African Americans. They would bully and be violent. When a african american tryed to vote they would be beat and bullied and be called names. Even though they were freed they were not actually freed because they could not do anything.

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