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African Americans And Women During The Civil War Essay

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As of the mid-19th century and on was when African Americans and women were beginning to gain somewhat equal rights or were still disputing them. It is also well know that both have suffered in vastly different manners, but in some cases are very similar in certain struggles. African American men and women had to survive the terrors of the Ku Klux Klan in the southern states, managing life with the Black Code looming over their every move. They were basically fighting for something that a lot of people take for granted, their right to live as a regular citizen. White women on the other hand had their fair share of discrimination as well, when it came to labor, labor organizations and, equal wages. After the civil war the south was undergoing reconstruction so that the relations between southern and norther citizen would continue as they did before, continued trade and commerce. However the south was not taking their defeat with dignity, “Black Codes were enacted by the newly reconstituted southern state legislature to address the legal status of the freed slaves after the Civil War.”(Shi & Mayer “4”) These Black Codes were basically the south’s attempt to subtly revive a form slavery. If an offence was made by an African American he’d be forced to pay off his offence with labor because it was common that they’d have a lack of funds to pay the fine in the first place. White women in the workforce, did not have to worry about having black codes slapped on their payroll for

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