Reconstruction Dbq

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.

In order to for one to correctly answer the question at hand – whether reconstruction was effective or not, one has to identify the core issues during this period in time. During reconstruction, the issue of slavery is in focus and as shown below there are two main ideas that have to be understood – whether or not slaves were free. It is during this period that the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments were introduced, giving slaves hope for a better future. Former slaves now were able to vote, receive an education, have their own property, get married and even hold positions in political office. With the new laws by 1868 of blacks were registered voters, more than ten held seats in the House of Representatives and much more took

In addition, Congress expanded the Freedmen’s Bureau to establish education and courts that would help ensure civil rights protection.

The new Reconstruction has given freedom to more than four million slaves. This is great achievement for equality in the United States of America. African-Americans are now able to work as free men. Johnson’s Presidential Reconstruction Program led mad southern states loyal to the Union and slave free. However, southern states enacted bills to regulate African-American activity which led to the Civil Rights Act.

The Civil War ended slavery and three Constitutional Amendments altered African American rights. The 13th Amendment abolished/discontinued slavery in all territories and states. The 14th Amendment gave equal protection to all males regardless of race and prohibited states from depriving them of this right. The 15th Amendment allowed for African Americans males to vote. With these amendments being ratified, it became a requirement for southern states to be readmitted into the Union.

These speeches moved people and set goals for African Americans and others to be free from slavery. First of all, The two main goals of the Reconstruction Era were to bring back the former confederate states back into the Union. Also, to ensure equal citizenship and rights to former slaves. The Reconstruction Era reorganized and reestablished the seceded states in the union after the American Civil War. During the Reconstruction African Americans gained voice in the Government for the first time in History.

Second came the 14th amendment that was ratified on July 9, 1868 and granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States. The goal of this amendment was to increase the amount of people that had access to the protections of civil rights to all those classified under the law as American (“Primary Documents in American History." 14th Amendment…). Finally there was the 15th amendment which was ratified on February 3, 1870 and granted African-American men the right to vote. (“Primary Documents in American History."

All of these things helped, but there were still inequalities so, “In 1875, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, which guaranteed all persons equal access to public accommodations, including theaters, hotels, and transportation, and allowed anyone denied services on account of race to seek restitution in federal court,” (Reconstructing Citizenship). African Americans elected during the reconstruction helped to pass this act. Even after all of this, there were still people who opposed blacks being equal, so not everything in their lives

The Reconstruction was a period of rebuilding relationships between the North and the South in the U.S. It was a significant period for ex-slaves (freedpeople) to seek a better life in the U.S. and one of the significant eras in the U.S. history that historians have been debating. After the end of the Civil War, about four million ex-slaves gained their freedom from the institution of slavery. But most ex-slaves struggled with the meaning of inequality and freedom during the Reconstruction. Historians have been debating about the evaluation of the Reconstruction.

Once Johnson was no longer in charge congress put into place the Civil Rights Act, an act that declared everyone who was born in the United states to be granted a citizen no matter their race or previous conditions. This meant all former slaves could become true legal citizens. Similarly, the 14th amendment made it so that each state was to give equal protection of the laws to everyone because it too declared all citizens were equal. This amendment also would not allow for confederate political leaders to hold positions and it would not forgive any debts of the confederacy. Following the civil rights act and the 14th amendment the 15th amendment and then another civil rights act were also put into effect.

Additionally, black Americans desired the ability to vote freely. The extent to which the goal to establish education for black Americans succeeded during

Post Civil War, African Americans started to gain rights to gain rights, and soon gain rights equal to whites. While there were some people/things standing in their way (KKK, Black Codes), in the end they got what they needed; Equality. Many acts and laws were passed to aid the new rights now held by African Americans, as well as the numerous people willing to help. New Amendments were added to give African Americans rights after the war, all giving them some equal rights to whites. The first of the three added was the Thirteenth Amendment, it gave African Americans freedom from slave owners, and stated that no one could be kept as a slave in the U.S..

Reconstruction era, which was followed by post-civil war, was meant to unite the states back together, reconstruct properties, and most importantly, abolish slavery in the South. Although the factors such as amendments legally freed former slaves, yet WRITE THESIS After the end of civil war in 1865, Reconstruction era, which was controlled by President Abraham Lincoln, appeared to quickly coalesce the Northern and Southern states. reconstruction amendments, which were approved between 1865 and 1870, played a huge role on giving legal rights to blacks and former slaves. 13th amendment constitutionally abolished slavery in 1865 and followed up by that, 14th and 15th amendment admitted equal citizenship, protection, and rights of suffrage despite the one’s race or skin color. Former slaves were no longer belongings of their owners.

With many freed blacks possessing no education, no land and little money, there was a great disparity present from the start. Education is a great stepping-stone for almost everyone in every social class in society. The same has been true long since the founding of this nation. With the backbone of an education, blacks could slowly improve the welfare of their people and each generation would make much greater leaps up the social

The 13th Amendment brought an end to slavery in the U.S. This did not have a significant impact on the North, since slavery was already nonexistent in this part of the country. Similarly, the 14th Amendment, which made all former slaves citizens of the U.S., had a marginal effect in the North. The 14th Amendment was passed after the Civil Rights Act of 1866, effectively making African Americans equal to white citizens in the eyes of the law. For example, African Americans had the right to own property and sue another person in a court of