Primary Sources:
14th and 15th Amendments (1868-1870) Black Codes (1865)
Following the Civil War, Congress temporarily prevented Southerners from continuing white supremacy. The Radical Republicans in Congress instituted federal military rule over the majority of Southern territory. While monitored by the U.S. Army, the former Confederate states developed new constitutions, and after ratifying the 14th Amendment they were readmitted into the Union. The new Amendments prevented states from refusing "the equal protection of the laws" to all citizens, including former slaves. Section 1 of the 14th Amendment reads "All persons born or naturalized in the United States . . . are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens . . . nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870; it stated that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." The recently adopted Amendments guaranteed equality for the recently emancipated slaves. A large portion of freed blacks in the south became voters. Most of them supported the Republican Party, the party of Abraham Lincoln. Eventually, two black U.S. senators from Mississippi were sent to Washington electing many black state officials. Republican controlled state governments brought about immense progress for the lives of former slaves. Black men and women were finally given the freedom of speech and movement, education, the right to a fair trial, and other privileges that other American citizens shared.
As a result of the withdrawal of the federal troops protecting the newly established rights of black citizens, white supremacy had reoccurred in the former Confederate states. Violent actions from the Ku Klux Klan, a malevolent private organization determined to sustain white supremacy, along with threats of others negatively impacted black voting. Democratic officials replaced the Republicans voted out by white majorities. The 15th Amendment served as an obstacle as it guaranteed African Americans the right to vote. A meeting in Mississippi during 1890 was held that served the purpose of drafting a replacing state constitution. Though the 15th Amendment restricted such behavior, an alternative idea was proposed. Instead of replacing the former state constitution, many voter restrictions were written into the state constitution that targeted black voters. The first Black Codes were created in 1865. These codes restrained the newly attained rights of freedmen and forced them into a labor economy based on debt. The harsh codes regulated the lives of “persons of color.” Enforced by state militia forces and occasionally former Confederate veterans, the Black Codes were designed to seize the rights of the freedmen and take their voice. During 1866, many former Confederate states developed Black Codes that personally targeted the legal equality of blacks and whites. Under Johnson’s authority, in 1865 and 1866, a great number of southern states would execute their own black codes.
These two sources represent the sectional divide over the adoption of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. The end of the Civil War and the emancipation of former slaves filled the former Confederate states with resentment and fueled their harsh actions against African Americans. The abolition of slavery served as a large accomplishment in America. The Radical Republicans in Congress quickly incorporated freedmen into society and granted them citizenship. The southern states were forced to redraft a new state constitution altering their labor system and affecting their economy, striking fear and anger into many. Once Reconstruction ended in 1877, the Southern states were no longer being closely monitored enabling them to lash out violently against the newly freed blacks.
Continuity and Change:
The emancipation of slaves and the creation of the 13th,14th, and 15th Amendments show the immense progress that occurred in period five. In previous periods slavery was a reoccurring issue constantly ignored and neglected in an attempt to prevent discord. Citizenship and voting rights were given to freedmen changing the political landscape. The Amendments were developed and incorporated into the Constitution serving the purpose of protecting the rights of the newly freed people. Slavery was first introduced to America in the 17th century and had served a major role in the economic system and was highly beneficial resulting in the unwillingness of many Americans to abolish it. The process of emancipation was piecemeal and resulted in the death of many. The recognition of African American’s citizenship and natural rights was an abundant advancement in U.S. history.
The status of women in period five remains similar to that of previous units. Women’s suffrage is ignored and not recognized as an important issue as the focus remains on protecting the rights of the newly freed former slaves and incorporating them into society. Racial Prejudice is another reoccurring controversy that has continued into period five. The idea of white supremacy is still common and after reconstruction, it is readopted by the former Confederate states. The Ku Klux Klan, an organization created to preserve white supremacy, and Black codes, voter restrictions specifically targeting freed blacks, are examples of racial inequality that have developed following the era of Reconstruction. In previous periods, African Americans were abused, mistreated, and exploited holding no rights or freedom and seen as inferior.
