How Did the Social Status of American African Change During the Reconstruction Era - Essay Example

How did the social status of American African changed during the Reconstruction era (1865-1875) Introduction “Reconstruction was a period in U.S. history during and after the American Civil War which attempts were made to solve the political, social, and economic problems arising from readmission to the Union of the 11 Confederate states that had seceded at or before the outbreak of war” (Guisepi 1). During this period, Civil War and practice of slavery came to an end in some parts of the U.S. Unfortunately, the end of both Civil War and slavery led to immergence of complicated issues in the South. After the defeat of Confederacy, the southern states were ravaged physically and economically. Their elements of politics were also ruptured, and, as a result led to millions of slaves becoming legally free. During this period, there were high chances of reconstructing the south, but its history could not pave the way for that to take place. For instance, determining on what was to be done on the Confederates that had led to the emergence of Civil War was a problem. Deciding on the fate of the millions of people who had been enslaved in it was also challenging. Additionally, determining the fate of the whites who had fueled the slavery in the south posed a great challenge. “Therefore, the main issues of the Reconstruction era were to readmit the former Confederate states and to sought the position of African Americans in American society” (Reconstruction 438). Liberation from slavery Liberation from slavery did not come in a single moment. “In coastal South Carolina and parts of Louisiana and Florida, some slaves gained their freedom as early as the fall of 1861 when generals like John Fremont declared slaves in their district free.” However, many slaves in some parts such as Texas heard of freedom in 1865. The challenges they used to face before this time led to them having “Juneteenth day” as a reminder of their first access to freedom. Many parts that surrounded Texas such as Delawere, Kentucky, and Missouri also gained their freedom towards the end of 1865 through the 13th Amendment (Reconstruction 439). Realization of citizenship In 1865, African Americans developed some enthusiasm towards realization of their citizenship. Their aspirations were supported by some of the Republican leaders. Additionally, Freedmen’s Bureau was formed to provide social, educational, and economic support to the slaves. It also granted the slave security against the white southerners. It also aimed at coordinating efforts so as to protect the rights of former slaves who were not having access to education. In addition to providing education, it also aimed at providing medical care to the slaves. According to it, provision of all these things could aid significantly towards bringing slaves together socially. Freedmen’s Bureau and Education One of the greatest successes of the Freedmen’s Bureau was the introduction of education (Darden 13). The Freedmen’s Bureau managed to coordinate more than fifty religious groups in the North. Its coordination of the philanthropic and the religious groups in the North also led to the establishment of more than 3,000 freedmen’s schools in the South. The formed schools also played a significant role towards uniting people; they served 150,000 people. To its support of social cohesion, it enhanced the coming together of children, women and men. Initially, most of the teachings in schools were performed by white teachers. However, by 1871 the black teachers had outnumbered the white teachers. This was a portrayal of peace; the blacks and the whites had managed to work in the same environment (Harrison 234). Fortunately, the Reconstruction era also led to the emergence of economic constrains among the missionaries and the white northerners. Lack of financial support led to the whites declining interest on the blacks and, as a result leading to the success of the black teachers. Freedmen’s Bureau also played a significant role towards uniting black churches with black teachers. This is evidenced by the support given to the black teachers by the black churches. Initially, the blacks were not allowed to school together with the whites. However, the introduction of the Freedmen’s Bureau led to some of the blacks sharing classes with the whites in the missionary schools, a portrayal of black-white social correlation. It is also evident that between 1860 and 1880 more than 1000 blacks had degrees from schools that were considered whites’. Thus, it is evident that the Reconstruction era (1865-1875) had led to the rise of the blacks’ literacy by approximately 30% (Reconstruction 456). Freedom of mind Pursuing freedom of the mind was also a social problem in 1860s. Many whites disregarded the improvement of the Negros (Darden 16). The white not only viewed the time spent by the Negros in classrooms as wastage of time, but also forced them to catch their lessons in bits in order not to auto-compete them. White southerners also disregarded white female teachers; they questioned their morals and cautioned people are not to rent women their rooms. After the folding