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History of racism in America
American history racism before 1877
American history racism before 1877
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More handpicked essays just for you.
History of racism in America
American history racism before 1877
American history racism before 1877
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In Document B, the voters believed that the types of people allowed to vote went against the beliefs of liberty. Even though Andrew Jackson did not allow groups such as african americans or women to vote, he was still able to expand the
Black citizens have waited a century for equal rights, yet still struggle for equal rights, “Five score years ago, a great American… signed the Emancipation Proclamation… But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free.” (Page 261, para. 2-3). This states that they were promised equal rights 100 years ago, and haven’t received them nevertheless.
The African Americans were “free” but were still being treated like slaves. They were given rights but had them taken away and were working for very little pay which was unfair compared to how whites were working for more. The blacks couldn’t even own a house or even rent unless they worked for a white man. They couldn’t even work unless it was for some white person or former owner. This is why reconstruction in the south after the civil war was a big
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.
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
Wasn’t America always the “Land of the free”? Doesn’t every single citizen of the United States have the inalienable right of “Freedom of Speech”? These are needed questions because these statements did not stand true for African Americans back in the time of slavery. For over 200 years slavery had been a huge function in America. Abolitionists like Frederick Douglass, John Brown and Harriet Tubman had to use different techniques to further the overall message that slavery needed to end and that it was not in any shape or form justifiable to treat an entire African American race like they were lesser than or caged up animals.
Sources Analysis Freedom During the Reconstruction era, the idea of freedom could have many different meanings. Everyday factors that we don't often think about today such as the color of our skin, where we were born, and whether or not we own land determined what limitations were placed on the ability to live our life to the fullest. To dig deeper into what freedom meant for different individuals during this time period, I analyzed three primary sources written by those who experienced this first hand. These included “Excerpts from The Black Codes of Mississippi” (1865), “Jourdan Anderson to his old master” (1865), and “Testimony on the Ku Klux Klan in Congressional Hearing” (1872).
This amendment helped blacks economically because they could now sue whites for cheating them thanks to due process; however, as previously stated, most times if a black and a white were against each other in a trial, the white man would have the victory due to the prejudices of that time. Socially blacks were forbidden to serve on a jury thanks to the Black Codes being passed under Andrew Johnson’s racist presidency. The fourteenth amendment allowed blacks more freedom in the eyes of the government, but in local settings this tenement was not practiced fully, most of
The black folk were freed by the abolition of slavery, yet this new freedom was not so. Ther identity was forever fractured between black and American, and even after they internalized the whites’ perspectives of them, they still wanted to be both without the disadvantages and racism. They were degraded, dehumanize, and shamed for their lack of education and job skills. In 1865, the Freemen’s Bureau was established by Congress to provide them with aid after living in slavery and not owning tools, homes, or land.
President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which states the freedom of people held as slaves. So, were the African Americans practically free according to the emancipation proclamation in 1863? Not quite, despite the way that this decision took into freeing the slaves, it was limited at the time to certain states. Also, it was more of a fundamental change in the goals of this war.
The Reconstruction period lasted from 1865 to 1877. The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendment were created during the twelve years of rebuilding the country. All of the amendments were made to protect former slaves and their rights but on paper they did not have any rights. The reconstruction period had its successes and failures.
Frederick Douglass’s “What the Black Man Wants” captures the need for change in post Civil War America. The document presses the importance for change, with the mindset of the black man being, ‘if not now then never’. Parallel to this document is the letter of Jourdon Anderson, writing to his old master. Similar to Douglas, Mr. Anderson speaks of the same change and establishes his worth as freed man to his previous slave owner. These writings both teach and remind us about the evils of slavery and the continued need for equality, change, and reform.
The blacks had the same rights as whites but they were not treated the same. A lot of time they really had no rights. The blacks basically stayed in their own community so they would not be bothered. Which leads us to the next topic Social Stratification.
Although technically people of color had the right, white people were making it very difficult to register. When African Americans went to register they would be tested continuously, something white people never had to deal with. Only two percent of African Americans in the south could vote. Before the march from Selma to Montgomery there were many protests to try to gain fair voting rights. One man, Jimmie Lee Jackson was killed at a peaceful protest by a state trooper.
African Americans had a hard time in the south during the 1900s. The obstacles that A.A. had to endure was not be able to vote due to the color of their skin. Other factors was poll taxes, literacy tests, and bureaucratic restrictions that also played a part in denying them the right to vote. As a result, very few African Americans were registered voters, and they had very little, if any, political power, either locally or nationally.