The status of women in period five remains similar to that of previous units. Women’s suffrage is ignored and not recognized as an important issue as the focus remains on protecting the rights of the newly freed former slaves and incorporating them into society. Racial Prejudice is another reoccurring controversy that has continued into period five. The idea of white supremacy is still common and after reconstruction, it is readopted by the former Confederate states. The Ku Klux Klan, an organization created to preserve white supremacy, and Black codes, voter restrictions specifically targeting freed blacks, are examples of racial inequality that have developed following the era of Reconstruction. In previous periods, African Americans were abused, mistreated, and exploited holding no rights or freedom and seen as inferior.
Synthesis Article:
The Abolition movement, 1830-1870, focused on the immediate emancipation of all slaves and the termination of racial discrimination. Many of the ideas of the movement were inspired by The Second Great Awakening. Abolitionists endorsed nonviolence and condemned racial prejudice. The issues addressed gained a large amount of attention and support, largely from African American communities in the North, and were forced repeatedly into politics. The activities provoked violent responses from the North and South as the movement was seen as a threat to the Union and many American’s way of life. Abolitionists demanded that Congress end all federal support for slavery and in response, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a “gag rule” that banned consideration of anti-slavery petitions and enabling them to ignore the issue. In the 1850’s organized abolition in politics had been combined with the larger sectional crisis occurring as a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott decision, and John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry. The majority of abolitionists were supporters of the Republican Party and remained with the Union during the secession crisis.
The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013, and addresses modern day racial discrimination. It developed in response to the visible violence against black communities. The movement is gaining an increasing amount of attention and support as the activists fight for equality. The majority of the activists are supporters of the Democratic Party. These two movements are similar as they both address racial discrimination against African Americans and recognize the injustice and bias that face minorities in the U.S. The main difference between the two is that the abolition movement fought to end the institution of slavery and the Black Lives Matter movement is fighting to end the racial prejudices that have been around for centuries.
The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013, and addresses modern day racial discrimination. It developed in response to the visible violence against black communities. The movement is gaining an increasing amount of attention and support as the activists fight for equality. The majority of the activists are supporters of the Democratic Party. These two movements are similar as they both address racial discrimination against African Americans and recognize the injustice and bias that face minorities in the U.S. The main difference between the two is that the abolition movement fought to end the institution of slavery and the Black Lives Matter movement is fighting to end the racial prejudices that have been around for centuries.
Image of the Era:
The objective of the period of Reconstruction, following the Civil War, was to reunify the nation. Once the period ended and all the federal troops retreated, the former Confederate states were no longer under close observation. The Ku Klux Klan was a secret organization created to terrorize the African Americans in the South. The political Cartoon, illustrated by Thomas Nast, displays a Ku Klux Klan member shaking hands with another man labeled “White League.” The two men are standing over a huddled African American family. The eagle at the top of the image reads “The Union as It Was. This is a White Man’s Government” and just above the handshake it reads “The lost Cause” and the shield says “Worse than Slavery.” In the background, on the right side of the image, a man is being lynched and on the left there is a school being burned.
Discrimination and violence against freed blacks was common throughout America, though it was more concentrated in the South. The white supremacy groups illustrated in the image used violence and intimidation to gain political influence over African Americans and slowly dissolve their newly gained freedom by enacting certain policies and laws to cheat them out of their rights such as Black Codes. The author of the cartoon is explaining to his audience that the time period following Reconstruction was worse for African Americans than slavery.
Work Cited:
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fifteenth-amendment
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/pkaan
https://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/5809
https://sheg.stanford.edu/thomas-nast
http://www.crf-usa.org/brown-v-board-50th-anniversary/southern-black-codes.html
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fifteenth-amendment
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-codes
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/abolitionist-movement
http://blacklivesmatter.com/
https://policy.m4bl.org/
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/pkaan
https://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/5809
https://sheg.stanford.edu/thomas-nast
http://www.crf-usa.org/brown-v-board-50th-anniversary/southern-black-codes.html
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fifteenth-amendment
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-codes
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/abolitionist-movement
http://blacklivesmatter.com/
https://policy.m4bl.org/