After the proclamation that established the end of slavery was signed and that this could not happen again, three amendments to the Constitution were adopted to clarify what the new status meant for former slaves, descendants of Africans and other races, including some whites who had been under forced servitude. Known as the Reconstruction amendments are 13, 14 and 15 respectively, which grant equal protection before the law, give the same privileges to all citizens and grant the right to vote. Despite the amendments, there were many obstacles and challenges, from the physical liberation of all slaves, their integration into society and the development of interracial relationships. The Proclamation was a military tactic designed to create more agitation among the slaves of the rebel territory; by itself, did nothing to free the slaves of the Union. What he did was aid to the process, already under way, of emancipation, by transforming the meaning of the war of "preserving the Union" to the war of liberation. African Americans were critical agents of change both as combatants in the war and as citizens during the Reconstruction that followed. African Americans supported the Republican Party through Union Leagues whose "Radical" members, abolitionists who believed in political equality …show more content…
With the abolition of slavery in all the states of the Union, Lincoln achieved two objectives: on the one hand, to increase considerably the number of adherents to the cause of the Union between the popular masses and also in the most important chancelleries of Europe; And, on the other hand, the massive emigration to the states of the Union of black slaves, who left the plantations and entered as soldiers of the Union. Certainly, with the liberation of black slaves, Lincoln suitably paved the way to ultimate
Ultimately, he disagreed with the institution of slavery although he did not want racial equality for African Americans, and he cared more about preserving the
Did Lincoln free the slaves, or did they free themselves? Many people would debate that Lincoln freed the slaves. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, stating all slaves in the rebellious state were free. This may have led to the slaves being freed.
In the summer of 1862, Lincoln said himself, “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.” However this was before he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The same summer he said this, the border states had rejected compensated emancipation. This was when he realized that the emancipation of slaves was important. He stressed that emancipation would “strike at the heart of the rebellion.’’
The way he wanted to accomplish this was by making ten percent of qualified voter take the loyalty oath to the union in order to organize the state government. In addition, his plan gave African Americans very significant right as he wanted the state constitution to abolish slavery. This was latter achieved in 1865
During reconstruction, African Americans wanted to be considered as “real men”, rather than inferior men. Even though African Americans were freedmen now, they were still not treated as equals to white men. African Americans were excluded from railway cars, omnibuses, stagecoaches, and steamboats entirely, or they were assigned to specific sections that they were secluded within. African Americans were permitted to vote, and some even held office. They were determined to exercise their rights as citizens, which they finally were granted, and became as involved as they could.
The Reconstruction was important to American history because it gave all different types of people their rights. The fourteenth amendment, The Dawes act and The Homestead Act all have things in common. All of these acts involve something to do with race and or forcing people out of their homes or land. The fourteenth Amendment gave men of color “equal” rights to white men.
Reconstruction, between 1865-1877, allowed for the South to take control and was ultimately a failure. Although Freedmen’s Bureau was helpful in providing care for the recently freed African Americans, but it ended up being a failure when it was vetoed by Andrew Johnson in 1866. The Freedmen’s Bureau was meant to provide the former slaves with the necessities of life. Andrew Johnson in disagreement with the radical republicans vetoed the bill destroying any chance for integration into society for the African Americans. The 13th amendment was a success because it allowed African Americans to be freed from the bonds of slavery, but it did not allow for healthy integration into to everyday society.
During the era of reconstruction there has been a chain of flaws of many different plans. Many of these plans angered either the southern or the Northern. Most of these plans also impacted a dramatic number of people for an example the Freedmen. These plans helped out the freedmen in many different ways. It formed the social structure to this day.
Reconstruction was an attempt reconcile the country and bring it back together, however it was not the success Abraham had hoped it to be when initiated before being assassinated. The failure had many effects on African American communities in both the north on the south both negative and positive. Socially black slaves were freed but not really accepted into society. Black codes were utilized which placed pressure on African Americans about things like when to meet with friends and where they should live. Discrimination against black flourished as the Ku Klux Klan a group of people who wore robes and mask went around pretending to be the ghost of Confederate soldiers.
The American civil war led to the reunion of the South and the North. But, its consequences led the Republicans to take the lead of reconstructing what the war had destroyed especially in the South because it contained larger numbers of newly freed slaves. Just after the civil war, America entered into what was called as the reconstruction era. Reconstruction refers to when “the federal government established the terms on which rebellious Southern states would be integrated back into the Union” (Watts 246). As a further matter, it also meant “the process of helping the 4 million freed slaves after the civil war [to] make the transition to freedom” (DeFord and Schwarz 96).
Imagine a world in which The Civil War and the events after never happened. Southern states still hold slaves, there are no laws on immigration or who can become a citizen. The Civil War freed the slaves and allowed laws that dealt with citizenship and immigration to be ratified. This was what led to the creation of the three Reconstruction Amendments, which includes the Fourteenth Amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment has rich history, various meanings and applications, and can be used to shape our nation for the better today.
Reconstruction is the time period after the Civil War, where the country attempted to improve the Union. There were many successes, but what also comes along with success is failure. During the reconstruction many failures were present; such as the lack of racial equality and blatant racism towards blacks, a failing economy in the South, and tense relations between the North and the South. This created a very intense and challenging period of time for the Union.
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.
President Lincoln stated that: “if I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it,..., and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would do it.”. This quote clearly shows that the freedom of slaves was not his concern and unnecessary if it did not help the Union; as the result, slavery still exists if there is no war. Free slave from bondage should be a Great Emancipator’s primary goal and he will do his best to achieve it no matter what, but president Lincoln’s thought differed from that because all he cares was the Union. Although he had many times admitting himself an anti-slavery but his words and thoughts obviously prove that he is
Tensions rose across the country from those in support support of slavery and those opposed. Many states wanted to outlaw slavery while others adamantly defended it because it was the main institution with a high and consistent revenue. Ultimately, the disagreements over slavery are what lead to the Civil War. The country divided into an “Us versus Them” situation which lead to both sides having growing support for their views and making the groups less susceptible to an agreement. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed slaves from confederate states.