Imagine Being forced to work hard labor day and night for someone who treated you badly. How you you feel if you were forced into slavery and then laws changed to worse conditions? Four million African American Slaves may have gained their freedom, but the process of rebuilding brought the South significant challenges. Conflict continued between the North and the South as the whites resentment towards the South lead to violence. After the destruction of the Civil War, the United States an immense challenge of rebuilding. The Reconstruction Era started after the War ended which was in 1865. For all Americans, Reconstruction was a time of fundamental changes. As for the freed slaves it was unsuccessfully achieved socially, economically, and politically. …show more content…
Three constitutional amendments altered the nature of African American rights, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude.., shall exist in the United States…”(Section 1 Document D). “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subjected to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens,”(Section 2 Document D). “The right of citizens of the United states to vote shall not be denied,”(Section 3 Document D). Slavery was abolished, they were becoming citizens, and gained the rights to vote. Although these amendments seem great, the whites still found a way to torment free slaves. The African American males were eligible to vote now, but ended up not enjoying their citizenship and rights to vote. All African Americans were granted “The First Vote,”(Document F). They were now citizens and were allowed to vote due to the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment. This should have been a great moment in history for the blacks, but instead whites made them feel like being a citizen was bad and they hurt and tormented them. The Reconstruction Era negatively affected the South more so than the North politically. Throughout the Reconstruction Era there were many advantages and disadvantages. The Reconstruction Era was unsuccessful because of what came after freeing slaves, money and work issues, and because of citizen rights and voting policies. Even though the Reconstruction Era brought many advantages to the states, African Americans had a difficult time during the rebuilding process. The Reconstruction Era will always remain important in the history of the United states. It is important for people now to know the history of the rebuilding process as unsuccessful so that we never make the same
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.
Finally, with the ratification the fifteenth amendment in 1870s, it secured the vote for the African Americans, and it forbid states from denying any citizens from the right to vote based on race, color, or “previous condition of servitude.” These three amendments were significant changes during the Reconstruction period because all people, not just white, can fully enjoy being an American citizen without worrying over their race or
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.
As a result of the end of the Civil War in 1865, which was fought over the system of slavery, three amendments were passed in order to achieve equality between whites and African Americans. Slavery was abolished by the 13th amendment, citizenship was given to all African Americans in the 14th amendment and suffrage for men was provided under the 15th amendment. Although these rights were given to African Americans, many southern states found ways to still mistreat them. Furthermore, one of the biggest mistakes during the Reconstruction Era was not to give any kind of economic resources or opportunities for African Americans. Although they technically had freedom, many found themselves forced to go back to their previous job as they had no
The Reconstruction affected the freed slaves economically, politically, and socially. There is no doubt that Freed slaves had no clothes and money plus black people voting rights were taken away. The African-Americans had negatives things, such as Sharecropping, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Ku Klux Klan. Sharecropping was the biggest economical reason that affected the freed slaves during reconstruction. Sharecropping means that the slaves had to give a portion of whatever they grew to their land owners.
The Reconstruction, in my opinion, was a failure for it did not freed every man of color even though the Thirteen amendment formally abolished slavery; in the antebellum years and with the assassination of President Lincoln, the road to Reconstruction took a different road. Moreover, the Southern states were required to take a bow of loyalty to the Nation and abolish slavery before being readmitted to the Union. However, in the mid-west states black codes were stablished to regulate the migration of free African-Americans, while the black codes established in Southern States were an attempt to suppress the freedmen and force them into labor for low to no wages. Also, African- Americans were restricted on property ownership, business management
Historian Eric Foner, describes Reconstruction in the US, as a “splendid failure”. Reconstruction, was the period after the Civil War, in which the government tried to “fix” the country from all the harm caused. There are some good things to have come out of it, like the African-Americans representation in the government, or the ability to establish Schools, and Churches. But with the positives, there were negatives, in a large way, whether it be the start of terrorist groups like the Klu-Klux Klan, or economic hardships like the Panic of 1873. Overall, I feel that the negatives outweighed the positives, but there are still important positives to come out of it.
The fifteenth amendment granted voting rights for all which was important to the social structure of modern society without voting there wouldn 't be any tranquility or any sign of fairness/impartial. According to the 15th amendment “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” This statement impacts and is still used to this day showing that the right vote shouldn 't be taken away from your racial ethnicity or color. This shows that the social structure of the reconstruction era was successful because congress passed an impartial law which implemented both colored and the
The reconstruction period was a period in which people of the Southern regions were victims of discrimination and injustice. Several groups of the population were targeted and treated unfairly. Those groups included: The Freemen, Southern citizens, soldiers who fought for the confederacy, and political leaders.
The reconstruction era was a major point in history riddled with turmoil. With the confederate loss, readmittance to the union was crucial for the southern states to survive. The union had dominated in war and their economy was progressing while the south was on a major decline. Due to this fact plans for reconstruction arose. There were three different plans made by congress, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Johnson.
Reconstruction from 1865-1877 wasn 't a failure, as it had balanced the power between Congress and the President as well as reunited the nation after the destruction of the war. This created political opportunities for more groups of people and passed acts to eliminate inequalities in the United States. In order to achieve an equal and united community, many attempts were made to aid former slaves economically. The Freedman’s Bureau, Lincoln’s 10 Percent Plan, and The Thirteenth Amendment, were few of the reconstruction plans made by the United States government.
African Americans were allowed to vote however they were intimidated fear their lives to both so it was useless. Newly freed slaves were aided through the usage of federal laws and constitutional amendments. Former slaves were enabled to vote, own property, legally marriage, receive and education and file lawsuits. This extended the power of the newly freedmen. Women were jealous because they still weren't allowed to vote or have a say in
They had own rights to form their individual lives and participate in voting. Even Though the power was limited, in consequence, 6 blacks served in U.S congress during reconstruction era. This displays the significant power growth of blacks and great cooperation within the community. Along the amendments, Civil Rights Act of 1866 also
The reconstruction period was a failure because African Americans, mainly males, were not treated with equality although the constitution said that the they were free and had the right to vote, be educated and had the right to liberty, life and the pursuit to happiness. Organizations, like the KKK, were created to harm freed slaves and their families. Laws were created such as the Black Codes restricting former slaves from their rights. African Americans endured a lot of violence over the years. “In Grayson, Texas, a white man and two friends murdered three former slaves because the wanted to ‘ thin the niggers out and drive them to their hole’”.
On the other side of the Reconstruction, it was filled with missteps. While the Reconstruction gave the slaves their freedom, the idea of it was pessimistic. To begin with, the Southern whites rejected all forms of equality and the African Americans wanted nothing but freedom and land to call their own. The differences between the two races led to inevitable riots. The Reconstruction failed when the states adopted the Black Codes.