Reconstruction Dbq Essay

The passage of Reconstruction legislation, namely the Freemen’s Bureau Act, the Civil Rights Bill, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, and the First Reconstruction Act of 1867, gave African Americans greater economic and political rights, ultimately contributing to the Klan’s formation. First, as John Faragher stated, the establishment of the Freedmen’s Bureau in March 1865 entitled former slaves to benefits such as “food, clothing, and fuel.” (Out of Many, p. 364) Then in 1866, with the passing of the Civil Rights Bill and Fourteenth Amendment, “full citizenship rights” were granted to former slaves, according to Faragher. (Out of Many, p. 362)

1867 - The Reconstruction Act of 1867 1868 – Ratification of 14th Amendment 1920 – Nineteenth Amendment 1923 – Equal Rights Amendment The Reconstruction Act of 1867 was an act that would not allow for confederate states to rejoin the union unless they ratified the 14th amendment and guaranteed black men the right to vote. This was one of the first pieces of legislation that began the journey for equal rights for all people in America. Although the Reconstruction Act of 1867 was not entirely successful on its own, it did eventually lead to the ratification of the 14th amendment in 1868. Before the ratification of the 14th amendment, people held that the amendment did not apply to slaves or former slaves.

The constitutional amendments that ended slavery consisted of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments which were ratified between 1865 and 1870. The 13th amendment was the most important, stating that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the US, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” The first measure to help with slavery was the Emancipation Proclamation which was issued by President Lincoln declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” The Emancipation Proclamation which was issued on January 1, 1863 was initially rejected by Lincoln as a war aim.

“Laws passed after the Civil War to limit opportunities for African Americans” are widely expressed as Jim Crow Laws (“Jim Crow Laws”). These laws suppressed African Americans for about 77 years, affecting their lives in the worst way possible. Under Jim Crow, African Americans were “separate from white people in society” (“Jim Crow Laws”). Jim Crow Laws had a huge impact on lives of African Americans.

Known as The Reconstruction Amendments are the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments were added to the Constitution, adopted between

The Reconstruction was considered a success because it unified the United States. The Union was separated for four years and reconstruction brought it back together to what we know as the United States. The creation of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments brought Americans together and reduced racism. The 13th Amendment officially outlawed slavery in the United States, under the 14th Amendment anyone born in the U.S. was a citizen, and blacks, along with all other races, gained the right to vote with the 15th Amendment.

The reconstruction to the constitution created a new way of things. A big thing was equality to everybody no matter what you were or supported. Reconstruction was in a way to some people was the golden opportunity to purge the nation of slavery and create “ perfect republic”. People like Thaddeus Stevens thought citizens should enjoy equal and political rights. Creating the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments empowered a new different state.

Former slaves who “tried to vote or participate in politics [were] likely to be singled out for “punishment”” by a terrorist organization named as the Ku Klux Klan, until the Congress passed the Force Bill in 1871 that gave the federal authorities the right to arrest and pursue active members of the KKK. But, the bill appeared to be only figurative as not really much of the Klan’s members were prosecuted (Hazen

The thirteenth and fourteenth amendments were pivotal points in the abolishment of slavery. The ratification of these two amendments caused many social, economic, and political changes in American society. The thirteenth amendment freed the slaves and the fourteenth granted them citizenship. Both of these amendments were ratified in the wake of the Civil War. They were greatly contested, especially by the states of the recently defeated Confederacy.

The 14th amendment declared that all persons born or naturalized within the U.S were citizens, obligated states to respect and provide the rights for blacks as U.S citizens and provide them with equal protection of the laws. It was for the first time, the Constitution required states well because the federal to uphold the rights of voters, “The object of the Fourteenth Amendment was undoubtedly to enforce absolutely the equality of the 2 races before the law, but by the nature of things it might riot are supposed to get rid of distinctions based” (DOC1). Also in 1867, over Johnson’s vetoes, congress passed three Reconstruction acts. The acts divided the former confederate states into five military districts, each under control of the union army. Although the Radical Republicans tried to protect the rights of blacks, but the Reconstruction plans failed due to many reasons.

The thirteenth amendment stated that all former slaves were granted freedom. The reconstruction period, “did create the essential constitutional foundation for further advances in the quest for equality”. It laid the building blocks for the future building for civil rights not just for blacks but women and other minorities. Former slaves, “ found comfort in their family and in the churches they established”. Blacks took community in each other and bonded over the mutual idea of freedom .

A first effect of the Civil war were the new Amendments made in favor of African Americans. The first was the thirteenth Amendment. The emancipation proclamation that Lincoln had put in place only banned slavery out of his jurisdiction. After the Civil war however, the thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude -involuntary slavery- in U.S, except for a crime punishment. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, then by the House on January 31, 1865.

It was much harder to get an education as an African American because of the lack of having an available school near you or schools, or having a school that is sufficient for a proper education. Even if there was a school nearby, it would have less funding so there would be less materials that were of poor quality, not as well-maintained buildings, qualified staff etc. In some areas, African Americans were not allowed to use textbooks with the constitution or Declaration of Independence, so that the students wouldn’t get ideas that would lead them to wanting equality. This lack of an educational foundation made it even harder for African Americans to move up in a society that was already stacked against them, and it was almost impossible to achieve a life like white people. (Boyd, Natalie).

The Reconstruction Amendments When the Civil War came to an end, the states in the Union breathed a collective sigh of relief. There was no longer a need to worry about fighting or war. Unfortunately, the conflict was not truly over. Reconstruction ushered in a new era of disagreement in the United States, especially over the issue of freedmen, or former slaves. While many people associate the North with emancipation and

The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments became known as the Reconstruction Amendments. They followed the Civil War and attempted to guide the legal status of the African American population. The 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. It also gave power to Congress to enforce the amendment. The 14th Amendment established Citizenship, Due Process and Equal Protection.