The New Age And Contributions Of The Reconstruction Era

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.

The first roar of the Civil War ended with a last gasp for air. Where in such a war more than six hundred twenty thousand men sacrificed their lives for their own belief in the abolishment of slavery (“Civil War Facts”). “We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom” (Baslor). These wise words of Abraham Lincoln cleared the way of a desolate trail of violence and pain, yet he was determined to accomplish his plans of abolishing slavery and creating equality. The Civil War, began in 1861 and ended in 1865, yet it was known as one of the bloodiest wars America has ever walked through compared to other American Wars (“Civil War Facts”). After the Civil War

Issued by Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation set all slaves, under Confederate control, free, and armed black troops for the Civil War. A year later, beginning in September of 1864, Maryland, Tennessee, Missouri, and Louisiana abolished slavery. Shortly after, approved by Congress in February of 1865 and ratified in December, the Thirteenth Amendment was official. This amendment abolished slavery throughout the entire Union, which finally freed Kentucky and Delaware slaves. The war started as a fight to preserve the Union, but the new amendment went to show that the war had shifted to a fight to end slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment resulted in the abolition of slavery permanently. Although this freedom did not mean equality. Northern African Americans had been battling for their civil rights before and after the war. They were petitioning and campaigning at the state level, and created the National Convention of Colored Men and the National Rights League at the national level. None of these had as big of an impact as when the Radical republicans in Congress got involved to help overturn the inequalities.

America was in disarray following the events of the Civil War. Southern economy was in shambles while congress was struggling to find a middle ground between the radical republicans and Lincoln’s lenient policies. Many Southerners faced the aftermath of uprooting their society and their way of life while thousands of newly freed slaves struggled to find a way to support themselves. The country needed a strong leader, however on the 14th of April, 1865 President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in the Ford Theatre in Washington (Farmer). Without the man that had once held the nation together, the country now faced an enormous obstacle; reconstructing American economics, politics and social life.

The Civil War, fought between the North and the South, stemmed from issues regarding the slavery of African Americans. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proposed the 13th amendment which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. The amendment was not ratified until December 1865, after Lincoln’s death on April 14, 1865. Following Lincoln’s death, Vice President Andrew Johnson became the new President of the United States. Andrew Johnson attempted to follow Lincoln’s plans for the time period following the Civil War that focused on easing the transition of newly freed African Americans into a free society, called the Reconstruction Era. The Reconstruction Era set ground for many accomplishments for African Americans including

By definition, the American Dream is “the traditional social ideals of the US, such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity.” Many events from past decades, surrounding the idea of Civil Rights, have changed America’s idea of the definition of the American Dream. Out of many time period, I am going to compare the American Revolutionary War, the Reconstruction Era, and the Progressive Era on how each period affected the change of the idea of Civil Rights in the American Dream.

In January 1st, 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves in all states. Two years later the thirteenth Amendment was added to the constitution which abolished slavery in the United States in December 6. It initially met with some resistance by some Southern states making it hard for black people to live and work it was overcome a year later but was not the end of turmoil. 1868 July 9th, The 14th amendment was added which granted African Americans equal protection under the law. The 15th Amendment was added to the constitution on February 3rd, 1870, granting all African American males the right to vote. The third Civil rights act was passed due to many white business owners refusing service to African Americans.

In Appomattox Court House, 1865, the Civil War concluded, ushering in the Reconstruction Era. Approximately one week after, John Wilkes Booth, a radical southerner, assassinated President Lincoln. The Reconstruction Era, which ended when Rutherford B Hayes ceased its enforcement to keep the peace, was a time for the country to consolidate and forgive the wrongs of the past. This Reconstruction period included many lasting effects on the governing of America. However, it shattered the welfare of southerners, Freedmen, and the general public. Additionally, discrimination ran rampant in the newly reunited country. Reconstruction was successful in the government, but not fiscally nor with public unity.

After the Civil War came to an end and the military conflict had ended, the Reconstruction period started, which was in many ways still a war. This vital battle was waged by radical northerners who wanted to chastise the South and Southerners who badly wanted to preserve their way of life. The Reconstruction period was a time of great pain and endless questions. What was to be the place of freed blacks in the South? Did Abolition mean that black men would now enjoy the same status as white men?9 At the dawn of the 20th century, nine out of ten African Americans lived in the South. Jim Crow laws of segregation ruled the land. The Supreme Court upheld the power of the Southern states to create two "SEPARATE BUT EQUAL" societies with its 1896

After a long history of slavery, declaration of independence and a civil war finally, on February 1, 1865, Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawing slavery throughout the United States. But even after the American Civil War, African Americans were still abused and some even used as slaves. They would be arrested by law men and sent to prison to be used as workers that would be sold to companies to

By 1870, the Northerner lost interest in reconstructing the south. The north tried to reconstruct the south and change southerners attitudes about black people. Although they failed at this because many southerners were still racists and believed that the white race was superior to others, blacks were not as good as southern white men. To add to that, the Northerners lost interest in the reconstruction, which gave southerners a chance to gain control of their state governments again.

The Reconstruction Era was looked upon with much optimism, considering that abolitionists and African Americans believed that this process would make it possible for them to achieve their goals. The project was generally meant to assist the South in reintegrating in the Union and in assisting African Americans to become equal to white individuals in the U.S. The Freedmen were apparently one of the main missions that the Reconstruction was designed for and it actually seemed that things would be much better for black people when considering the degree of discrimination that they suffered until that time.

The Reconstruction Era was a time period in America’s history that followed the end of the Civil War. The ending of the Civil War brought back the Confederate states; being that they had been defeated drug the war and ended slavery throughout the nation with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation that was backed by the 13th amendment; thus began the road to freedom for former slaves and a lack of free labor for previous slave owners. However, there was little concern for the freedmen who had no sense of direction in where their life would take them (Costly). Congress created the Freedmen’s Bureau to establish school for freed slaves, as well as, provided food and medical care to them (Costly). The attitude of former slave owners and

In the Reconstruction Era, great strides were made towards giving the freed slaves the same freedoms as a white man. Reforms allowed the freedmen to enjoy economic independence, public education, the right to vote and even the ability to hold public office. It seemed that blacks were well on their way toward equality and escape from their former “inferior” status. This changed with the violent rise of the Democratic Party to control every state in the South. They fashioned themselves as “Redeemers”; their platform was white supremacy and subjugation of the black race (Foner 652).

At a time when America was trying to piece itself back together, the Reconstruction Era is one of the most important chapters in history. It is also, however, one of the most debated. After the Civil War, the South was devastated and thousands of freed slaves needed to be integrated into society. When Andrew Johnson took office, he was moderate in his views as to what should happen to restore order to the United States. However, some Republicans had other plans in mind. They wanted to impose harsher terms and used Congress to do so, justly giving them the name Radical Republicans. Opinions about this time period have