Three Famous Radicals Of Reconstruction After The Civil War

Although slavery was declared over after the passing of the thirteenth amendment, African Americans were not being treated with the respect or equality they deserved. Socially, politically and economically, African American people were not being given equal opportunities as white people. They had certain laws directed at them, which held them back from being equal to their white peers. They also had certain requirements, making it difficult for many African Americans to participate in the opportunity to vote for government leaders. Although they were freed from slavery, there was still a long way to go for equality through America’s reconstruction plan.

The conservatives believed that the blacks were inferior. However, didn’t believe they should have been treated unequal. The radical’s wanted equality as well but white supremacy took over them as well. The liberal’s goal was for racial equality, but they were outnumbered to the opposing Southerners. C. Vann Woodward gives a great detailed view on the Civil Rights Movement and how the government’s plan is to Reconstruct the South and protect the rights of the African

Alea Avila APUSH Period 07 December 20, 2016 DBQ The North and the South had recurring conflicts centered around states’ rights and the power of the federal government. Prior to the Civil War, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s exploration of a slave life became a nationwide sensation that brought the issue of slavery life to those who have been unaware for decades, this led to the widening division between the North and the South. As the disagreement advanced and violence spurred, the nation became troubled.

Anuar Kulmagambetov ENGL 2343 Professor C. Robinson 04/04/2015 Essay 1 The struggle of black people for the independence in the United States has a long history. Indeed, first slaves arrived in the United States in 1619 and Emancipation Proclamation passed only in 1863; more than two hundred years of slavery affected lives of millions people. Even after getting their freedom, colored people faced with the huge issue of racial segregation “separate but equal” that passed by 14th amendment to the United States Constitution. In following years many colored people put a lot of efforts in order to achieve recognition of the black race among the whites.

On the left side of the political spectrum was Revolutionaries, Radical Republicans, and Moderate Republicans. Revolutionaries were extremely opposed to slavery, and wanted not only for slaves to be freed, but also for them to have equal rights to white people. They wanted to completely turn the current system upside-down and were willing to use violence and break away from the system in order to do so. Revolutionaries were mostly free blacks, and their bitterness from being enslaved was a factor that drove their acts of violence and strengthened their desire for equality. Radical Republicans were Liberals.

Following the ending of the Civil War in 1865, America was in an era known as the Reconstruction. The Reconstruction lasted until 1877. Citizens were attempting to rebuild our nation following one of the deadliest war in American History. In this time, the Fourteenth Amendment and Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution were ratified. Although slaves were freed, African Americans still faced intense racial prejudice and discrimination.

Who Killed Reconstruction? “The blacks, as a people, are unfitted for the proper exercise of political duties…..” said a Boston newspaper in 1873 saying that the Africans-Americans were too dumb to be in Congress or any political office. Three years later, was the 100th year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. With the irony of the election of 1876 had officially crushed the African-American dream. In 1877, the Reconstruction efforts finally ended, so people were wondering who killed Reconstruction.

The country was in shambles and needed a plan to heal, so under Abraham Lincoln he began to do just that. He gave the hope of peace and prosperity to the entire nation, under which it would slowly rebuild. Though the Radical Republicans had to take over this project it clearly became a bright spot in American history for the changes made to help freedmen. Throughout the country the Lincoln’s idea of reconstruction had been signal of hope for many of its people, but because of his assassination the hope steadily diminished.

Many historians, researchers, politicians, and scholars have considered reconstruction as turning point for the ratification of equality laws that would eliminate racial segregation for equally rights. However, a close follow-up of the controversial developments that occurred immediately after the end of the Civil War in 1865 indicates dissimilarity. The reconstruction era might have made a history of enabling African Americans to vote and become state legislatures, but some major political personnel consider Reconstruction as a failure, which led to non-ending political controversies, murder, and assaults indicating general failure. Robert Smalls and Wade Hampton are some of the major political people who participated in the continuity of the Reconstruction era and their actions and words prove its failure, as explored in this study. However, their consideration of black freedom contrast because Smalls demonstrates the harmful actions of

The radical Republicans of that time were not silent against the racist acts. Their initiatives ultimately led to the Congressional Reconstruction, which gave black men the right to vote. But when it came to establishing labor rights, they were not as vocal since the north was in need of cheap labor as well. Thus, the struggles for economic justice always remained unanswered. Often the laborers were prevented from being part of unions that ensured their wages.

He favored a moderate policy that would conjoin the South with the Union without any punishment for treason. Many resisted Lincoln’s plan, saying it was not harsh enough while others did not know if Lincoln was being too lenient. The Radical Republicans and moderate Republicans were caught in a conflict. One important event of the Reconstruction Period was the Wade-Davis Bill. This was formed by the Radical Republicans and moderate Republicans.

The reconstruction period was a failure because African Americans, mainly males, were not treated with equality although the constitution said that the they were free and had the right to vote, be educated and had the right to liberty, life and the pursuit to happiness. Organizations, like the KKK, were created to harm freed slaves and their families. Laws were created such as the Black Codes restricting former slaves from their rights. African Americans endured a lot of violence over the years. “In Grayson, Texas, a white man and two friends murdered three former slaves because the wanted to ‘ thin the niggers out and drive them to their hole’”.

Racism’s Impact on Reconstruction While the issue of slavery evidently contributed to the divide that resulted in the American Civil War, it is debated whether prevailing ideals of racism caused the failure of the era following the war known as Reconstruction. With the abolishment of slavery, many of the southern states had to reassemble the social, economic, and political systems instilled in their societies. The Reconstruction Era was originally led by a radical republican government that pushed to raise taxes, establish coalition governments, and deprive former confederates of superiority they might have once held. However, during this time common views were obtained that the South could recover independently and that African Americans

According to www.history.com/topics/charles-sumner ”He saw Reconstruction as the opportunity to establish civil rights for blacks, first in the South where Congress had explicit authority and gradually in the North. In 1865 he insisted that suffrage be granted to all black males. At the time of his death, Sumner was still vainly agitating for federal legislation repealing all discriminatory laws.” Finally, there was President Andrew Johnson. After Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, just as the South surrendered in April 1865, and then Andrew Johnson inherited the problem of Reconstruction.

This paper will discuss the difference between the Ku Klux Klan and The Black Panther Party two extremist groups. The historical foundation of these two groups along with the comparison of their extremist activities, and the motivating factors which fueled and heighten their motivational actions. The movement of these two groups were prompted by the two different beliefs with the Ku Klux Klan motives being from racism, and the Black Panther forming for the protection of their communities from racial tension. The Ku Klux Klan was founded in Tennessee by veteran confederate soldiers lead by General Nathan Bedford in 1865 during the time of the Reconstruction Era as a result of resistance to the Republican Party’s support of the Reconstruction