The Union victory in the Civil War prompted the abolition of slavery and African American’s were granted freedom, along with rights that should have been there from the start, however, white supremacy overpowered in the South, forcing African Americans back into a state of slavery. The Reconstruction era, the postwar rebuilding of the South, proved to be an attempt towards change in the lives of African Americans but the opportunities were only available for a limited time. African Americans had hopes of a new South after the Civil War was fought yet that was only accomplished to a certain extent. African Americans have always faced discrimination in society, for that same reason they weren’t accepted into Congress. The graph shown in Document …show more content…
Terror groups rose up to assure white supremacy in the South. African Americans could never win, especially when the Ku Klux Klan always forced them into debt. Although government awareness was brought up when they interviewed Henry Blake in Document 5, nothing could be done to stop the terrorizing feelings of individuals who fail to see that people of color are human as much as someone white is. African Americans worked to get the rights they deserved so of course they would be proud of what they accomplished. Document 4 is an account of Lucy McMillan, an African American, who had her house burned down by the Ku Klux Klan for “bragging” about her land owning rights. The Ku Klux Klan is a terrorizing organization which made it impossible for African Americans to get their rights. Ida B. Wells argues that they are free but don’t have freedom because they are armed with a motive for doing everything in their power to render the freedom of African Americans. How could anyone say that the South changed when African Americans were discouraged from doing about anything, especially voting. How many massacres had to occur for people to finally realize that being free doesn't mean freedom. There were many attempts to exploit African Americans still after the Civil War. Black codes were brought up and even sharecropping. No
The KKK treated the African Americans badly such as they would either drive by and burn down houses and other buildings and in the proces murder tons of African Americans. They would bully and be violent. When a african american tryed to vote they would be beat and bullied and be called names. Even though they were freed they were not actually freed because they could not do anything.
Annabelle Wintson Bower History 8A March 12, 2018 Title Although the slavery was abolished in 1865, the rights given to African Americans were not nearly equal to those of white Americans. After slavery was abolished, inequality in American society ran high, and many laws were put in place to restrict the rights and abilities of African Americans. Some laws include the Jim Crow Laws (1870 to 1950s) and the Supreme Court Ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) that ruled that there could be “separate but equal” facilities and services for people of color and white Americans.
The book even mentions that Blacks were attacked in their housing without having provoked a White at all. In regards to education, the South limited Blacks through prohibitive and regulative actions. Many Whites directly impeded knowledge by making it illegal for Blacks to visit Black libraries (page 84). On another front, they prohibited learning by restricting funding for Black schools and materials. Books and materials were hand-me-downs from White
“I saw over twelve colored men and women, beat, shot and hung between there and Shreveport,” former slave Henry Adams writes. After the Civil War, the legal institution of slavery was abolished unless used as a just punishment. Additionally, these “freedmen” were naturalized and made citizens of the United States which allegedly granted them equal protections, whatever color or race, would have; and, they were granted black male suffrage. Some may argue that African Americans were free after the Civil War for the obvious reasons of a document stating so. However, African Americans were not free post-Antebellum era because they were deprived of their rights as “Americans citizens” through the institution Black Codes and the continuation of
In Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896) and Brown vs. Board of Education (1954,) both judicial rulings contrast through the issues of segregation, interpretation of the 14th amendment, and both of the judicial rulings occurred in different time periods, which affected the African-American community. Both of the judicial rulings are noted as crucial turning points in history for not only the African-American community, but for America as well. Although both of the cases dealt with issues regarding blacks, the judicial rulings of these cases heavily oppose each other. In the 1800’s during the Civil Right’s time period, African-Americans were forced to face segregation, and live an utterly isolated life from Caucasians.
Even though slavery was over, there was still racial tensions across the country, highly, and African Americans continued experience oppression (Source 1). Oppression meaning being subjected to unfair treatment (Source 1). With this mind, African Americans were unfairly even though before they were used, bought and also sold before this. ”The Supreme Court had given segregation a legal “okay” and many states took advantage of this” (Source 1). With this happening, it was very prevalent in the South.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights philosophy made more sense for the 1960’s. During the 1960’s the civil rights movement proved prominent. Through the 60’s thousands of leaders rose, but only two emerged above the rest. Those two were known as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Both Martin and Malcom were very intelligent men but the two had totally different views on how blacks should go about gaining civil rights. Both proved to be pioneers of the movement, however it was Martins philosophy that reigned supreme.
The collapse of the Reconstruction Era in the south led to the rise of white supremacy and discrimination against African people. There were many state laws and acts like segregation made to make African Americans feel lower than everyone else, dehumanizing them. Africans all over the country wanted change and equality in their communities and these people coming together to make a change lead to the civil rights era. The Civil rights Era, a period of time in the United States between 1954- 1968, was a nonviolent social movement and campaign to abolish segregation, racism, and white supremacy. Additionally, during this era, civil rights activists organized protests, sit-ins, marches, and boycotts to fight for their rights.
The beginning of the Civil Rights movement was the beginning of a new America. It cannot be pinpointed to a certain day, location, or person. Two young black men, however, have risen up to be the most recognizable faces of the new era: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm Little (X). These two men are polar opposites in many aspects. Martin Luther King Jr. was in the middle class, whereas Malcolm X was in poverty.
At the end, no matter what white Americans would do to belittle African Americans, it still doesn’t change the fact that many African Americans roles after the Civil War changed because they were now
In John A. Salmond’s intriguing book My Mind Set on Freedom, he brings to light the hardships of the African American people during a movement that evidently shaped the future for a progressing country. Based on the fight for freedom in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, Salmond thrusts you into an epic battle that occurred for the oppressed African American race in America. Salmond’s main theme throughout the novel was that many great people battled the great evil of slavery/oppression, and waged an inevitable battle of triumph. “ Nevertheless, the years between 1955 and 1968 saw the movement at its zenith, and it transformed the South and cleansed the nation of a great moral evil.”(162). In his viewpoint, Salmond explains the many occasions of racism throughout the South, and concedes their impact on the Civil rights movement; both good, and bad.
Former slaves who “tried to vote or participate in politics [were] likely to be singled out for “punishment”” by a terrorist organization named as the Ku Klux Klan, until the Congress passed the Force Bill in 1871 that gave the federal authorities the right to arrest and pursue active members of the KKK. But, the bill appeared to be only figurative as not really much of the Klan’s members were prosecuted (Hazen
Frederickson argues African Americans simply did not have the time or preparation to oppose racist forces. Using paramilitary forces, southern redeemers easily made threats to reconstruction forces as seen through the emergence of the violent Ku Klux Klan during the election of 1866. The opportunity for African Americans to gain a stance in society was short lived by the racist efforts of democrats in the south and impartial ideals from
The intention of this organization was to use violence against those who supported Reconstruction governments and efforts to improve conditions for African Americans. This organization was made up of mostly southern whites, and terrorized African Americans. In the article Albion W. Tourgee (1870) a man by the name of John W. Stephens, State Senator from Caswell was killed by the hands of the kkk. They killed him in the court room by stabbing him five to six times then hanging him on a hook in the court room. The reason for this horrific murder is because john was a supporter of reconstruction governments, and wanted to help African Americans.
Throughout the United States history, African Americans have suffered through a great deal of discrimination, hate crimes, police brutality, Jim Crow laws, poverty, hate groups and much more. Through it all the African American community have fought back peacefully with the help of some courageous leaders. All of the fighting led to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Although this act has made it illegal for any discrimination against race, religion, sex, and national origin, the African American community still suffers from discrimination. Many have stated that America have reached total equality for all race.