of the Freedmen’s Bureau, some of the schools that supported it in the north were closed down, portraying the social constrains that coexisted between the whites and the blacks. From this, it is evident that whites did not like to socialize with the whites, and they could do anything to demoralize their success. Property right Initially, land ownership was also a social problem in America. This is evidenced by how they were treated. Irrespective how hardworking they were in the southern farms, they never received any appreciation. Property right plays a significant role towards ensuring coexistence of peace in the society. Unfortunately, the African Americans lacked property right in early 1860s. Most of the lands in America were occupied by the whites, and no black was entitled to possession of anything. However, the Reconstruction era led to African Americans to have access to land rights. This is evidenced by the Presidential Reconstruction that took place between 1865 and 1867 (Reconstruction 457). During this period, President Andrew Johnson who had succeeded the presidency after the assignation of President Lincoln restored property rights. The contributions of freedmen also contributed significantly towards inaction of freedom of land ownership. It led to General William T. Sherman to come up with an act (Field Order No. 15) in 1865 that led to setting aside of a vast land for the blacks. Through the Freedmen’s Bureau, the Reconstruction era also managed to rent 40 acres of land top the freedmen. “By June 1865, the Reconstruction had managed to settle over 40,000 slaves on Sherman land along the southern coast” (Reconstruction 441), portraying the essence of the Reconstruction era. Reconstruction of the Federal Union After the end of the Civil War in 1865, there were no appropriate strategies for reconstructing the Federal Union. However, President Lincoln knew that the majority of the southerners were unionists. He believed that they had an element of unionism within their hearts which they could use in reconstructing the Federal Union. To restore the Union, President Lincoln requested the loyalists to be fair to the former slaves. “To advance his desire for the reconstruction of the Union, he proposed to readmit a seceding state if 10 percent of its prewar voters took an oath of loyalty” (Reconstruction 443). He also requested for the inclusion of the end to slavery bill in the new constitution. Thus, it is evident that the Reconstruction era led to the unification of the southerners. Provisions of the 1866 Civil Rights Act To ensure that freedmen’s rights were protected from presidential vetoes and the Congress, the Republican ensured that some of the provisions of the 1866 Civil Rights Act have been incorporated into the constitution. Fortunately, this led to the signing of the Fourteenth Amendment by the Congress in June 1866. “The signing of the amendment not only guaranteed every citizen equality before the law, but also prohibited nations from violating the civil rights of their citizens” (Reconstruction 443). Although it led to the outlawing of the black codes, the whites, violation of the blacks did not end. Introduction of black codes The introduction of the black codes started in Mississippi in December 1865. Their use later advanced to other ex-Confederate states. The black codes were legal codes that denied African Americans the right to own or purchase a property. Additionally, it denied the African Americans the right to possess arms, congregate together, and marry white wives. The laws associated with the codes also granted the whites the right to arrest the blacks including children who seemed idle. Sorry to say, the code laws also allowed the whites to either chain African Americans together or sold them to other plantations. Some laws also allowed the whites to arrest any black that seemed suspicious. Thus, it is evident that the black codes hampered significantly with the social welfare of the blacks. In December 1865, a 13th Amendment was ratified by the Congress to end slavery (Darden 20). However, its effectiveness was felt in February 1866 when the Congress decided to increase the power of the Freedmen’s Bureau so as to protect the rights of the freedmen and to end the use of the black codes. This bill was enacted over President Johnson’s rejection. From this, it is evident that the Reconstruction era contributed significantly towards the ending of slavery in America. Additionally, it is evident that the era contributed to the provision of some freedom rights to the southerners. The passing of the Civil Rights Act in April 1866 The passing of the Civil Rights Act in April 1866 also played a significant role towards provision of black rights. It allowed the blacks to have the right to make contracts and give evidence in court. It also allowed them to have access to selling and buying property. The involvement of the northerners in the quest for the protection of the freedmen after massacre killings of the African Americans in Memphis, Tennessee, Louisiana, and New Orleans also contributed significantly towards the strengthening of the southerners’ social welfare. Thus, it is evident that the Reconstruction era led to the