civil war, EMANCIPATION AND rECONSTRUCTION
-
Timeline
-
Timeline
-
Introduction
-
Primary Sources
<
>
Civil War, Reconstruction and Post Emancipation Introduction
This theme is about the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Post Emancipation Era’s in the United States. Though these things were not seen as direct slavery, these era’s ultimately set up the life for African Americans in America for generations to come.
The Civil War was a major part in racism in America. This was known as “The War Between the States” from 1861-1865 with the United States of America and Confederate States of America. It involved multiple southern states that left the union to protect slavery in the south. It began when the southern troops raiding Fort Sumptner in South Carolina’s barracks. Slavery in the south had become an extremely profitable business with over approximately 3 million people enslaved in 1860. In January 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued The Emancipation Proclamation which freed slaves in the southern states. Though some of the Confederates were exempt from this such as Maryland and Delaware. This eventually laid the foundation for slaves to be freed across the country. The United States or the North won because they had more resources than the south or Confederate states, which allowed them to last longer throughout the war. The war lasted 4 years throughout the country with the result being, slavery was abolished. This was the most gruesome and costliest war with over 600,000 soldiers killed and another serval hundred thousand injured.
After the war the south was in economic turmoil. The war had not only freed the slaves, who were a big part in the economy, northern soldiers burned crops, ruined railroad tracks, barns, ports, and homes. The Southerners were angry and felt resentment for the fact that they had lost the war. Shortly after the war the Reconstruction era began. This was a reconstruction of the south and their policies, which was led by President Andrew Johnson. This snatched away the land that was given to the free slaves back to their rightful owners. Thus, allowing the south to rebuild on its own. In rebuilding the southern states created “black codes”, these codes restricted free black’s activity and ensured a labor force. This made the Northern in congress angry, they created a Civil Rights Bill which stated that all person born in the United States as national citizens who were to enjoy equality before the law. This bill was vetoed by President Andrew Johnson and was ultimately the demise of his presidency and he was impeached in 1868. The Civil Rights Bill became the first bill to become law over presidential veto. Though slavery had been abolished forever, most southerners were not happy with this and life for African Americans in the south and surrounding areas only got worse. The Klu Klux Klan and other white supremacist organizations attacked or threatened Republicans politicians or African Americans who challenged white authority.
Post Emancipation in America was a tough time for African Americans. While some chose to leave their masters and head west others choose to stay because they had no other choice. Also, many elderly slaves did not have a choice but to stay in slavery, due to the minimum and maximum age ranges. Only people that were technically considered free were people under the age of 65. The fight for freedom was thought to be over and the fight for survival had begun. Wages fluctuated frequently because they were determined by the type of worker you were. African Americans were dying due to poverty especially the children. Deficiencies caused African American to resort to the treatment of diseases with herbal and home remedies. Majority of the slaves were released from their previous plantations penniless. With income becoming a huge issue, a few ex-slaves had the ability to own their own land. Death because of poverty was not the only thing that affected the slave’s lives. Ex-slaves were weakened by a severe sense of isolation brought on by separation from their families. James Johnson, a former slave from Columbia, SC, stated that “he felt that years after the war worse than before”. The institution of slavery cracked, crumbled, and collapsed after January 1, 1863. Without the emancipation, the United States would not have survived as a unified nation, but still after it there were ways to keep African Americans in bondage. New laws such as Jim Crow and segregation came into act after the reconstruction in 1877. The civil war was now a war to make people free.
The Radical Republicans believed blacks were to have the same political rights and opportunities as whites. In 1866, Congress passed two bills African Americans and promote their welfare. One of the bills were the Freedmen’s Bureau, which provided African Americans with food, shelter, medical care, education, and legal assistance. Another bill was The Civil Rights Act, which declared that all people born in the United States should be granted the rights to life, personal freedom, property, and legal recourse. President Andrew Johnson rejected the Civil Rights Act, meaning that blacks would not have the same rights as whites.
The 13, 14, and 15th Amendments were collectively known as the Civil War Amendments were designed to ensure equality for recently emancipated slaves. The 13th Amendment banned slavery and all involuntary servitude except for in the case of punishment for crime. On July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment authorized the government to punish states that abridged citizen’s right to vote by proportionally reducing their representation in Congress. They also prohibited former Confederate states from paying war debts also they granted Congress the requirement former Confederate states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment as a condition of regaining federal representation.
The 15th Amendment granted African-American men the right to vote, was formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution on March 30, 1870. On February 3, 1870, the 15th amendment prohibited states from disenfranchising voters because race, color or previous servitude. The 15th amendment left open the possibility that states could institute voter qualifications to all races and many former confederate states took advantage of provision, instituting poll taxes. After decades of discrimination, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, aimed to overcome barriers at the state and local levels that denied blacks their right to vote under the 15th Amendment.
This theme is about the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Post Emancipation Era’s in the United States. Though these things were not seen as direct slavery, these era’s ultimately set up the life for African Americans in America for generations to come.
The Civil War was a major part in racism in America. This was known as “The War Between the States” from 1861-1865 with the United States of America and Confederate States of America. It involved multiple southern states that left the union to protect slavery in the south. It began when the southern troops raiding Fort Sumptner in South Carolina’s barracks. Slavery in the south had become an extremely profitable business with over approximately 3 million people enslaved in 1860. In January 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued The Emancipation Proclamation which freed slaves in the southern states. Though some of the Confederates were exempt from this such as Maryland and Delaware. This eventually laid the foundation for slaves to be freed across the country. The United States or the North won because they had more resources than the south or Confederate states, which allowed them to last longer throughout the war. The war lasted 4 years throughout the country with the result being, slavery was abolished. This was the most gruesome and costliest war with over 600,000 soldiers killed and another serval hundred thousand injured.
