Sammie Carey
2nd pd. Government
Mr. McKown
5 December 2017
Reconstruction Era and Amendments
The years after the Civil War are referred to as the Reconstruction Era, during this time the country was rebuilding the south, and making progressive changes to the United States Constitution. Prior to the end of the Civil War, African Americans were enslaved by white masters. Of course, this has never been morally correct, but by the summer of 1862, blacks had started pushing the issue of being free, leading to Former President Abraham Lincoln giving the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. This was only the beginning of the fight for civil rights. In 1862, thousands of enslaved African Americans headed to the Union lines as President Lincoln’s troops marched through the south, to push and fight for their rights. A common belief about the slaves was that they were accustomed to the bondage and basically, did not mind that they were slaves. This, of course, was a myth, and them heading to the Union lines during the Civil War further proved to Lincoln that he needed to free them. Prior to this, Lincoln personally did not support the enslavement but was concerned as to how the Northern slave states would react to the Union wanting to free their slaves. He was worried they would join the Confederacy. However, he realized that emancipation was a necessity, both politically and for the military.
In early 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued and more than four million slaves
The first major event that followed after the Civil War was the Reconstruction Era, which lasted from 1865 to 1877. This was a time of great turmoil and the nation made an effort to reorganize itself by integrating the Southern states that now was forced to unionize itself as part of the Union. In addition, African Americans that were once considered slaves were now free all over the South and found themselves without a system that just about controlled every aspect of their lives. Now, they had to find a way to fit into a society that was still
In the beginning, many refugee slaves found by Union Military were returned to their lives in the south, but through policy changes and leadership decisions they were put to work in many ways including serving in the Union Army. Lincoln quickly recognized the power the newly recruited slaves provided to the Army. At the same time, this also pressured the President to hold true to his promise of emancipation. “If they stake their lives for us they must be prompted by the strongest motive…the promise of freedom. And the promise being made must be kept” (McPherson pg.8)
After the Civil War, America was in a time of turmoil. The Civil War was a dramatic experience for the entire country that was thought to bring about significant changes, but it did not. Within one year after the war, slavery had been recreated under a new name through the creation of black codes. Although changes were being made, these changes were not valid because the Southern states were resisting change in their values and beliefs. There was lots of controversy during this period of reconstruction between the Republicans of the North and the Democrats of the South surrounding the political rights and opportunities of the newly freed slaves. The recent war had hardened both sides opinions, polarizing
Reconstruction in the south began after the Civil War. As a part of the reconstruction, freed slaves were rewarded for their loyalty to the Union by having land distributed to them. This gesture was believed to be the catalyst for allowing the newly freed men to better their lives and provide them with opportunities that they had not previously imagined. They were now considered United States citizens, and therefore, expected to benefit from all of the rights of this new citizenship. The reality, however, would prove to be not nearly as promising as the dream. Land ownership was important to their development as new citizens, as it would provide them with the opportunity to establish their own homes, and benefit from their own labor.
After the Civil War there were still many changes that had to take place within the United States. The period of Congressional Reconstruction took place from 1865 through 1877. Although the outcome of the Civil War greatly affected things there were still various problems that had to be solved. This period of time after the Civil War was the reconstruction of congress. Congressional reconstruction was a very crucial time in American history, it changed the way of life in the South, the president caused difficulties with it, and Radical Republicans took over in congress. The goal of Congressional Reconstruction was to reunite the South with the Union. The outcome of Congressional Reconstruction resulted in a better
One of the most controversial and strenuous times in the United States following the Civil War, was the Reconstruction era. This period of time was in hopes of bringing the Southern states back into the union, and how to protect and secure the recently freed slaves. During this time, the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were passed into the constitution. These amendments ended slavery, gave suppose equal rights of protection, and allowed for African-American men the right to vote, although the Jim Crow Laws made this a bit unrealistic.