provision of some fundamental rights to the southerners. Racism The reconstruction of the Congress between 1867 and 1870 also played a significant role towards changing the social status of African Americans (Darden 12). Initially, all African Americans were considered slaves by the whites. It led to the setting of some standards that ended slavery. However, the Counter Reconstruction that took place between 1870 and 1874 led to the emergence of racism and violence. In addition to killing the Republican rule that united people in the south, racism also spearheaded the white violence in the North. It also made the southern whites use racism as a unifying factor. For instance, they came up with Ku Klux Klan group that intensified violence against the coming together of the blacks in the south. Although many some churches existed during the slavery era, it is evident that the blacks were not that free to associate freely with each other. Additionally, most of the black groups, welfare associations, and schools experienced lots of challenges from the whites; the whites discriminated them. By 1875, majority of the slaves had become fully free. They could own land and hold jobs in the cities as the whites. They had also the freedom of movement and association; they could visit their friends and associate in churches. They also had the freedom of raising their children spiritually and in relative peace. The Reconstruction amendment also contributed significantly towards the changing of the constitution (Dodson 2). It led to the introduction of some sections in the constitution that valued the will of the African Americans. Additionally, it led to the rise of many black churches that brought African Americans together. It is through the coming together of the blacks in the church that self-help and organization were formed to meet the needs of the blacks. The churches also played a significant role towards enhancing the growth of friendship among the people that visited it in time of worships. They also encouraged contribution of the members towards enhancing financial assistance among themselves. Living in the second American republic From the deaths that took place during the Civil War in early 1860s, it is evident that people could not withstand staying close with each other any time soon. It had succeeded in the creation of enmity between the Americans. However, people managed to coexist very well with each other after the invention of the Reconstruction era. This was enhanced by the inclusion of the 14th Amendment in the constitution that resulted to emancipation of approximately 4 million slaves (Blight 3). According to this amendment, all people that were born within America were entitled to possession of property and liberty to any practice (Blight 3). Conclusion From what took place between 1865 and 1875, it is evident that the main role of the Reconstruction era was to grant African Americans political and civil rights. It is also evident that it aimed at forging a more just society out of the effects of slavery. Unfortunately, President Johnson’s reconstruction policy was totally different from what President Lincoln had started. It contributed to the deterioration of the African Americans’ rights. The Reconstruction era also attempted to transform the institutions and blueprints of social relations in the South. It managed to grant African Americans freedom to access to some social welfare via introduction of some social welfare programs. However, the end of the Reconstruction era failed to unite a less ethnically divided society (Dodson 6). This is evidenced by what took place in the South. In the South, decades passed with a bloom of underdevelopment. It also allowed the South to be dominated by one political party; African Americans were barred from coming together so as to come up with their own political parties. It was during this era that racism became more embedded in the American society. The Reconstruction era has also some positive legacy. It was during its era that African Americans came up with the formation of churches and schools that aided significantly in the fight against inequality challenges. It was during this era that many schools, as well as hospitals, were declared public. Additionally, it was during this time that the first black institutions in the South were laid. The number of the black clergymen and landowners, as well as teachers, and businessmen increased also during this period. During this era, there was also passing of the 14th and 15th Amendments that mandated equal rights and attacks to discrimination were laid (Dodson 7). The constitution amendments during this period also aided significantly in the fight against racism that had emanated in the South. Works Cited Blight, David. “The Civil War in America’s Collective Memory.” Northwest History Magazine. 2013. Print. Darden, Gray. “The New Empire in the ‘New South’: Jim Crow in the Global Frontier of High Imperialism and Decolonization.” 2009. Print. Guisepi, R. “Reconstruction Period.” Web. 26 April 2014. http://history- world.org/reconstruction_period.htm Dodson, Carrie. “Paper No. 1: Assessing the Effects of Reconstruction.” (2006): Web. 26 April 2014. Read More