How Did Reconstruction Negatively Affect The Lives Of The Newly Freed African Americans

The reconstruction era was a time that then affected America in positive facets and negative aspects as well, and still affects America today. Thanks to the reconstruction era, there are several implementations that geared the world on the path in which it is today. Had it not been for some of the laws that were set in place African Americans may have not had many of the opportunities that were presented during the reconstruction period, therefore the years of oppression and cruelty might still be present.

Throughout world history, there were many big events or wars occurred that changed countries and people's life. In America's history, there was one war had a significant influence on two races, it was American Civil War. American Civil War freed the Black people, and stopped the slavery system. But this was just the start of the change. The most important period was the Reconstruction period during 1865 to 1877. There were many things happened during Reconstruction. Some people against the Africa American rights, like Tom Watson, who supported black enfranchisement in Georgia and throughout the South at first, but later agree the disenfranchisement of African American voters. Reconstruction had two part: the Presidential Reconstruction and

During the south reconstruction African Americans lived through many living crises. South Reconstruction began after the civil war ended in 1865 and continued through 1877. It was introduced by the government of the southern whites, although they did not act alone. The reconstruction goal was to abolish slavery for good, and second to recruit trustworthy governments that were loyal to the union and that respected federal authorities. However, For the freed african americans in south reconstruction had a negative impact socially, politically and economically.

The reconstruction era was a pivotal time period that shaped how the newly freed black slaves would be seen by the government of the United States. The Northern States were already tolerant of free black men that had rights however, in the south many were scared that those black men would be put in charge of them and ultimately suppress the white race. Eric Foner stated that “most white southerners insisted that blacks must remain a dependent plantation workforce in a laboring situation not very different from slavery (1998, p. 103).” In the south many people believed that their future relied solely on the exploited labor of blacks and they felt that this future was being threatened by the freedom of the blacks.

The Union’s victory in the Civil War in 1865 granted millions of slaves their freedom. Reconstruction is the period directly following the Civil War when the nation took strides to rebuild the country, specifically the South. After the war, there were endless questions. They wanted to know on what terms should the Confederacy be let back into the Union, and what to do with the Confederate leaders who were viewed as traitors by many in the North. Then, there was the question of what would happen to freed blacks in the South, would they now be considered equal to whites? Despite the military conflict being over, Reconstruction was in many ways still considered a war. Radical Republicans, who held sufficient power in Congress, wanted to punish the South and

African Americans during the Civil War to the end of Reconstruction experienced two fundamental developments that attributed to a continuity and change within the country and those were the constitutional and social developments. There was only one major constitutional continuity, but many great constitutional changes. On the other hand, social continuity was scarce in the African American society while there was only one important social change. After the Civil War, life for the African American changed drastically constitutionally, but socially however, life was no different and even in some ways harder socially. The main constitutional continuity was the Civil Rights Bill which helped fuel in a great extent the continued hate from Southerners

The Reconstruction era was a hard time for African Americans. Dealing with harassment and rude comments from other people, and hoping that they will get the right to vote. During this time some laws were passed, a few of them were the 1st amendment, voting rights, and equal rights. These goals were partially achieved and were not one hundred percent successful.

More than 4 million slaves were freed in the Confederate states because of the emancipation proclamation, but they did not have jobs, education, places to live, or a guarantee of basic civil rights. Most African-Americans were not able to become financially stable because of the countless problems they encountered while looking for jobs. By 1865, northern freedmen started establishing schools but still, countless people were uneducated. Many of the African-American encountered lots of struggles because they didn’t have civil rights. Reconstruction was an attempt to make the life of an African-American better, but in a way, it just made the life of African-American worse by creating issues like incorporating former slaves into American

One positive political effect was the formation of the Freedmen’s Bureau. Congress aimed to help freed black slaves and poor whites following the Civil War by establishing the Freedmen’s Bureau in 1865. It provided food, medical aid, and schools for these people. (history.com/freedmen’s-bureau 1) This benefited the freed black slaves with the adjustment of having freedom in the country because the transition was very tough for them. There were also negative effects with the freedmen gaining freedom there were still many southerners who still saw them as property and not human beings. The South was violent towards the freedmen and did not treat them well. “Well, the war is over, the rebellion is “put down,” and we are declared free! Four fifths of our enemies are paroled or amnestied, and the other fifth are being pardoned, and the President has, in his efforts at the reconstruction of the civil government of the States, late in rebellion, left us entirely at the mercy of these subjugated but unconverted rebels.” (An Address By Southern Blacks 1) The freed blacks are basically left unprotected and there are many violent people still out to get them. The politics of Reconstruction had both positive and negative effects on the

I think that it contributed to the reconstruction in a drastic way, because the slaves and or African Americans were the main key to all the actions that were taken place. They were the main focal point in the whole ordeal because they led to the money. The way they led to the money is this, slave owners had plantations with all sorts of valuable goods such as cotton, and produce and or animals and that is what made them their money and by using the slaves as cheap labor it would bring their profit up even more without the hassle and for less money. Money was really the key, because money brings power. That’s how the world was then and that’s how it is now. There was a few states that basically wanted to make their own rules and those were

Not only was Reconstruction ineffective to black people, it made their lives worse and took away their freedom. The Thirteenth Amendment does state that slavery shall no longer exist but the creation of the Black Codes and The Jim Crow Laws limited the lives of blacks even more than before. The removal of slavery was to give the former slaves a free life, but with these new laws, they had found a different way to abolish their freedom. They were separated from restaurants, homes, jobs, or any public place all because of their skin color. Congress and other whites believed that the newly freedmen were less than everyone else and did not deserve the same rights. The Black Codes were the first restrictions that were put on blacks. This included

After the Civil War and the period of Reconstruction there were many political, social and economic changes which continued to affect the society. The role of African Americans in society changed after the abolishment of slavery. This new freedom and opportunities were not much greater than before when slavery existed. Despite reconstruction efforts, African Americans faced discrimination. Society as a whole was altered extensively at this time.

After reconstruction, it had an effect on African-Americans. It affected African-Americans in a good way and a bad way. Here are the good ways the reconstruction affected African-Americans. African-Americans were able to find jobs as tenant farmers and sharecroppers to get moneys for a place to live and for food to eat. The Freedmen's bureau helped African Americans get an education.

During the reconstruction years, many changes occurred to give blacks more rights and a place in American society. First, blacks were given many opportunities to learn through the Freedmen’s Bureau and other organizations. Secondly, the government helped blacks acquire jobs, so they could provide for themselves. Lastly, blacks were able to vote for a while. This caused the election of blacks into government positions up to state level. Unfortunately, many people, especially southerners, did not approve of this.

The Ku Klux Klan was known for terrorizing African Americans by lynching’s and the burning of homes, school, and churches. The departure of Northern troops in 1877 made the white power structure return once again to the South. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified which prohibited slavery but The Jim Crow Laws were then developed, segregating blacks for white society. Blacks were not able to vote, use the same bathrooms, go to the same schools, or live in the same neighborhoods as Whites. The everyday life of African Americans was constantly threatened still in the South. With all the foolery going on in the South, many Blacks started to migrate to the North due to the increase in demand for industrial workers thanks to World War I. African Americans lives improved drastically in the North, as they were able to have things the South didn’t allow. There was also discrimination in the North but not as much as what the South offered. Black urban culture became to blossom and what is known as the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was the gathering of black artists and philosophers. People like Larry Hughes, Marcus Garvey, Louis Armstrong, and man other people were all part of the Harlem Renaissance.