Essay on How the Failure of Reconstruction Impacted...

After a war that claimed the lives of more men than that of all other wars combined, much of the country was left in ruins, literally and figuratively. Dozens of towns in the South had been burned to the ground. Meanwhile, the relations between the North and South had crumbled to pieces. Something needed to be done so that the country could once again be the United States of America, not the Divided States of America. The years from 1865 to 1877 were a time of rebuilding – the broken communities and the broken relations. This time period was known as Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a failure on the basis that the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments that were passed should have given protection and freedom to the African†¦show more content†¦These rules closely resembled the rules of the plantation just a few years earlier during slavery. Although slavery was now technically illegal, the government never made any attempt to intercede and stop these practices that essentially put African Americans forever in debt and under the control of the whites. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution defined citizenship as anyone born in the U.S. or naturalized, thus giving citizenship to African Americans. Like the 13th amendment, the 14th was not enforced. Had this amendment had been enforced, as citizens of the United States the most basic rights of black people should have been protected, like any other citizen. However, they were continually marginalized. If a crime was committed against them, the legal system turned a blind eye. If they were in need, no one would offer a helping hand. The government largely funded public white schools, whereas African Americans had to raise much of their own funding for their schools. Although they raised a large sum of money, it was still insufficient to educate the millions of newly freed children and adults (Franklin 250). These are just a few examples of the inequality experienced by blacks. The Civil R ights Act of 1866 explicitly states that African Americans do have citizenship â€Å"regardless of raceShow MoreRelatedThe Legacy Of The Civil War Essay1593 Words   |  7 Pagespain. Veteran William Lloyd Garrison describes few of many changes that occurred after the Civil War, including the abolishment of slavery and the African American being granted for the first time in history the right to vote. As the civil war came to an end, the United States began to establish an undivided nation. This era known as the reconstruction era is described as â€Å"meaning literally the rebuilding of a shattered nation. (verterans of the civil movment, n.d.) Reconstruction’s main goal wasRead MoreEssay on Boss713 Words   |  3 Pagessettlers and the Powhatan Indians, and how did Indian policies in the southern colonies eventually laid the basis for forced removal and reservations? 3. How did religion, economic circumstances, and Indian relations shape the founding and the development of the New England colonies? 4. How did the labor system of white indentured servitude work, and why did plantation owners replace it African slavery? Explain how the African slave trade developed? 5. How did the British victory in the SevenRead MoreA Great Trial On The President Of The United States1704 Words   |  7 PagesOn the Inauguration Day of every president of the United States of America, the country looks to one man to govern the nation to prosperity. A great trial begins for the new president that will judge his ability to lead and manage a country. How he performs will determine the legacy he will leave behind. The imperative skill of strong leadership, particularly in times of tension and disaster, is needed in order to make smart decisions and compromises for the good of the nation. Sound leadershipRead MoreChildhood Studies : A New Field For The Advocacy Of Children1181 Words   |  5 Pagesnature of adolescents is developed and expressed in individual societies differently and these individual attitudes and beliefs combine to form a region specific model of childhood. James and Prout developed six central tenets, or principles, about how children should be understood. The first tenet proposes that childhood is socially constructed. This is to say that childhood differs over place and time but biologically all children are alike in that they are immature. It does not matter where orRead MoreThe African American Labor Market2049 Words   |  9 Pagesa exploitive byproduct of white southerners’ desire to proclaim economic dominance over the African American labor market. The motives of lessees were not solely economically driven - they were racially discriminatory practices with the intent of keeping African-Americans as subservient citizens. Along the way, white southerners realized that they could use large groups of criminalized African Americans to build infrastructure, such as railroads, to mine coal and iron, make turpentine, clear landRead MoreThe Depression Of The Great Depression1232 Words   |  5 Pagesis that he promises to in crease government help and use the power of the government to address the people’s issues. Although, he did not explain how he was going to fix things such as unemployment and and improving the stock market in great detail he won the election because Hoover’s response was too passive. In early 1932, Hoover set up the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to try and get the government involved. Although, not all the people liked this because it gave the government credit to largeRead MoreThe Devastating Effects Of Hurricane Katrina1548 Words   |  7 Pagesinformation early warnings to the people in disaster prone areas prior to its occurrence. This research paper discusses about the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, reasons for failure to communicate information during Hurricane Katrina, the category of people who were more vulnerable to this disaster, and how could they be overcome for future disasters. Introduction: Disaster is any sudden calamity causing great loss of life or property. Have you ever imagined your home being destroyed asRead MoreNegative Effects of the Lincoln Assassination3130 Words   |  13 Pagesflaws were highlighted. Mary Lincoln’s emotional instability, which had been a problem even during the lifetime of her husband, made her the subject of much ridicule after his death. Swanson mentions that other members of the Lincoln family were impacted as well: Tad, the president’s constant companion after Willie’s death, died of tuberculosis in 1871, having survived his father by just six years. [. . .] Robert Todd Lincoln became a prominent attorney, businessman, and government official, butRead MoreThe Long Struggle for Civil Rights Essay2180 Words   |  9 Pages African Americans have a history of struggles because of racism and prejudices. Ever since the end of the Civil War, they struggled to benefit from their full rights that the Constitution promised. The fourteenth Amendment, which defined national citizenship, was passed in 1866. Even though African Americans were promised citizenship, they were still treated as if they were unequal. The South had an extremely difficult time accepting African Americans as equals, and did anything they couldRead MoreAnalysis Of William Du Bois s The Soul Of The Black Folk Essay1960 Words   |  8 Pagesend of the nineteenth century, he writing of American history had changed from consensus to progressivism. This opened up a new form of writing and opportunities to include different approaches or fields, such as science, economic s, political science, and sociology, to help the understanding of the topic. In 1903, William Du Bois, influenced by Pragmatism, wrote about the Civil War and how it was a result of economic and social factors of African Americans in his book The Soul of the Black Folk. Then