The Constitution Of The American South After The Civil War

After the Civil War, the South was in a state of political turmoil, social chaos, and economic decline. Contrary to popular belief, Northerners did not subject Southerners to unethical or inhumane punishment. The time post Civil War was filled with efforts toward reconstructing the South, yet there is the strong question if there even is a New South. Yes, there was somewhat of a New South economically. No, there was not a New South regarding race relations and social hierarchy. In the 1870’s, the South realized the world still looked at them as the ones who wanted slavery. There was a need to project a new image to the world and to stimulate

On July 4th 1862, the confederates surrendered the town of Vicksburg to Ulysses S. Grant. This influenced Lincoln to make the biggest decision of his life. He delivered the Emancipation Proclamation on November 19th, 1863, saying the nation’s fundamental goal is that all men are created equal. He states in the speech, “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract.” He wants the country to understand that we are starting something new. The soldiers have struggled to recreate our country, and that the country needs to take advantage of this opportunity. He has now committing himself to getting rid of slavery. On January 31, 1865, Congress officially ends slavery with the thirteenth amendment. The thirteenth amendment states, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” After many years, slavery has finally ended. Lincoln passed the thirteenth amendment, meaning slavery can no longer exist in his country. This will help recreate the country that has been broken for many years. From February 1863 through April 1865, Lincoln believed the best way for this country to unite was without slavery, contradicting what he believed from the start of his senate race to Post First

The amendments were put into place to protect the rights and civil liberties of all American citizens from the federal government. However, prior to the fourteenth amendment, there was no certainty with the constitution. The constitution did not state in a clear enough way who was protected under it and exactly what rights you had as an American Citizen. The 14th amendment was in response to the just passed thirteenth amendment, which ended slavery in all of the southern states. This document drastically changed the perception of the citizens, showing that it protected the civil rights of whites and blacks. While the fourteenth amendment was instated to expand citizenship, it has caused controversy and debate in the court system with two major key points, the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses.

1861 to 1865 he led the United States during the Civil War. He ended slavery and helped keep the union from falling apart during the war. In 1860 he received 40% of the presidential vote, but by 1865 he became popular (Holzer, Harold.). Even though his feeling towards slavery did not change Lincoln's decision to fight. He believed it was his job as president to maintain the Union.(Abraham Lincoln). Abraham Lincoln’s strategy was to advance at the Confederates at the same time. His goal for the Union armies was to destroy opposing forces. Changing generals many times he found a general that would fight aggressively, Ulysses S. Grant. (Holzer, Harold.) McDowell, Fremont, McClellan, Pope, Buell, Burnside, and Rosecrans looked harmful to Abraham Lincoln when they failed to bring success to the Union (Abraham Lincoln). He often visited his fighting grounds to see if his strategy was being used. He was dissatisfied until he found Ulysses S. Grant. During the war, Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation, for the freedom of all slaves. In 1863 the Gettysburg Address was delivered to the United States, letting the federal army fight to keep the Union (ebscohost). The Emancipation Proclamation seized property of those fighting against the Union (Abraham Lincoln). Their victory was achieved April 9, 1869, but less than a week later Abraham Lincoln was assassinated (ebscohost). Abraham Lincoln was a great president, and ended the

The Bill of Rights accounts for amendments one through ten. Each of the additional 17 amendments has come about because of clarification needed for the original mechanics of the first three articles or to ensure civil rights. Amendments 11,16, and 24 are for clarifications of Article III. Amendments 12, 17, 20, 22, 25, 26, and 27are for further clarification of Articles I and II. Amendment 23 is further clarification of Article I. Only six amendments are to provide or clarify civil rights, those are13, 14, 15, 18, 19, and 21. Amendment 18 is the only one ever repealed. As we take a deeper look at amendments 13,14, and 15 they were also known as the Reconstruction

With the Civil War in full swing in 1863, President Lincoln was grappling with a nation divided. Long-standing racial turmoils had finally boiled over in 1861 with the battle of Fort Sumter. The country had been thrown headfirst into bloody battles, culminating most recently with the infamous Battle of Antietam. Antietam allowed the president to issue the most important document of his career with a narrow Union “victory”and an attempt to boost low spirits. As a result, the North secured an advantage when Lincoln announced his intent to free all Confederate slaves with the shocking Emancipation Proclamation. Determined on securing and protecting the Union, Lincoln took a pragmatic approach in issuing the controversial document. A defining moment in American history, it is essential to investigates the reasons and acts leading up to it, the responses it elicited from the nation and the world, and its effects on the country.

Abraham Lincoln’s presidency is marked by his exceptional management of the decisive domestic issues that he faced during his reign. He went up against the issues of slavery and secession in his campaign against the Confederacy in the Civil War. It was essential that he gained support by those living in the North and he did so strategically. In 1862, he enacted the Homestead Act which allowed people to claim 160 acres of land outside of the original thirteen colonies with one stipulation being that those eligible for this great opportunity were people who had never taken up arms against the United States government, or in other words, those that supported the Lincoln’s cause. This incentive-based support of the Union war effort was instrumental to Northern success. Additionally, the aftermath of the battle of Antietam was a monumental moment during Lincoln’s presidency. It was at this time that Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation. This was another strategic move by Lincoln as this proclamation freed slaves only in states that had seceded. This proved to have many positive effects for the Union cause. The slaves in Confederate states now had a clear inclination to support Lincoln and many did so by joining the Union army.

