Social Reform In The 19th Century Essay

In “The Failure of Reconstruction,” the authors state that new laws “required southern states to ratify the 14th Amendment, which broadened the definition of citizenship, granting “equal protection” of the Constitution to former slaves.” (Failure). These laws sufficed as a revolutionizing turning point for black citizens because they were guaranteed equal opportunities in all portions of America. By allowing fair citizenship, this may have potentially transformed the future for the African American population; therefore, once again proving that this time period revolutionized our country’s future.

Andrew Costly discusses the Southern “Black Codes” of 1865-1866 that came after the Civil War ended slavery in America. Costly discusses how Congress created the Freedman’s Bureau that tried to help to make sure former slaves were being treated and paid well by their employers. Costly also discusses the South Carolina Black Code and how it only applied to “persons of color”; the codes included labor contracts, civil rights, vagrancy, and other restrictions. Andrew Costly tells about the how the northern protesting the Black Codes because they felt as if

These particular facts contribute to his overall push for continued, assertive action against the government. He finds it essential that the Ladies Anti-Slavery Society of Rochester be able to visualize such revelations on the reality of American society. Realizing this provides them the means to take more radical steps towards greater civil equality and rights for African Americans, despite the laws prohibiting equivalent efforts. This shift brings the author closer to his end result of using passionate language to convey his

Known as the “peculiar institution” in the South, slavery was perhaps the most divisive issue America faced during its early days. Rapid westward expansion encouraged by the American idea of manifest destiny highlighted the issues that came with protecting the institution of slavery, resulting in various compromises drawn up by the government in an effort to qualm the intensifying division in the country. Moreover, movements like the Second Great Awakening revitalized America’s moral conscience, revealing the ugly injustice and dehumanization hidden in the institution of slavery. In the decades leading up to the civil war, economic and moral arguments were what fueled the growing opposition to slavery. Analyzing the differences between the

From the time we first became a country to 1865, slavery was a major issue that was lingering over the United States. The fight for abolition was a long struggle requiring a great deal of endurance and effort from many selfless individuals and groups fighting for the freedom of African Americans. Eventually, the government began making attempts at dealing with the issue of slavery, but not all of these were as successful as the government hoped they would be. These efforts made by various people and federal government shaped the history of our country, and the rights of freedom for all.

Document B explained how an English visitor viewed the problem. “We shall not make the black man a slave; we shall not buy or sell him; but we shall not associate with him,” (Doc B). Abolishing slavery was an improvement, but not associating with the black population should have been considered unjust. For example, blacks could not share railway cars, steamboats, hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, prisons, or cemeteries with other races (Doc B). Furthermore, during the 1860s, everyone was judged based on their education, but blacks were judged by their history as slaves.

The United States faced many serious social problems in the early 19th century that concerned the reformers during the time. These problems not only gradually broke the society apart, but also eroded the democratic foundation of the nation. Understanding the seriousness of the problems, leaders from different areas expressed their serious concerns over social issues, including lawlessness, violence, immortality and poverty. These problems happened across the nation. For example, crime rates in New York City including juvenile delinquency and mob violence rose rapidly.

During the early 1800’s, President Thomas Jefferson effectively doubled the size of the United States under the Louisiana Purchase. This set the way for Westward expansion, alongside an increase in industrialism and overall economic growth. In fact, many citizens were able to thrive and make a better living in the agricultural business than anywhere else. All seemed to be going well in this new and ever expanding country, except for one underlying issue; slavery. Many African Americans were treated as the lowest of the classes, even indistinguishable from livestock.

This again helps to establish a timeline of when laws were passed that affected race and freedoms. If in 1630 a law of this magnitude was spoken without question as to its meaning then does it not stand to reason that an undocumented law was already in place? It has been written that the Virginia colonies were not as proficient in record keeping when it came to African slaves. The evidence presented here presents an overwhelming argument that race did exist before the seventeenth century.

Among the most important was the status of African-Americans in this newly reconciled nation. After Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, African-American were legally no longer slaves, but were they citizens (Tindall and Shi, p. 707)? The Emancipation Proclamation really only gave African-Americans the illusion of equality. With state law defining citizenship, Southern African-American weren’t treated any better post-slavery (Tindall and Shi, pp.707-708). In fact, it is very possible that some African-Americans, during the years immediately following the abolition of slavery, were worse off than

For example, if you were an abolitionist, then you’ll think that the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were good, but if you were a plantation owner, then you’d think that they were bad. This essay will be written from the perspective of someone with a modern-day education, with modern-day sources. Firstly, the positives of the reconstruction of the U.S. after the Civil War.

By using this reference, it illustrated the severity of the alienation of blacks in the Southern United States. In 1619, a Dutch ship “introduced the first captured Africans to America, planting the seeds of a slavery system that evolved into a nightmare of abuse and cruelty that would ultimately divide the nation”. The Africans were not treated humanely, but were treated as workers with no rights. Originally, they were to work for poor white families for seven years and receive land and freedom in return. As the colonies prospered, the colonists did not want to give up their workers and in 1641, slavery was legalized.

From this, derives a bond with the reader that pushes their understanding of the evil nature of slavery that society deemed appropriate therefore enhancing their understanding of history. While only glossed over in most classroom settings of the twenty-first century, students often neglect the sad but true reality that the backbone of slavery, was the dehumanization of an entire race of people. To create a group of individuals known for their extreme oppression derived from slavery, required plantation owner’s of the South to constantly embedded certain values into the lives of their slaves. To talk back means to be whipped.

Introduction: During the 1800’s, Slavery was an immense problem in the United States. Slaves were people who were harshly forced to work against their will and were often deprived of their basic human rights. Forced marriages, child soldiers, and servants were all considered part of enslaved workers. As a consequence to the abolition people found guilty were severely punished by the law.

Undoubtedly, America has confronted many adversities throughout its history. Moreover, during the course of these challenges America prevailed, and ultimately formed a nation that has the ability to continuously adapt. There exists a myriad of examples that would support this claim; however, this essay will focus on four major events occurring between the 1860’s and 1920’s. The first event is how the American social status changed before and after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The second event is how the Civil War played a role in creating a need for Reconstruction, and how Reconstruction culminated in the Industrial Revolution.