The United State is a multicultural country. It has gone through many changes such as in politics, education, equal right, etc. With the end of the Civil War, it lead to the era known as Reconstruction, it means the rebuilding of the shattered nation. Reconstruction has success and failure. However, it have been said that Reconstruction era was the most controversial and failure chapter in U.S. history. Poverty was a big issue in this period. The blacks remained poor and had limited freedom. Tenant farming was bad because it wasn’t fair to the labors on the land. There existed discrimination and racial segregation. Reconstruction brought about profound changes in the lives of southerners, northerners, black and white, rich and …show more content…
Andrew Johnson rejected the former slaves’ plea. Throughout the south because no land distribution took place, the vast majority of rural freed people stayed poor and without property during Reconstruction” (Henry, 1865). It indicates that reconstruction couldn’t help much of the freed people and freed people’s status remained same. Olsen addresses that Southern whites, on the other hand, tried to limit blacks’ freedom and independent economic opportunities as much as possible. They wanted ex-slaves to get back to work, preferably in the cotton fields of former planters who were trying to regain the prosperity and the world market share they enjoyed before 1861 (Olsen, 2006). Southern whites gave hard time for black and treated them unfairly. Furthermore, Foner addresses the black experience in reconstruction, their status changes in the South for blacks and whites. He understands that reconstruction failed to complete the changes to make sure equivalence freedom in the U.S. Moreover, a federal Treasury agent described as the “the new system of labor if system it may be called, when there is endless confusion, and contradiction” (Foner, 1984). Hence, …show more content…
Reconstruction, he announced, had “settled forever the political status of my race.” He proved to be wrong. By the turn of the century, many of the rights blacks had gained after the Civil War had been taken away. It would be left to future generation to breathe new life into Elliot’s dream of “equal, impartial, and universal liberty” (Elliott, 1874). Although Reconstruction was unfulfilled at that time, but it encouraged people to pursuit freedom and equality. Reconstruction failed to help blacks to be independence. The Freedmen’s Bureau could only helped a little. Also can be seen through from the Black Codes and other laws that restricting former slaves. Although Reconstruction was failed, but there was some turning point in that and it restored the United States as a unified nation: the separation lasted 4 years, and Reconstruction had brought them. If without reconstruction, another group couldn’t got the courage to fight for their rights. It opened at that period as some groups such as female, advocated equal rights for women, and supported feminism. They tried to put their ideals into action for a better, more just and compassionate world. Also, Reconstruction finally settled
Everything has good and bad sides, same goes to the reconstruction, even the reconstruction caused many problems during that time, it was successful for the country later on and until today. The first and undeniable success was the reunification of the Union after four years separation. Also, the reconstruction pushed the economy of the South, crops and good productions from the South were finally able to sell to Northern and foreign countries. Followed by these successful was the advent of 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments which protected each and every citizen of the U.S, including African American, the marked point of these Amendments is the 14th Amendment which gives citizenship to anyone who born in the U.S, no matter if they are black, white or any other colored. Due to Frederick Douglass on Black Soldiers, during the Civil War, with the high demand for soldier to serve for the War, it forced the Union to allow blacks soldier.
The women's rights movement was very important to women in the 1800’s. Women were fighting to gain momentum in society and gender equality. Women wanted to have the same rights as men did and the same power because they were getting tired of how their lives were being unfairly treated in society. All women wanted was to be allowed to live life in an atmosphere of religious freedom, having a voice in the government, and living free of lifelong enslavement by another person. Since women were treated poorly since the time period of the American Revolution, when the patriots fought to win their freedom from tyranny, women thought it was unfair since they hadn't gained freedom for themselves.
Just because people choose to overlook the negative aspects of reconstruction does not mean they did not occur. Freedmen were indeed given land to live on post-Civil War, which followed the premise of reconstruction. However, when the land was stripped from them, the steps on the path of reconstruction ceased. Even though President Andrew Johnson followed a path of reconstruction, he was reconstructing the nation to his own personal liking, not for the betterment of the nation and all its people. Due to the fact that mistreating African Americans was still a normality post-Civil War and during Reconstruction, the KKK, a group founded on racism, came to be.
