ipl-logo

Short And Long Term Effects Of Reconstruction

968 Words4 Pages

Krish Mehta Dr. Noboa-Berman A History of American Democracy in Cases 2 February 2023 The Effects of Reconstruction on the Mindset of the South Reconstruction refers to the period from 1865 to 1877 in the United States, following the Civil War, when the country sought to rebuild itself and address the legal and political status of the newly freed Black population. The period was marked by the passage of the 14th and 15th Amendements to the US Constitution, laws, and acts which aimed to secure civil rights and protections for Black Americans. Although Reconstruction implemented multiple vital laws to help establish rights for African Americans, Reconstruction was unable to change the Southern majority’s opinions of discrimination, underlining …show more content…

One major example of direct discrimination towards African Americans as a result of the lack of state enforcement was from the cases of Virginia v. Rives and Ex Parte Virginia. Despite the intentions of the cases however, the lack of enforcement from the state government only led to unresolved problems and an increase in discrimination. In the Virginia v. Rives case, although the brothers were accused of the murder, they “were accused was against no U.S. law, but only against Virginia law, and so the federal courts had no jurisdiction.” Even though the brothers had committed a crime, the odds they were tried fairly by the state courtwere highly unlikely. State courts also prevented the intervention of the federal government when dealing with the judges in Virginia v. Rives. Rives attempted to order the arrest of the first group of judges, however, Deputy Marshal Luck declined, stating, “he would only notify them [law enforcement] when they were due.” This is a direct example of the lack of state enforcement delaying the arrest of judges, allowing little to no enforcement of laws to …show more content…

Reconstruction first introduced the 1866 Civil Rights Bill which encompassed the first national definition of a U.S. Citizen: “all persons born in the US and not subject to any foreign power.” The Civil Rights Bill focused on equalizing the rights of everyone in America and creating the opportunity for proper equality for all. Along with the Civil Rights Bill, Reconstruction introduced the 1867 Reconstruction Acts. These acts outlawed color restrictions on voting and delegation, allowing for the elimination of racial voting restrictions on the state level allowing 265 African Americans in the South to serve as delegates to State Constitution Conventions. However, despite all the measures to protect the rights of African Americans using a plethora of acts and laws, the acts and laws enacted were unable to change the opinions of white Southerners towards African Americans holding office and voting rights. After the implementation of the 1867 Reconstruction Acts, Republicans ended up losing control of the state of Louisiana as a result of white violence, depressing African American voter turnout. One major force backing the white violence was hate groups. Hate groups, such as the KKK, were

Show More
Related

The Freedmen's Bureau Act: The First Reconstruction Era

324 Words | 2 Pages

362) These government measures gifted African Americans the rights and benefits of citizenship. However, planters resented these advancements and wished to regain their previous social and political dominance. When the First Reconstruction Act was passed in 1867, political activity among African Americans surged, with “approximately 735,000 black and 635,000 white voters” enrolled in the ten unreconstructed states, and black electoral majorities in five states, as reported by Faragher. (Out of Many, p. 372) After African Americans were granted the right to vote in February 1869 with the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment, “Congress required the four remaining unreconstructed states to ratify both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments before readmission,” as stated by Faragher.

Read More

The Pros And Cons Of Reconstruction

826 Words | 4 Pages

A few days after the civil War ended, President Lincoln was assassinated and never had the chance to implement his Reconstruction plan.   The Reconstruction Era occurred in the period of 1865 to 1877 under the reign of President Andrew Johnson who was the predecessor of President Lincoln.  Congress was not scheduled to convene until December 1865, which gave Johnson eight months to pursue his own Reconstruction policies. Under his Reconstruction policies, the former Confederate states were required to join back into the Union and heal the wounds of the nation.

Read More

The Crop-Lien System Analysis

747 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

How Was Reconstruction Successful

264 Words | 2 Pages

Reconstruction was successful in the idea that is reunited the United States by the former Confederate states pledging to the United States government and developing a new constitution which embodied the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments. At first, Reconstruction brought numerous job opportunities for black and whites in the South since collaboration was essential for the nation to be whole again. Furthermore, education, Freedmen 's Bureau, and laws were established in order to provide the newly freedmen with any assistance to feel like an American citizen. Some examples of these specific laws or acts are the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments and the Civil Rights Act of 1875 which “required the state governments provide equal

Read More

Short And Long Term Effects Of The Reconstruction Plan

1746 Words | 7 Pages

The end of Reconstruction was a staggered process, with Republican control ending at different times in different states. It was the Compromise of 1877, however, that finally ended all military intervention in Southern politics and Republican control of state governments in the South. This began the Jim Crow Era. White-dominated state legislatures enacted Jim Crow laws and disenfranchised Black citizens through a combination of election laws and constitutional

Read More

What Are The Effects Of Reconstruction By Eric Foner

1449 Words | 6 Pages

A main issue stemming from the results of the Civil War was the formation of white terrorist and supremacist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan. They resorted to ferocity and harassment to try to prevent the freed people from living the rights they deserved. For instance, “black political leaders faced the constant threat of violence, an endemic feature of post-Civil War southern society” confirmed the white supremacists’ goal of turning away African Americans (Foner 134). Simultaneously, the Compromise of 1877 brought the overall end to the Reconstruction efforts. In an attempt to reunite the government, a compromise was made to satisfy both sides of the government.