When the Civil War began in 1861, the issue of slavery was not the central focus of the war effort on the side of the Union. While it was still important to many in the North, the main war aim of the Union side was to preserve the Union and make sure it remained intact. As the war dragged on and more soldiers died on both sides, Lincoln realized he would need to entirely cripple the already weak Confederate economy, and he did this by making the Emancipation Proclamation, which became effective January 1, 1863. This executive order stated that all slaves in states currently in open rebellion against the United States were free from slavery. By doing this, he caused African Americans in slave states to cross into Union territory and into

The Constitution of the United States and the amendments that follow established the principles of our country. After the north won the civil war, reconstruction began in the south and several new laws were passed to support African American equality. In 1865, the 13th amendment was passed, which resulted in slavery being abolished. These newly freed men were made many promises. Among them were the promises of political, social, and economic justice. It seemed as though these promises would be kept as violating them was deemed unconstitutional. For example, the 14th amendment granted 3 rights to all men: the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, states cannot pass laws to abridge these rights, and the right that all men were seen equal before the law. Also, the 15th amendment was passed, which established the right to vote for all men, and thereby gave African Americans political power. In reality, however, these newly freed African Americans were still treated as inferior members of society. Reconstruction did not provide political, social, or economic justice to freed slaves.

To make sure that slavery stayed abolished, Amendments had to be passed in order for slaves to be safe and treated fairly. The northern government wanted to get rid of slavery once in for all, but the southern government did not. The northern government passed amendments to keep the slaves free and safe. For example, in lesson 3, document B, it talks about three main Amendments passed to give slaves rights. Amendment 13 was the first one mentioned and it says “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, (except as a punishment for crime,) shall exist in the United States.” This meaning that no one can be forced to work without pay or mistreatment. Amendment 14 was mentioned second and it states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States. No State can enforce any law that limits privileges or rights of citizens of the United States nor shall any State deprive any person of life, Liberty or property.” Meaning that everyone in the United States is equal to one another and no one can be treated lesser than anyone, by law. The last Amendment talked

During the reconstruction a the 14th Amendment was passed, it protected the rights of the freedmen. Document A states, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge [take away] the privileges or immunities of all citizens of the United States.” This was to protect the rights of the citizens of the United States’ rights and to avoid discrimination. This protects the citizens from the state government. Aslo in Document A it states, “nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” This segment states that all the citizens must have equal treatment from the government. These laws are still used today and are brought up in courts all over America.

The constitution is the foundation of America. It has the country’s beliefs and rights within it. In 1791, the Bill of Rights was added to the constitution because the Anti Federalists refused to ratify the constitution till the Bill was added. The Bill of Rights not only guarantees citizens rights but also it ensures a limited government. The 14th amendment was later created in 1868 which guaranteed due process of law and equal protection under the law. The Bill of Rights and 14th amendment was made in hope that the government would learn their limitations and wouldn’t interfere with a person’s rights. It was basically the rules set for the government to follow. However as time goes by, the effectiveness of the Bill of Rights has lessened.

The first effect of the North’s victory over the South is emancipation. Even though slaves were technically freed through “contraband”, Lincoln continued to persist that this fights intent is to save the Union, not to free the slaves. But, before eighteen sixty-two, Lincoln considered emancipation as being the next step necessary to win the war. On July twenty-second eighteen sixty-two, Lincoln unveiled a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet. It proposed emancipation of all slaves in rebel areas on January 1st, eighteen sixty-three. The Secretary of State William H. Seward agreed with Lincoln 's initial draft, but he warned President Lincoln to wait till the Union had won a major victory before introducing the proclamation to the public. In eighteen sixty-two President Lincoln got his opportunity to do so, when the Union was victorious in the Battle of Antietam. On September twenty-second President Lincoln officially issued the Emancipation Proclamation to the public. The Proclamation warned the Confederate states that if they did not surrender by January first, eighteen sixty-three, their slaves would be freed.

On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issued the first, or preliminary, Emancipation Proclamation. In this document he warned that unless the states of the Confederacy returned to the Union by January 1, 1863, he would declare their slaves to be “forever free.” During the Civil War, he was fighting to save the Union and trying not to free the slaves. Lincoln was quoted to say, “I am not, nor have ever been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.” The Emancipation Proclamation illustrated this view.

However, the Emancipation Proclamation did not free all slaves in the United States. It declared that only slaves living in states not under Union control be free. This officially changed the purpose of the Civil War. The North was no longer only fighting to preserve the Union but also to end slavery. The Civil War continued for the next four years, ending on April 9, 1865. Legal freedom for all slaves did not come until the final passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in December of 1865. President Lincoln was a strong supporter of the Thirteenth Amendment; however, he was assassinated before its final presentation.