Unit 11 DBQ The United States had just concluded a four-year civil war lasting from 1861 to 1865. The war took place due to disagreements in the North and South over a heart-hurting topic, slavery. After the North won the civil war, African Americans were released from slavery in the United States. The new Freedmen sought equality and Radical Republicans in Congress supported them heavily. While the Radical Republicans were doing anything possible to grant African Americans equality, the South was doing anything to avoid giving them equality. Despite the souths attempts, reconstruction was successful because it protected social rights, political rights, and economic rights. Reconstruction was successful because it improved the protection of African Americans' social …show more content…
With the creation of the 13th Amendment, slavery was prohibited in the United States. Ratified in 1865, it stated, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction” (Document A). African Americans were officially free after this amendment was Ratified in the Constitution and the newly Freedmen were officially viewed differently in society. Instead of being held as slaves and viewed as property, now African Americans were viewed as Americans and could participate in public life. Therefore, Reconstruction was a success because slavery was one of the main reasons for the Civil War occurring; but with Reconstruction, the issue of slavery was resolved. Reconstruction was an accomplishment because it defended the political rights of African Americans. Natural rights and citizenship were granted to African Americans with the Ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1866. The newly ratified Amendment specified, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the
The Reconstruction Era (1865-1876) was a time of great healing for the United States after the American Civil War (1861-1865). The newly emancipated African-Americans in the former Confederate States of America were given new freedoms that included the right not to be enslaved (13th Amendment, citizenship under the 14th Amendment and the right to vote (15th Amendment). Even though these rights were guaranteed by Constitutional law, the South continued to oppress the African-Americans by implementing Jim Crow Laws in an attempt to intimidate and prevent them from exercising these new privileges. Many former Confederate veterans were still hurting emotionally and physically from the war, and by being readmitted into the Union meant giving up
In 1861, the America civil war had just begun was it ended in 1865. The American civil war is the reason why slaves got their freedom. During the reconstruction era, Congress passed the 13,14,15th amendments that abolished slavery, the rights to citizenship, and the rights to vote for African
In my opinion I believe that the reconstruction was both a success and also a fail. The reason that it was a success was the simple fact that the United States got its name back again. The reconstruction era helped the United States become a unified nation. Another pro from this era was the fact that the North and the South no longer had any form of separation. During this time, three new amendments were added to the constitution.
The main goal of Reconstruction was to bring the rebel states back into the Union and to help the slaves become a part of society. These goals were achieved but it had both successes and failures. The major successes brought from the Reconstruction were: 1. The reunification of the Union: Reconstruction succeeded in bringing rebel states together. 2.
The period of Reconstruction can be described as the period after the Civil War in which the states formerly part of the Confederacy were brought back into the United States. The period of Reconstruction began in 1865 shortly after President Lincoln's reelection, and came to an end in 1877 when President Hayes withdrew the last federal troops from the South and the Republican government collapsed. While reuniting the Union, Reconstruction sought to enhance Black rights and freedoms in order to establish a truly free country after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, and the Thirteenth Amendment which was ratified in 1865. However, despite these important new Constitutional rights and protections for the freed African Americans, the promise
During these times this war was a family going head to head. That would finalize the fate of millions of slaves. After the Civil War there was reconstruction, even then there was still the popular opinion that slavery would still be there in some shape or form. Some people argue that constitutionally and socially
The Reconstruction took place following the Civil War that helped rebuild the United States, but in many ways the Reconstruction was a war itself with all the pain that came with it. The one of the only differences was that the military conflict no longer existed between the North and the South. The Reconstruction was brought by the Northerners who wanted the Southerners to pay for what they caused and the Southerners who wanted to keep their life the same as before. Nevertheless, the Civil war brought slavery to an end and altered the African-Americans rights by three new Amendments. Abolishing slavery in all states, the Thirteenth Amendment was the first of the three Amendments that brought African-Americans their rights.
In 1858, President Lincoln wanted to end slavery, he wanted America to become one thing, or the other. Unfortunately, Southerns didn't agreed to Lincoln's decision, which is why Southern States seceded from the Union and later on caused the Civil War. The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865, causing many damages to both the North and South. However, Southern States were severely crippled after war, and southerners daily lives came to a half since the war caused the destruction of their homes and towns. All of this was very difficult for the South to recover since their economy was based on agriculture.
The Reconstruction allowed many opportunities for African Americans. During this time many African Americans were able to vote, black American citizens were denied the right to vote but because of the constitution this was a violation. Illiterate African Americans began to go to school to receive an education, black leaders came about. Many of them became delegates that were elected this, however, led to a fear of African American dominance, and a Southern backlash caused African Americans Their civil rights. Southern whites did not agree to this and tried everything in their power to prevent it from happening.
The Reconstruction period of United States history was a critical and difficult time for the country. It was a period of great progress, but also of tremendous suffering. During this time, the United States made several significant achievements that would forever change the course of history. The most important achievement during this time period was the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865.
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 .
When the war broke out in 1861, a year after President Lincoln’s election, he deemed it as a central goal to preserve the union, when he states, “A government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free..." Majority of southern slaveholding states succeeded in the fear that Republicans would abolish slavery, the driving force behind their economy. As the situation grew more complex the debate over wanting to still withhold its newfound territory and the institution of slavery remained at the forefront of the war. Also hindering the United States’s position and facade as an ‘International Superpower.” 1865, the U.S Congress approved the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which, abolished slavery.
These laws oppressed black people and restricted their freedom. Because of the poor treating of African Americans and the Black Codes, The Reconstruction period was a failure. Some people were very unhappy when slavery was abolished. Southerners were frustrated that their property would be taken from them and turned into citizens.
Under the Compromise of 1877, the government could no longer intervene with state affairs. Also, there was nothing to keep the southerners from taking advantage to disobey the law. In fact, many southerners made up their own laws or black codes that put restrictions of African Americans. Even though protection laws were in place, they didn’t have much force behind them. I guess when you ask the question, was the Reconstruction a success or a failure?
The Reconstruction left behind good results as splendid and failure. And one splendid part that made the Reconstruction was that the federal government outlawed slavery with the 13th Amendment, gave citizenship and stated to protect all Americans with the 14th Amendment. As to Freedman’s Bureau and the Civil Rights Act, gave African Americans the opportunity to take part equally in society. Black men could now participate as governors and senators.