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The importance of the reconstruction era
The importance of the reconstruction era
The importance of the reconstruction era
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Throughout history, African Americans have been physically and emotionally degraded as human beings by the whites. Even after the Civil War, a vast number of Southern whites refused to accept African Americans as freed individuals and continued to treat them with great hatred. As seen through the Black Codes and the Ku Klux Klan society, it revealed whites’ attempt to re-establish regional dominance over the black community. During 1865 and early 1866, many state legislatures in the South passed the Black Codes. These new set of laws continued to oppress African Americans and prevented them from living freely.
Introduction: With the Emancipation Proclamation being declared in 1863 by Lincoln and the 13th Amendment being enacted later in 1865 all the slaves were emancipated. Due to the large number of freed slaves many of whom were non educated the equality that became immediately present had to be solved. Unlike other social gaps present in America at the time blacks were not only subjected to the ongoing philosophy of white supremacy but were also the targets of state laws which prohibited blacks from rights guaranteed by the constitution.
As the Civil War represented the fight between labor systems and the shift of power, Africans Americans weren’t really free. As an immediate result after the war, they were subjugated to several laws and racism swept the
After the ratification of The 13th Amendment [Document A] in December 1865, “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..” Southern states put forth what was called Black Codes, which were deliberately meant to demean and beat down Black Americans. An example of a Black Code is [Document C] “It shall not be lawful for any freedman… to intermarry with any white person… and any person shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and… confined in the State penitentiary for life…” where it is considered a crime deserving of confinement for life when a Black person to marry a White person, classified as a felony. This is only one example of many other Black Codes that were made to press Black people in retaliation to the 13th
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
It therefore left slaves in the Union’s territory under the ownership of slaveholders. It can therefore be argued that African American’s were not emancipated until Congress issued the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, Berlin states that ‘Even after the surrender of the Confederacy, slavery survived in two border states until the Thirteenth Amendment became part of the United States Constitution in December 1865’. It is therefore interesting to look to the actions of slaves after the Emancipation Proclamation, which can further suggest their role in their eventual emancipation. However, it also suggests an interplay of factors, as the Presidents executive order gave rise to new opportunities for African Americans to fight for their freedom. The Emancipation Proclamation ordered that those freed could be enrolled into the paid service of the Union’s armed forces.
When President Abraham Lincoln declared “...all persons held as a slave are henceforward free,” he intended for all citizens, regardless of race, to have all rights given to Americans under the constitution. However, up until the 1960’s, this was prohibited by Jim Crow laws. These laws were state and local rules that enforced segregation and discrimination between races. Consequently, racial tension grew among communities. This hostile mood is often seen as an important aspect of southern culture in the 1930’s.
Why is America so big on Freedom and Equality? After the Civil War there was an Reconstruction Era. Which is the time where people fought for African Americans and was from 1865-1877. With lots of challenges and setbacks to this fight for freedom. There were two significant speeches that was is in this fight , Abraham Lincoln and also, Fredrick Douglass.
The American dream is described as the “dream of land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity each according to ability or achievement”. In the South, the Reconstruction Era took place officially from 1865-1877. However, events still continued after 1877. As slaves were now free after the civil war, White Northerners, educated Northern Blacks, Newly Freed Slaves, and Yeoman farmers all wanted the same thing–for everyone to be equal. In the Reconstruction Era, African Americans were given many opportunities such as jobs, education, freedom, citizenship and protection of their rights.
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 .
African Americans have been enslaved in what is now the United States since the early 17th century. By the time of the American Revolution and eventual adoption of the new Constitution in 1787, slavery was slowly dying. As part of the compromises that allowed the Constitution to be written and accepted, founders agreed to end admission of slaves into the United States by1807 to 1808. Around the early 1800’s, however, African American slavery was once again a booming establishment. The debate of slavery’s future caused a divide within the nation, thus causing the
The developments that occured in the United States of America during the Civil War and Reconstruction Era were arguably revolutionary. During these years of 1860 to 1877, not only did social change take place, but also constitutional change. By the end of the Civil War, many aspects were questioned, such as black status and readmission of former confederate states. At the end of it all, three amendments had been ratified and southerners were forced to accept that blacks were their equals. With many changes happening, the constitution had a full revolution by adding three amendments that challenged the beliefs of many, while social changes merely took a step up and didn’t last long.
After the north had won the Civil War, the treatment of African Americans was on the rise. The Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments were passed, churches and schools were built, and the Freedman’s
Right? “The Mississippi Black Codes of 1865” demonstrates that white southerners were not on board with this “New America” and would do anything possible, legal or not, to
In the period of reconstruction, there was a lack of racial equality and racism towards blacks. The 13th amendment abolished slavery, with the exception of allowing it as a punishment for a crime (“Thirteenth Amendment” 19). Although it abolished slavery, there was still a lack of equality towards blacks. The Black Codes were state laws in the south, that were implemented in 1866. These laws limited the rights of African Americans and were