After the war the south was in economic turmoil. The war had not only freed the slaves, who were a big part in the economy, northern soldiers burned crops, ruined railroad tracks, barns, ports, and homes. The Southerners were angry and felt resentment for the fact that they had lost the war. Shortly after the war the Reconstruction era began. This was a reconstruction of the south and their policies, which was led by President Andrew Johnson. This snatched away the land that was given to the free slaves back to their rightful owners. Thus, allowing the south to rebuild on its own. In rebuilding the southern states created “black codes”, these codes restricted free black’s activity and ensured a labor force. This made the Northern in congress angry, they created a Civil Rights Bill which stated that all person born in the United States as national citizens who were to enjoy equality before the law. This bill was vetoed by President Andrew Johnson and was ultimately the demise of his presidency and he was impeached in 1868. The Civil Rights Bill became the first bill to become law over presidential veto. Though slavery had been abolished forever, most southerners were not happy with this and life for African Americans in the south and surrounding areas only got worse. The Klu Klux Klan and other white supremacist organizations attacked or threatened Republicans politicians or African Americans who challenged white authority.
Post Emancipation in America was a tough time for African Americans. While some chose to leave their masters and head west others choose to stay because they had no other choice. Also, many elderly slaves did not have a choice but to stay in slavery, due to the minimum and maximum age ranges. Only people that were technically considered free were people under the age of 65. The fight for freedom was thought to be over and the fight for survival had begun. Wages fluctuated frequently because they were determined by the type of worker you were. African Americans were dying due to poverty especially the children. Deficiencies caused African American to resort to the treatment of diseases with herbal and home remedies. Majority of the slaves were released from their previous plantations penniless. With income becoming a huge issue, a few ex-slaves had the ability to own their own land. Death because of poverty was not the only thing that affected the slave’s lives. Ex-slaves were weakened by a severe sense of isolation brought on by separation from their families. James Johnson, a former slave from Columbia, SC, stated that “he felt that years after the war worse than before”. The institution of slavery cracked, crumbled, and collapsed after January 1, 1863. Without the emancipation, the United States would not have survived as a unified nation, but still after it there were ways to keep African Americans in bondage. New laws such as Jim Crow and segregation came into act after the reconstruction in 1877. The civil war was now a war to make people free.
The Radical Republicans believed blacks were to have the same political rights and opportunities as whites. In 1866, Congress passed two bills African Americans and promote their welfare. One of the bills were the Freedmen’s Bureau, which provided African Americans with food, shelter, medical care, education, and legal assistance. Another bill was The Civil Rights Act, which declared that all people born in the United States should be granted the rights to life, personal freedom, property, and legal recourse. President Andrew Johnson rejected the Civil Rights Act, meaning that blacks would not have the same rights as whites.
The 13, 14, and 15th Amendments were collectively known as the Civil War Amendments were designed to ensure equality for recently emancipated slaves. The 13th Amendment banned slavery and all involuntary servitude except for in the case of punishment for crime. On July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment authorized the government to punish states that abridged citizen’s right to vote by proportionally reducing their representation in Congress. They also prohibited former Confederate states from paying war debts also they granted Congress the requirement former Confederate states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment as a condition of regaining federal representation.
The 15th Amendment granted African-American men the right to vote, was formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution on March 30, 1870. On February 3, 1870, the 15th amendment prohibited states from disenfranchising voters because race, color or previous servitude. The 15th amendment left open the possibility that states could institute voter qualifications to all races and many former confederate states took advantage of provision, instituting poll taxes. After decades of discrimination, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, aimed to overcome barriers at the state and local levels that denied blacks their right to vote under the 15th Amendment.
This photo shows the Emancipation Proclamation written document signed by President Abraham Lincoln. January 1, 1863 marked the day that all persons held as slaves within state or designated state was set free. Although the Emancipation did not free all slaves it was start. From the first days of the Civil War, slaves had acted to secure their own liberty. The Emancipation Proclamation confirmed their insistence that the war for the Union must become a war for freedom.
“By the President of the United States of America: "4.6 The Emancipation Proclamation." The Emancipation Proclamation. Times Tree Press, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 01 Nov. 2016.” |
The Freedmen’s Bureau was established in 1865 by the congress to help those who were slaves in the south after the United States Civil War. Approximately 4 million slaves were freed because of the Union Victory in the war. The Bureau provided food, housing, medical aid, books and legal assistance. In February 1866, there was a second Freedmen’s Bureau Act passed to extend two years and gave the United States Army the opportunity to protect the civil rights of African Americans. However, this photo is a racist advertisement against blacks gaining their rights.
|
The New Orleans riot was caused by people who were in raged because of the legislature’s refusal to give black men their right to vote. There were twenty-five white delegates who met in New Orleans and there were 200 supporters who were African American veterans from the Civil War. The riot took place at the Louisiana Constitutional Convention Center, there were 130 black New Orleans residents who are black, and a mob of white supremacists who came to stop the delegates from meeting. Both black and the delegates were targets and were shot despite if they raised white flags to surrender. Federal troops were called for assistance however, by time they arrived 100 people were killed and 34 blacks and 3 whites were killed.
|
In December 1865, the 13th Amendment was passed to the constitution to abolish slavery. A group of ex-Confederate soldiers formed a secret society of white men, wanted to resist the laws giving blacks the same rights as whites. These members wore white robes with hoods and holes for their eyes to hide their faces. The Klan would come out at night in their robes and sometimes carrying torches. They would beat and murder people who were their targets and hanging people from a tree was a common method for them. During the civil rights movement, the Ku Klux Klan activity started to included bombings of black schools and churches and violence against black and white activists in the South.
|