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Race Issues During The Reconstruction Era

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The Reconstruction Era was the rebuilding of the United States after the Civil War. Race issues were prominent during this era. Initially, freed people acquired no roles. They were not allowed to vote, to sue, seat in juries, testify, or sit in office. Congress passed the fourteenth amendment stating any individual born or naturalized in the United States was a citizen and had full civil rights. Therefore, Congress takes over the Reconstruction from the President and established that everyone can vote, including former slaves. Schools were built for freedmen. Due to anger and the desire to maintain white supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan was created. They strike against anyone against the Confederate army. In 1865, the Black Codes “attempted to regulate the lives of the former slaves” (pg. 7). The rights given to the former slaves were the right to sue and be sued, own property, and be a witness in court eases. …show more content…

The rapid immigration caused a surplus of workers and poverty and unemployment became common. Although, skilled workers with jobs experienced high wages. This movement stimulated the economy and introduced the middle class of America. The Gilded Age was the birth of growth of the nation through industrialization and urbanization. Throughout the Gilded Age, middle-class Americans followed the concept of Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism explained the reasoning for success and failure amongst social classes. William Graham Sumner stated, “It is impossible that the man with capital and the man without capital should be equal” (pg. 39). Andrew Carnegie was in favor of building institutions rather than giving charity to the poor because it benefited people who wanted to help themselves. Public education would uplift the entire community. He believed that wealthy individuals would contribute to the economy instead of being

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