Read More

Andrew Johnson Quarrels Of Slavery

105 Words | 1 Pages

Efforts from the congress after the rejection of President Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan involved enacting laws and amendments that enforced equal rights only to the now freed male slaves and gave them the right to vote and hold office. The government, confronted with formation of anti-equality groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and many others that opposed equality, soon enacted the Black Codes. The congress then passed the Freedmen’s Bureau and Civil Rights Bills in hopes to settle the quarrels of slavery by declaring all born in the U.S as citizens but unfortunately, Johnson declined these bills. To retaliate, the Civil Rights Act

Read More

Reconstruction Dbq

1625 Words | 7 Pages

Reconstruction, one of the most controversial eras in the history of the United States, focused on rebuilding and reuniting the United States after the Civil War; a war that decided the fate of slavery. One key part in doing so was to free the slaves and make their lives better. After rejecting the Reconstruction plan of President Andrew Johnson, the Republican Congress enacted laws and Constitutional Amendments that empowered the federal government to enforce the principle of equal rights. They also gave black Southerners the right to vote and hold office. However, groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and state laws in the South confronted Reconstruction.

Read More

What Are The Policies Of Reconstruction And Reunion

937 Words | 4 Pages

While the legislation of the radical Republicans brought much-needed measures of radical equality to America, their enforcement of such measures came at a time when the South was already looking for reasons to resent the Union, and the military action certainly didn't help the concept of remaining on good terms. Corruption under these regimes were rampant as well, in which radical government schemers took advantage of the money provided for new public programs and used it to pad their own wallets. The Ku Klux Klan began because of the backlash from the hastily-passed 15th Amendment and would proceed to beat, threaten, and murder blacks and Republicans alike, creating an atmosphere of fear and a movement that would persist until the 1920s. In the end, the results of Congress's actions served to alienate Republicanism in the South, and the good they attempted to do for freed blacks was ultimately undermined by Southern voting stipulations, governmental corruption, and a Northern disinterest in the plight of African Americans. Lincoln's plan never saw fruition and never had the chance to evolve as necessary; only the bare ideas were in place, and written before the war was even over.

Read More

Was Reconstruction A Failure Of Reconstruction

128 Words | 1 Pages

Reconstruction was an attempt by Abraham Lincoln to rebuild the war-torn South. Its goals were to fix the economy, allow new freedmen to exercise their freedom, and restore white Southerners’ loyalty to the Union. Although the passing of the 14th and 15th amendment ensured that African-Americans’ rights are protected; white Southerners found ways to prevent them from enjoying their rights, such as the establishment of the KKK and the creation of Black Codes. The Government attempted to fight these problems with laws, such as the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. In spite of these revolutionary efforts; laws passed by the Government failed to be effective.

Read More

Positive And Negative Effects Of Reconstruction

1751 Words | 8 Pages

The Reconstruction Era, sparked by the conclusion of the devastating Civil War, was a crucial period in American history that aimed to transition the divided nation to a more unified one. However, reformers and political figures faced significant political, social, and economic changes which they were unable to adapt to. President Lincoln’s role was replaced, after his assassination, by corrupted officers that didn’t prioritize Reconstruction. The United States government was faced with challenging dilemmas in this period that they only overcame with controversial policies. Lastly, white Southerners enforcing racist policies unforeseeably succeeded in preventing African Americans from gaining Civil Rights.

Read More

Goals Of Reconstruction

1074 Words | 5 Pages

Once Johnson was no longer in charge congress put into place the Civil Rights Act, an act that declared everyone who was born in the United states to be granted a citizen no matter their race or previous conditions. This meant all former slaves could become true legal citizens. Similarly, the 14th amendment made it so that each state was to give equal protection of the laws to everyone because it too declared all citizens were equal. This amendment also would not allow for confederate political leaders to hold positions and it would not forgive any debts of the confederacy. Following the civil rights act and the 14th amendment the 15th amendment and then another civil rights act were also put into effect.

Read More

Impact Of Racism On Reconstruction

1533 Words | 7 Pages

Racism’s Impact on Reconstruction While the issue of slavery evidently contributed to the divide that resulted in the American Civil War, it is debated whether prevailing ideals of racism caused the failure of the era following the war known as Reconstruction. With the abolishment of slavery, many of the southern states had to reassemble the social, economic, and political systems instilled in their societies. The Reconstruction Era was originally led by a radical republican government that pushed to raise taxes, establish coalition governments, and deprive former confederates of superiority they might have once held. However, during this time common views were obtained that the South could recover independently and that African Americans

Read More

Reconstruction Argumentative Essay

669 Words | 3 Pages

Reconstruction is during which the United States began to rebuild the Southern society after they lost to the civil war. It lasted from 1865 to 1877, and it was initiated by President Lincoln until his assassination in 1865. President Johnson continued Lincoln’s agenda to continue the Reconstruction. Throughout the process of Reconstruction, one of its main purpose was to guarantees for equal rights for all people, especially for the African Americans. Even though slavery was abolished after the civil war, many Southerners were still against the idea of equal rights for all black people, such as the Republicans.

Read More

Post Civil War And Reconstruction Essay

393 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More

More about Short And Long Term Effects Of Reconstruction

Related Topics

Open Document