From the beginning of the Reconstruction era to the late 1960s, the expansion of voting rights in the United States was marked by advances and obstacles. While the Reconstruction Amendments expanded suffrage, many African Americans still endured discriminatory practices such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation tactics such as threats or beatings in order to limit any voice or impact in the voting practice. Furthermore, Jim Crow laws and practices during the late 19th century involving racial segregation highlighted various tactics to suppress African Americans from voting. Additionally, the relentless efforts of activists and suffragists, resulting in the ratification of the 19th Amendment, paved the way for many legislative reforms …show more content…
Ratified in 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, which completely extinguished the laws in place that had deprived millions of African Americans of their right to freedom (Corbet 419–421). The ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1868, however, truly established the platform for addressing the injustices and hatred pointed towards African Americans (Kennedy). Giving citizenship to all persons born in the United States, regardless of race, this amendment sought to enforce the civil rights of every citizen in the United States (Kennedy). In addition, the 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibited the denial of suffrage based on race or color (Kennedy). Together, these amendments represented a significant shift in the American political landscape, promising a more equal society. However, despite the progress made by these amendments, many African Americans were subjected to widespread discrimination. In order to suppress blacks from merging into white society, many states enacted many discriminatory laws and practices, including poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation tactics, to prevent them from voting and expressing their rights (Corbet …show more content…
Despite the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave black men the right to vote, Jim Crow laws stripped this right from many African Americans (“Jim Crow Laws”). Key events, such as the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909 as well as the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, marked important milestones in the struggle for equal voting rights (National Geographic Society). For example, the Voting Rights Act outlawed discriminatory voting practices and provided federal oversight of elections in states with a history of voter suppression. This led to greater access to the ballot for African Americans. Through many decades of activism, the legacy of Jim Crow laws eventually gave way to a more inclusive and equal electoral system in the United States. In conclusion, the evolution of voting rights from the beginning of the Reconstruction era to the late 1960s has greatly changed the political standpoint of
Reconstruction of the nation consisted of protecting black civil rights and the distribution of land among the freedmen. Republicans were the primary people for Reconstruction. Lincoln, Johnston, and the Radical Republican were major contributors for Reconstruction. The three urged the abolition of slavery, unite as one country, and the reestablishment of loyal governments. In addition, it also led to the suffrage of African Americans. However, Reconstruction also came with disagreements between
Washington believes that reconstruction is doomed for failure since the beginning of the period because the people looked to the government on how to act, people being not educated so they wouldn’t be ready for the duties of citizen ship, and the ignorance of the African Americans and their dependence on the government for everything. It was also because of how early it was after the age of slavery but Washington still attempted many different ways to help promote the reconstruction in hopes that one day
The Reconstruction era was the period from 1863 which was the legal end of slavery in the United States or 1865 which was the end of the Confederacy to 1877. In the background of the history of the United States, the term has two applications: the first applies to the complete history of the entire country from 1865 to 1877 following the Civil War (1861 to 1865); the second, to the attempted transformation of the Southern United States from 1863 to 1877, as ordered by Congress. Reconstruction ended
History has a way of repeating itself. We are part of a world where equal rights are still being debated today. During the Reconstruction era from 1865-1877, there were many attempts made to rebuild and restore the remnants left by the Civil War. At the forefront of Reconstruction was the main priority of eradicating slavery. This was accomplished initially by the 13th Amendment, with the 14th Amendment naturalizing all citizens, regardless of race and the 15th Amendment extending the right to vote
The Reconstruction era began after the Civil War was won by the Union in 1865 with the main goal being to bring the two pieces of what used to be America, back together again without slavery. Problems quickly aroused after it became clear that how they were planning on reuniting the two sides were divided. Abraham Lincoln, president at the time, proposed a plan to pardon all Confederates if they swore allegiance to the North, except the former high-ranked officials and war criminals. If the state
Reconstruction was in many ways a failed attempt at rebuilding America. The aftershocks of this era will have lasting effects on the American society for centuries to come. This period was intended to stitch America back together after the ravages of the Civil War. U.S. History describes it as: “although the military conflict had ended, Reconstruction was in many ways still a war” (“Reconstruction”). Instead of uniting again, this time period drove the North and the South further apart. The North
After the Civil War the Reconstruction Era occurred in the southern United States. The Reconstruction Era deeply impacted the south in a negative way for minority. African American were unjustly treated by the white Americans, their rights were limited and or taken away. As a result, they fought hard to obtain equal treatment as citizens. Blacks tried to fight segregation in many ways like at the ballot boxes, in the courtrooms, and through organizations like the National Association of the Advancement
The Reconstruction was an eight-year effort to fix the South after the Civil War left it destroyed. Now that the Civil War ended, and the North & South were united once again, they were the ones responsible for fixing the economic, political, and social damage. Though the Reconstruction was made to unite all Americans and support equality, the Reconstruction ended up tearing America apart. This support soon came to an end in the mid-1870s with the question being; How much responsibility does the
Blomenkamp English III/U.S. History 29 October 2014 Reconstruction of the South Think back to when the Civil War finally ended after five terrible years of battle and a poor farmer is trying to pick up his life make a living for his family. The southern reconstruction of 1865 was suppose to aid the farmer in reestablish his life and homestead, yet the years delay postponed the inevitable. After the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the Reconstruction Bill halted, due to the policies for President
or “reconstruct” the political, economic, and social relationship of the southern states with the rest of the Union. The period of this process of bringing the states of the Confederacy back into the Union is called Reconstruction. It is impossible to fully understand Reconstruction without a grasp of the social and economic upheaval the war brought about. For the people living through the times, this upheaval created a situation that demanded immediate attention. Economically, the South had been
The Reconstruction Act was an immediate response after the Civil War to try and rebuild the United States. Although the military conflicts were over the Reconstruction was in many ways still considered a war. The important struggle was how the radical northerners wanted to punish the south and the southerners who desperately just wanted to preserve their way of life. The federal government outlawed slavery with the 13th amendment, defined citizenship and protected the americans with the 14th amendment
that from blacks. All because of reconstruction with north and south. Reconstruction started in 1865 and didn't end till 1877 it was a war between the confederate(South) and Union(North) to get rid of slavery for good. The north wanted to get blacks the freedom they deserved, but the south wasn’t all of it. The goal of reconstruction was to combine the north and south once again, and rebuild what was damaged in the civil war and free all African Americans. Reconstruction failed because the south resisted
The Reconstruction debate has haunted historians since the process began. First, both politicians and citizens argued about how the ordeal should be carried out. Then, the historians analyzed and debated over the success of Reconstruction and the true motives of those who pushed for Reconstruction; for instance, questions regarding whether the radical Republicans really cared about obtaining freedoms for freed African Americans (rather than solely caring about revenge and power) and whether Reconstruction
most importantly socially. The reconstruction period was an emotional and intense time for the African-Americans ending with the assassination of president Abraham Lincoln. Andrew Johnson was inaugurated in March, 1865 which changed life drastically for the rights of African Americans. One of the freedmen testified, “the Yankees ‘tol’ us we were free, but once the army left, planters would get cruel to the slaves if they acted like they were free”. The reconstruction era was unsuccessful and was a
The federal Reconstruction efforts from 1865 through 1878 were mostly resisted because most southerners treated the blacks the same as when they were slaves. Many blacks were killed when they were set free because people believed they should stay slaves. There were also groups that threatened the blacks and killed them for supporting Republican beliefs. Finally, the employers of freed blacks watched over them like they were slaves even though they were free. Once the slaves were set free in the