Reconstruction Era Essay

Submitted By drwild67
Words: 991
Pages: 4
Open Document
Jake Wild
Period 7
DBQ essay
Try to imagine if people were playing tug-of-war with you and then the rope finally snaps and only one side is left happy. This is how the African Americans felt during the Reconstruction Era. Reconstruction went on for a long time then failed and only the Democrats were happy with the result. After the Civil War, African Americans had nowhere to go and were surrounded in a world of controversy. Many plans were made to help dig them out of their current hole but it all caved in and did not work; one plan was the Ten-Percent plan which only allowed states that seceded back into the United States if ten percent of their voters pledged an allegiance to the Union. Another plan was to give every African American family forty acres and a mule, but that plan never actually took place. Reconstruction took 12 entire years, and even over 12 years it failed. Reconstruction failed to gain equal rights for African Americans for a variety of reasons, Democratic strength, unequal citizenship and just racism against African Americans in general.
Over the time of the Reconstruction era, the Democrats gained massive strength within the government, which is one reason why reconstruction failed to have equal rights for the African Americans. One reason Reconstruction failed is that the north was too easy on the south and let them back into the government too easily via the Amnesty Act, which gave the Confederate states a bigger say in the government (doc 3). Since most Democrats were from the Confederate states they want slavery to continue so Reconstruction failed because they were a big influence against African Americans gaining equal rights to the whites. Another reason that reconstruction failed is how the Democrats dominated the Republicans, these headlines prove it, “Democratic Victory or The Republican Defeat.” (doc 5). Also once they were in the government they controlled it and most things went their way. With the Democrats in power the Republicans couldn’t help the freedman just like what unequal citizenship did to them. Reconstruction also failed to gain equal rights within the United States because of the unequal citizenship that even came from African Americans themselves. The African Americans were so stressed by the economic pressure that they had to focus on themselves and their families not the government; Dr. W.E.B. DuBois says, “Negroes who wanted to work must not dabble in politics” (doc 6). This evidence helps to show how reconstruction failed for the Freedmen gaining equal rights because they explain how it looked and how hard it was from a freedmen’s point of view they had to focus on taking care of themselves, not working for equal rights. They also didn’t know what else to do besides being a slave because that was how they were born and taught how to live. A freedman named John McCoy was told by his former owner that he could go because he was free or he could stay and he would feed and shelter him; this is almost exactly like slavery just not as harsh (doc 7). This evidence explains how freedman were confused and were not used to doing anything besides what their masters say, so they are used to not having to do much thinking. Since they didn’t have to do much thinking they are used to not making decisions so it was hard for them to vote, make money and just be respected by most Confederate whites from day to day. Although these reasons about unequal citizenship between Whites and Blacks are how it looked from the surface, under the evident surface, there was still racism from a couple of different people and groups. Racism was another way of showing how Reconstruction failed to gain equal rights because it kept the freedmen from voting and fighting for their rights. One person who was racist against African Americans was a man named Benjamin Boyer and he stated, “…
Show More

Related Documents: Reconstruction Era Essay

The Reconstruction Era Of The Reconstruction Era And Its Challenges

The Reconstruction Era and its Challenges The Reconstruction Era directly following the Civil War can be seen in quite a few different perspectives. While some believe that the Reconstruction was leeway for racist views to arise and for hate groups to become prominent, others believe that it was one of the most progressive periods of time for civil rights, namely for African Americans. The ideas of the Reconstruction challenge the basis that America was founded off of, like basic human rights for…

Words 157 - Pages 1

The Reconstruction Era

Reconstruction Era As a country, America has gone through many political changes that have left an impact. The reconstruction era was no different, the nation was shattered and needed to be reunited once again. The main goal for the reconstruction period was to protect African Americans and give them their rights that they deserve. But that completely backfired due to corruption by the wealthy who wanted no change at all. Eventually this lead to many failures and some successes during the reconstruction…

Words 802 - Pages 4

Microtheme: The Reconstruction Era

Anahy Lucio Microtheme #1 The Reconstruction Era was a very problematic time between the Northern states and the Southern States. The Congressional Republicans intervened in the presidents’ reconstruction plan because they saw many where not trying to rebuild but trying to restore the old. Because of this they took the reconstruction into their own hands and saw it through with success. During the Reconstruction Era president Lincoln was assassinated leaving his Vice President Andrew Johnson in…

Words 405 - Pages 2

Reconstruction Era Complexities

Unraveling the Complexities of the Reconstruction Era The Reconstruction Era stands as a pivotal period in American history, characterized by its unrestrained efforts to redefine the nation following the Civil War, with its profound changes and significant decisions. While it aimed to rebuild the nation after the devastation of the war, it also laid the groundwork for future struggles and achievements. This paper will delve into three pivotal aspects of the Reconstruction Era that should be remembered for…

Words 983 - Pages 4

Essay On Reconstruction Era

After the Civil War there was a span of twelve years where citizens were making efforts to restructure the political, legal, and economic systems in the states that had been the confederacy. This era is more commonly known today as the reconstruction period. During this period many changes were being made so these states could be accepted back into the United States. One of the main changes in this period was that African Americans were given their freedoms and rights. With that freedom came terrible…

Words 978 - Pages 4

A Brief Note On The Reconstruction Era

Alyssa Gumlaw Mr. Rodrigues CP US History C1 26 February 2015 The Reconstruction Era (1865-1877) was an important and very complicated time in our history. The Reconstruction Era came right after the Civil War, which explains why it was such a complicated time in our history, historians call this the Reconstruction Era because this is the period of time that the government restored the seceded states to the Union and they had three main power struggles that they had to deal with, including what to…

Words 1250 - Pages 5

American Dream Reconstruction Era

surrounded American ideals for many generations. Yet how accessible has this dream been to the average modern-era American after the reconstruction period? To evaluate the accessibility of the American Dream from the Reconstruction era of 1877 to the modern era, we must consider multiple factors like civil liberties, equality under the law, and the capitalist economy. Throughout the modern era the accessibility of the American Dream has fluctuated due to various historical, social, and economic aspects…

Words 1768 - Pages 8

Reconstruction Era Research Paper

A crucial aspect of the monumental Civil War was the recovery. That recovery was necessary for the U.S. and that was the Reconstruction Era. The Reconstruction Era was a time of political relief, as well as hardships that enveloped society. It consisted of successes and failures from 1865-1877, but its events still impact us today. In these times we are settling in the aftermath of the Civil War, and Andrew Johnson is taking his place in office after Lincoln was assassinated. The government passed…

Words 1266 - Pages 6

Differences During The Reconstruction Era

After the Civil War there was major differences that occurred during a time called the reconstruction period. Several of these changes were successful. Others were failures. Many were failures. There are two successes during this time. In Document 8: “A Yankee Visits the New South” (1887), “... with the North in the same purpose of wealth by industry”. The South joined the North in the industrial business meaning that they would no longer need slaves to become wealthy. At this time, and still the…

Words 559 - Pages 3

Racism During The Reconstruction Era

Over the ages racism has been a constant controversy in the United States of America, notably during Reconstruction. For the time being, this specific stage had a considerable impact on the country because it was known as the effort to give African Americans a voice, as well as reunify the nation after the tragic civil war. Although laws and compromises were put in place to pave a pathway to a better life for freedmen, they were ineffective. The Ku Klux Klan became known and African Americans lived…

Words 507 - Pages 3