The Reconstructive period was considered the period after the Civil War, which was 1865-1877. Abraham Lincoln had started to prepare for the reconstruction of the South during the Civil War while Union soldiers were occupying huge areas of the South. Abraham Lincoln wanted to bring the Nation back together as quickly as he possibly could and by December of 1863 he offered his plan for Reconstruction which required that the state’s new constitutions prohibited slavery.
The reason I’m writing to you today is to inform you of what I (and many others) think of the Reconstruction Acts. As we the people elected you I thought you would be interested to know that we feel strongly that you should vote to support the Joint Resolution to Authorize the Removal of Federal Troops from the Southern States.
During the period of reconstruction after the Civil War, The Reconstruction era occurred after the Civil War period, and lasted from 1864 to 1877. The Reconstruction period brought upon an era of Martial Law, a change of social consciousness towards slavery and the rights of African Americans, a New South with closer ties to the North. During the years of Reconstruction, African
Freedom is being able to make your own decisions without input of a parent or guardian. You must be responsible for yourself as well as your actions. Before reaching freedom actions made by the child are part of the Guardian’s responsibility. All liability and blame is put on yourself for your choices.If you get in trouble with the law before you are eighteen the guardian of the child is put on the parent and they have to pay for damage done. You reach these freedoms when you become a legal adult. Before this time you need you guardian or parent to consent on decisions the child makes. Overall the child has no power unless a guardian agrees. You also gain freedom when you are able to support yourself financially.
War! Nobody likes it especially when it's in their own country. The union victory in the Civil war may have given 4 million slaves their freedom, but the process of re-uniting the government after the South departed from the U.S. introduced a new set of challenges. Reconstruction was America's first experiment in interracial democracy for men. It tested the central philosophies and traditions of America's society and institutions (Shmoop Editorial Team). It was also a period in U.S. history where the government tried to re-unite the southern states with the northern states.
America’s great Reconstruction Era took place in the 1865-1877 time frame lasting a little over 14 years containing some of the most important moments in America’s history. Creating freedom and natural rights to all. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendment were created in this item period supporting most reasoning towards the Reconstruction Era introducing a series of laws and constitutional amendments to try to secure civil and political rights for black people
America, what a wonderful place to live. After all, slavery in America had finally been abolished, and the now freed African American’s rights have been protected by the military reconstruction act. America was slowly becoming what it is now. There was an equal amount of opportunities for everyone in the U.S. than ever before! People could pursue their dreams, and become rich quick! It was just as founder father, Thomas Jefferson had envisioned! But there's the irony of it all. Just as things started looking up for our country, things got worse. And fast. But how could this have happened? How could our country been in a dark place, yet again? Especially after one of the bloodiest wars ever?
Lincoln has always hated slavery; he thought it was something cruel. He noticed that the nation started dividing because of this issue and he wanted to fix, at any cost. However he thought he did not the given power to end slavery and furthermore because the constitution protected slavery, yet he interfered with this institution after his 1860 election. Though Lincoln had no plan “to interfere” with slavery when the war started, by 1862 Lincoln understood that in order to save the Union and win the war, he had authority as commander in chief to emancipate all the slaves in the Confederate States, where the states were in a status of rebellion.
Some believe that Lincoln’s words and deeds at the beginning of the Civil War led to the conclusion that he viewed emancipation as a political and military necessity, and nothing more. I think that Lincoln struggled with the emancipation issue, because it is reasonable to assume that anyone would as well if placed in the same position. We have to remember that slavery was a normal part of life back in that era. Lincoln was in an extremely delicate position as the President. He had to maintain the support of the Border States, the slave states that stayed loyal to the Union, the war Democrats, as well as his own party. Eventually Lincoln proposed gradual compensated emancipation, which offered slave states an incentive if they could be persuaded to abolish slavery themselves by their own legislatures (McPherson, 1996). This would alleviate the disharmony that would arise if Lincoln tried to force all states to set their slaves free.