The Reconstruction period of United States history was a critical and difficult time for the country. It was a period of great progress, but also of tremendous suffering. During this time, the United States made several significant achievements that would forever change the course of history. The most important achievement during this time period was the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865. This amendment abolished slavery in the United States and was a significant step forward in the anti-slavery movement. The Thirteenth Amendment was the first step in the process of freeing African Americans from the shackles of slavery and allowing them to become citizens with full rights and privileges. This amendment had a profound and lasting impact, as it abolished the exploitation of African-Americans and allowed them to become fully equal members of society. This amendment still has significant influence today, enabling African-Americans to participate in the political process and obtain the same rights as other citizens. The Thirteenth Amendment serves as a reminder of the …show more content…
This amendment granted African Americans citizenship and the right to due process in the courts. It also gave African Americans the right to vote. It also provides equal protection to all citizens under the law and states that no state shall "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." This amendment has had a major impact on civil rights and liberties in the United States, as it has allowed for increased protections for minorities and other marginalized groups. It has also been used to extend First Amendment protections to the states and to invalidate laws that attempt to limit the rights of individuals. Today, the Fourteenth Amendment is still a cornerstone of civil rights and protections for all
Eric Foner explains in, “The Checkered History of the Great Fourteenth Amendment,” that in addition to providing the revolutionary act of promoting black American's freedom, the Fourteenth Amendment was one of the most critical outcomes of the Civil War because it set a precedent for the federal government to have power over state governments. The amendment represented a turning tide where the “national state” was no longer viewed as “as a threat to liberty”(Foner). For the first time in American History, the federal government truly possessed the power to act as a benevolent overseer of it's citizens. The amendment also gave the Constitution “malleability,” ensuring the voice of citizens would be incorporated into government policies(Foner).
A lot happened during the reconstruction era lets discuss some of the most important events. Let's start with a big one, on January 1, 1863 Lincoln issued the secondhand emancipation proclamation. The proclamation was actually written 5 months prior to that. The reason it took so long was that he didn't want to make the war about slavery, Lincoln was against slavery but still wanted to keep the support of the border states, Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, Kentucky. The Secondhand Emancipation proclamation encouraged the releasing of slaves, it was placed to show that slavery was wrong and should be abolished.
Reconstruction Reconstruction, one of the biggest events in US history. However, the question remains, did it flourish or rather, make things worse? The US had greatly relied on Reconstruction to restructure the country. It was an attempt to unify the country while creating an equal and just society after the Civil War. Despite the success of the colossal project in unifying the country after the civil war, freeing enslaved people and establishing several amendments to the constitution, African Americans were still victims of prejudice, oppression, unjust behavior, and immense violence.
“The Second Founding: How The Civil War And Reconstruction Remade The Constitution '' by Eric Forner is about how the American Civil War and the period of Reconstruction converted the Constitution and the country itself. In the book Eric Forner analyzes many different struggles that the United States went through during the era of Reconstruction. Despite Eric Forner analyzing different struggles, two of the struggles that are mentioned a lot in the book are the political and social struggles of the Reconstruction era. Despite there being many different points Eric Forner makes throughout the book, the main argument that Eric Forner argues is how the Reconstruction era after the Civil war was a crucial transformative moment in United States history. Impact was most noticeable in the constitution being adjusted and a lot more comprehensive which made a
The Reconstruction Era was an extremely impactful period in American history that followed the after the Civil War. It was a time of great action and transformation as the country struggled to rebuild itself following the events of the Civil War. The Reconstruction Era saw the end of slavery and the beginning of a long struggle for civil rights and equal opportunities for all Americans. When America first established itself as a Country, separate from Britain, large sums of the economy relied on the work of enslaved people. The institution of slavery was always a very opinionated topic with the Northern states wishing for its abolishment and Southern states wish for expansion of the system.
The Reconstruction era was a historical time period that followed after the Civil War (Dec 8, 1863-Mar 31, 1877), in which the United States grappled with how to reconstruct society, particularly in the southern states, while integrating the newly freedmen into sociopolitical and labor systems. Although Reconstruction granted African Americans the right to certain freedoms, including the right to buy and own property, marry, make contracts, etc., it also enforced segregationist laws. The laws at the time, (those being the Jim Crow laws and Black Codes) contradicted the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments through loopholes in order to retain white supremacy. Legislators were keen on making separate arrangements for African Americans and white people that were overall inherently unequal.
This amendment was passed because people believed that every man deserves equal rights. This amendment protects people from getting their rights stripped from right underneath them, this amendment also helps protect all different types of people in court cases such as people of color and members of the LGBT+ community. This amendment ties into the Dawes Act to help protect Native Americans. The Dawes Act gave American Indians survey’s to get allotments and to make them move away from their tribes. This was bad not only
During the Reconstruction era, the economy was falling apart, but politics and political views were strong by 1877. The Reconstruction era was a period of time when the United States government began to change. It changed economically and politically, with the reconstruction era becoming a period of time when the United States government and its citizens were in turmoil. After the Civil War, everyone had to try and reconnect both the North and South to their former ways of life. This is when things got out of control for various individuals; there were countless questions and not diverse answers.
The Reconstruction Era lasted from 1865-1877, this was during the time period in which the United States was trying to rebuild after the Civil War and address the issue of slavery. This was supposed to give African Americans citizenship and voting rights but it didn’t go exactly according to plan. W.E.B. DuBois had an interesting perspective on Reconstruction since he lived through that era and witnessed effects of it. Success but also failures came out of this era and it all depends on what stance people have on it. …..….The
Reconstruction was a period in American history, spanning from 1865 to 1877, following the Civil war. Its primary aim was to rebuild the South and bring the former Confederate states back into the Union. Additionally, Reconstruction aimed to provide social equality to African Americans who had been enslaved and oppressed for centuries. The goals of Reconstruction were implemented through legislation and constitutional amendments, but they were met with resistance from white Southern Democrats who opposed the changes and sought to maintain white supremacy. One of the primary achievements of Reconstruction was the passage of three constitutional amendments.
Reconstruction was a period of time dedicated to rebuilding the nation after the Civil War. The war ended with the South being defeated and their economy being devastated. Many Southerners struggled after the war with rebuilding their land and lives. The President and Congress had to decide the terms for which the former Confederate states would be permitted to join the Union. President Lincoln’s plan for reuniting the country was found in the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction.
Reconstruction is the time period after the Civil War, where the country attempted to improve the Union. There were many successes, but what also comes along with success is failure. During the reconstruction many failures were present; such as the lack of racial equality and blatant racism towards blacks, a failing economy in the South, and tense relations between the North and the South. This created a very intense and challenging period of time for the Union.
Post Civil War, African Americans started to gain rights to gain rights, and soon gain rights equal to whites. While there were some people/things standing in their way (KKK, Black Codes), in the end they got what they needed; Equality. Many acts and laws were passed to aid the new rights now held by African Americans, as well as the numerous people willing to help. New Amendments were added to give African Americans rights after the war, all giving them some equal rights to whites. The first of the three added was the Thirteenth Amendment, it gave African Americans freedom from slave owners, and stated that no one could be kept as a slave in the U.S..
The Reconstruction period lasted from 1865 to 1877. The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendment were created during the twelve years of rebuilding the country. All of the amendments were made to protect former slaves and their rights but on paper they did not have any rights. The reconstruction period had its successes and failures.
Reconstruction Era of the ‘United’ States: Successes and Failures What is the Reconstruction Era? Reconstruction meant the country needed to go through some political, social, and economic changes. The era started as early as the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863. The proclamation was supposed to help enslaved people in the Confederacy get the power to stand up for themselves, to fight back.