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Promised Land By Elizabeth Bethel

560 Words3 Pages

In the article "Promised Land" Elizabeth Bethel examines the response of both blacks and whites to the new constitution and social reforms which led to vast changes in how the country was run from a political and economic standpoint. Elizabeth Bethel shows us the obstacles slaves faced and the rapid change of the government as blacks gained rights in the years known as the Reconstruction. Following the Civil War, blacks gained many advantages such as: Working with their families, good working conditions, worked for wages, and some even owned some land for themselves. However, the years of the Reconstruction were extremely hectic as both blacks and whites fought for more power. Several violent acts were performed against blacks which reveals the whites' disagreement with black citizenship rights. Despite increased rights for blacks, whites pushed to reduce their voice in government and the impact they were having on the United States. Bethel placed her thesis in the end of her introduction paragraph and answered it throughout the article. She states that blacks' biggest desire was to have a plot of land they could call their own and the violence and discrimination they faced in the years of the …show more content…

It shows that the Reconstruction was much more a period of tension and violence than a period of growth and stability. This article also taught me that blacks held considerable power during the years of the Reconstruction such as: Having a voice in government, admission to citizenship, labor for wages, and so much more. This article is extremely important because it reveals the rapid change in the US government during this period as a result of black enfranchisement. It also gives us an idea of how far we have come as a nation from the times of hatred, discrimination, and

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