The reconstruction era was a wonderful and horrible time for African Americans. Because the former slaves were free in all states, most were uneducated, jobless, and had no opportunity in the south. With the president to distracted with fraud rings, and the North getting tiered of the south political problems, its no wonder the reconstruction era came to an
Although the “free” North abolished slavery, the idea of white supremacy was dominant. ‘“...We are of another race and he is inferior. Let him know his place - and keep it.’” (Doc B) The spread of the abolition of slavery throughout the United States began in 1777 through 1865 and sparked the limits of determining a black person’s freedom.
Another reason Reconstruction was a failure was because of black codes. Black codes made rules that were similar to slavery laws. These rules limited African American’s freedom. It requires them to sign a work contract, which they could be arrested if they do not own one. This also restricted owning land and guns.
The Reconstruction era, following the American Civil War, was a pivotal time in American history. With the aim of rebuilding the shattered South and ensuring the rights of newly freed slaves, the Republican-controlled Congress enacted policies that included granting voting rights to former slaves. This essay examines the reasons behind the inclusion of this requirement in Reconstruction policies and explores the significance of granting freed slaves the right to vote as a means of securing their freedom, promoting racial equality, and ensuring the success of the Reconstruction process.
The Reconstruction for black Americans was a time for a change, it provided the once enslaved people the freedom of movement (Schultz 2014). With this freedom came wonderful things, such as the right to obtain property, the benefit of more control over their family situations, and many were able to reunite with family members. Consequently, an uncounted amount of them left the plantation life they were accustomed to where they were able to join the forces of the yeoman and working-classes in some cases. The Freedman's Bureau, established in 1865, foresaw the need for schools to be established in the South so now receiving an education became possible for black Americans (Schultz 2014). Another right they gained was voting, which was taken very
What caused this protest to start and what took place? The women’s suffrage movement in New Zealand was lead by Kate Wilson Sheppard. One reason why women wanted to get the vote was because they wanted to vote for prohibition (to stop alcohol consumption). Another reason that made women want to fight for the vote was because the roles of women were changing.
Reconstruction caused prejudice and inequality. To elaborate, the creation of the Ku Klux Klan and the Black Codes were both in the time period of reconstruction, which caused chaos and violence throughout the Union. One of the goals of reconstruction was to repair the economy in the South, because it depended on slavery, which was now illegal, due to the thirteenth amendment. The South’s economic system now depended on Sharecropping, which caused former slaves to be in constant debt and was unjust to the black society. The reconstruction time period, was a time of dispute between the Union.
The book, “Celia, A Slave,” is a true story written by Melton A. McLaurin and published by the University of Georgia Press in 1991. McLaurin was an educator at the University of South Alabama where he served several years as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs before retiring. He is known for writing several articles and books about the American South and race relations. He wrote this book specifically about slavery and how women and men or blacks and whites were divided. Whites were superior in the United States.
Following the Reconstruction era, there was a huge gap between the freedoms of black and white people. Many black were barred from voting because of poll taxes, literacy tests, and the grandfather clause. Schools were segregated and unequal. Blacks could not fully partake in the American Dream. Racism was a powder keg ready to explode.
In the 1960’s, the Women’s Liberation Movement became popular. Many women felt isolated from the world as they were stuck in their homes doing jobs that do not reach their potential; such as cooking, cleaning and looking after children. As a result, many women fought for feminism (a belief that women should have equality with men) meaning improved rights, better job opportunities and more involvement in politics. This was a significant event as women no longer wanted to stay in the suburbs but wanted to adventure out into the business world.
Pertaining to the rights of African Americans a new south did not appear after the reconstruction. While they were “free” they were often treated harshly and kept in a version of economic slavery by either their former masters or other white people in power. Sharecropping and the crop-lien system often had a negative impact on both the black and white tenants keeping them in debt with the owner. Jim Crow laws, vigilantes and various means of disfranchisement became the normal way of life in the South. It was believed that white people were superior to black people and when they moved up in politics or socially they were harassed and threatened.
The Southern and Northern states differentiate on many issues, which ultimately led them towards a Civil War. There stood deep social, economic, and political disparities between the North and the South. These modifications stemmed from the understanding of the United States Constitution on both sides. In the end, most of these disputes about the rights of states directed to the Civil War. There existed reasons other than slavery on behalf of the South 's breakaway.