African Americans Limitations

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Freedom Limitations on African Americans The purpose of Reconstruction was to rebuild the South after the Civil War. One major part of Reconstruction was to guarantee African Americans citizenship and freedom, and to give them the same rights as white Americans. However, the African Americans were not granted total citizenship, freedom, or equal rights. They were still treated like slaves, they still had many restrictions, they were still discriminated, and even when they were granted rights, there was always a catch. There are many reasons why they were not technically free. African Americans were free according to the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments in the Constitution (Document A). But in this case, the Constitution has only a minor role …show more content…

The Black Codes were laws that limited/restricted the rights of African Americans. For example, African Americans were unable to rent or own a house in town (Document B). White Americans had this oppurtunity. It is true that Reconstruction took place after slaves were freed, and therefore there were most likely uncertainties on giving them freedom and equal rights. The Black Codes probably could have balanced the certainty and uncertainty. But the 14th Amendment in the Constitution stated that they had citizenship (Document A). If they were really considered “citizens” of America, they would not be bothered with the Black Codes. They would be treated just the same as white Americans, and there would not be any restrictions against them. The Black Codes defeated the purpose of …show more content…

For example, the African Americans who were elected as congressmen were elected at the end or even after Reconstruction. Blanche Bruce was elected as a U.S. Senator of Mississippi from 1875-1881 (Document D). Reconstruction ended in 1877 (Recontruction Timeline). There were some African Americans who were elected in mid-Reconstruction, such as Jefferson Long, who lasted from 1870-1871 (Document D). Be that as it may, this man lasted only a year. Therefore, even though African Americans were elected as senators and congressmen, white Americans still dominated in politics, and the years African Americans were elected do not support the idea that they were free. Another catch would be the fact that they were still much poorer than other Americans. “However, many people were kept poor by the practice of sharecropping. Under this system, people farmed for landowners in exchange for a share of the crop.” (A Union in Crisis). Sharecropping was basically a substitute for slavery. Sharecroppers would get paid, but sometimes, they would end up in debt. “I am to gin & pack all of the cotton and charge every sharecropper an eighteenth of his part…” (Sharecropping Contract). Clearly, African Americans always had a price to pay for their freedom, and they were still given a very little amount of money to get by

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