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Reconstruction Amendments: African Americans And The American Dream

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For a multitude of years, African Americans were considered purchasable property, not people. When the United States ratified the Constitution and they had established their government, slavery had not been abolished. It was not until the period after The Civil War that the United States government passed the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments and African Americans had gained their long-awaited freedom and civil rights. These Reconstruction Amendments gave African Americans the right to live the American Dream. The Reconstruction Amendments helped African Americans build an American Dream by promoting their general welfare, giving them liberty, and assuring justice for all people of color. To begin with, the Thirteenth Amendment helped the African Americans build an …show more content…

The government has a responsibility to care for its citizens, but since African Americans weren’t citizens, they were not protected under the law. The Fourteenth Amendment states “All persons born or naturalized in the United States . . . are citizens of the United States.” This meant that all people born in the United States, including African Americans, would now be citizens and protected under the law, hence promoting their general welfare. The government needs to make sure that all of their citizens have a voice in politics to maintain this country’s democracy. The Fifteenth Amendment states “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied . . . by any account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” When the government passed the Fifteenth Amendment, African Americans had a voice in politics. African Americans could vote for the politician that could promote the general welfare the most. The Reconstruction Amendments promoted the general welfare of many African Americans and helped them build an American

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DBQ Essay Did you know the 13th amendment gave African Americans their freedom from slavery. Then the 14th amendment gave them their citizenship. Finally, the 15th amendment was passed so that they had the right to vote. These amendments were passed during reconstruction. Even with these amendments, freedmen’s lives didn’t change much socially, economically, and politically throughout reconstruction.

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African American Rights During Reconstruction By Dane Worthington Hour 7 Advanced Social Studies How many African Americans in the 1800s do you think thought that Reconstruction made them equal to White American citizens? Reconstruction was the process in which Southern states were reintegrated into the Union. During Reconstruction African Americans were given rights were supposed to have them protected by the United States military.

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Following the ending of the Civil War in 1865, America was in an era known as the Reconstruction. The Reconstruction lasted until 1877. Citizens were attempting to rebuild our nation following one of the deadliest war in American History. In this time, the Fourteenth Amendment and Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution were ratified. Although slaves were freed, African Americans still faced intense racial prejudice and discrimination.

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Nevertheless, after the civil war this amendment was to provide blacks citizenship into the United States. To make them feel a part of their country, to provide life and liberty. This was to provide social justice for African Americans. Economically, former slaves no longer had to work

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Although slavery was declared over after the passing of the thirteenth amendment, African Americans were not being treated with the respect or equality they deserved. Socially, politically and economically, African American people were not being given equal opportunities as white people. They had certain laws directed at them, which held them back from being equal to their white peers. They also had certain requirements, making it difficult for many African Americans to participate in the opportunity to vote for government leaders. Although they were freed from slavery, there was still a long way to go for equality through America’s reconstruction plan.

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It was rough for African Americans in the 1890’s, and though they tried to live a normal easy life they always had obstacles that got in the way. They had thought everything was going good for them with the 13th and 14th amendment being announced. Also The Emancipation Proclamation which stated, on January 1, 1863, "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free" was a speech that actually came out before the 13th and 14th amendment which was the whole reason why those amendments had came out. The 13th amendment stated that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”. This was such a big deal since

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At the end of the Civil War between the North and South arose the Reconstruction era. This was a time period of the late 1800s where the united states, specifically the North started to attempt the rebuilding of the South. Abolitionists were eager to see the end of slavery and Lincoln attempted to end slavery. President Lincoln attempted to put in place the Emancipation Proclamation which stated all slaves in confederate states would be free. This was to weaken the southern states; except, the confederate states did not obey.

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The thirteenth amendment stated that all former slaves were granted freedom. The reconstruction period, “did create the essential constitutional foundation for further advances in the quest for equality”. It laid the building blocks for the future building for civil rights not just for blacks but women and other minorities. Former slaves, “ found comfort in their family and in the churches they established”. Blacks took community in each other and bonded over the mutual idea of freedom .

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The reality for many African Americans was that they were being prevented from exercising their right to vote and faced violence in order to prevent them from doing so. Some of the most common tactics used against them were lynching and getting shot. The 15th Amendment gave former slaves the right to vote, but only for the men. Although this amendment was difficult to enforce at the time. As W.E.B. DuBois has stated, “The slave went free; stood for a brief moment in the sun; then moved back again toward slavery.”

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During this time when the amendment was passed the Civil War had ended in April, the Thirteenth Amendment freed the slaves and the Fourteen gave them citizenship and protection. Blacks slowly but surely finally got to have a life that seemed theoretical. America should be proud of every citizen that will stand and support the U.S. government. They are proud and glad to be in our county. That’s what America should

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The Civil War and the period of Reconstruction brought significant political, social, and economic changes to American society, and these effects continued into the 20th century. Post Civil War (After the Civil War – The period after the Civil War) - President Abraham Lincoln and Congress were determined to rebuild the nation. Lincoln wanted to restore the Union by readmitting the southern states that had seceded, as well as provide African Americans with more rights. Period of Conflict -

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Finally, with the ratification the fifteenth amendment in 1870s, it secured the vote for the African Americans, and it forbid states from denying any citizens from the right to vote based on race, color, or “previous condition of servitude.” These three amendments were significant changes during the Reconstruction period because all people, not just white, can fully enjoy being an American citizen without worrying over their race or

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African Americans and slaves who were emancipated after the civil war were given citizenship and equal rights by the fourteenth amendment in 1868. In 1870 the African American men were given the right to vote by the fifteenth amendment. Although, African Americas were given privileges of individual freedoms ensured by the United States under the thirteen fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments, recognized as

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Post Civil War, African Americans started to gain rights to gain rights, and soon gain rights equal to whites. While there were some people/things standing in their way (KKK, Black Codes), in the end they got what they needed; Equality. Many acts and laws were passed to aid the new rights now held by African Americans, as well as the numerous people willing to help. New Amendments were added to give African Americans rights after the war, all giving them some equal rights to whites. The first of the three added was the Thirteenth Amendment, it gave African Americans freedom from slave owners, and stated that no one could be kept as a slave in the U.S..

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Reconstruction era, which was followed by post-civil war, was meant to unite the states back together, reconstruct properties, and most importantly, abolish slavery in the South. Although the factors such as amendments legally freed former slaves, yet WRITE THESIS After the end of civil war in 1865, Reconstruction era, which was controlled by President Abraham Lincoln, appeared to quickly coalesce the Northern and Southern states. reconstruction amendments, which were approved between 1865 and 1870, played a huge role on giving legal rights to blacks and former slaves. 13th amendment constitutionally abolished slavery in 1865 and followed up by that, 14th and 15th amendment admitted equal citizenship, protection, and rights of suffrage despite the one’s race or skin color. Former slaves were no longer belongings of their owners.

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