Post by MiloticSoldier on Nov 7, 2006 16:52:14 GMT -5
MS.20 Jimmy Dang
11/6/06 802
African Americans, Were They Really Freed?
As you know, the end of the civil war marked the beginning of Reconstruction. This sparked three new amendments, the 13th, the 14th, and the 15th; these amendments were designed to benefit African Americans. But did they really change anything? Sure they were given rights, but new challenges and obstacles still stood in their way.
After the 13th amendment was in effect, slavery was banned in all of America. This led to the 14th amendment, which made them citizens. It also gave them equal rights and protection. The 15th amendment gave them the right to vote for leaders. The Freedman’s Bureau was also designed to help them also. It provided education, shelter, and clothing. But there were also acts unhelpful to blacks. The Black Codes prevented them from using the same public facilities as whites. They could not work with pay unless they had employment papers. In some states, it was worse. Their jobs were limited to housekeepers and farm workers, jobs similar to that of the slaves. The 15th amendment also angered some white Southerners. This led to a secret organization in Tennessee called the Ku Klux Klan. These consisted of mostly white people who spread terror across African Americans. Their actions consist of burning homes, lunge them, and other horrific things. So, did they really benefit?
At the end of the Reconstruction, the obstacles still did not end. Members of the Ku Klux Klan were relentless. They still spread panic across freedmen. This also started the Jim Crow laws. This prevented blacks from using the same facilities as whites. This started racial segregation, which led to black and white only schools. This was a sign of racial discrimination. This was unfair; the laws were too racial.
With all of these events happening, it’s hard to deduce if African Americans benefited. There were more cons than pros. But most of the pros were impacting. At the beginning, the policies against African Americans were strict everywhere. Now, they have a bit more freedom in the North. But they still have problems in the South.
11/6/06 802
African Americans, Were They Really Freed?
As you know, the end of the civil war marked the beginning of Reconstruction. This sparked three new amendments, the 13th, the 14th, and the 15th; these amendments were designed to benefit African Americans. But did they really change anything? Sure they were given rights, but new challenges and obstacles still stood in their way.
After the 13th amendment was in effect, slavery was banned in all of America. This led to the 14th amendment, which made them citizens. It also gave them equal rights and protection. The 15th amendment gave them the right to vote for leaders. The Freedman’s Bureau was also designed to help them also. It provided education, shelter, and clothing. But there were also acts unhelpful to blacks. The Black Codes prevented them from using the same public facilities as whites. They could not work with pay unless they had employment papers. In some states, it was worse. Their jobs were limited to housekeepers and farm workers, jobs similar to that of the slaves. The 15th amendment also angered some white Southerners. This led to a secret organization in Tennessee called the Ku Klux Klan. These consisted of mostly white people who spread terror across African Americans. Their actions consist of burning homes, lunge them, and other horrific things. So, did they really benefit?
At the end of the Reconstruction, the obstacles still did not end. Members of the Ku Klux Klan were relentless. They still spread panic across freedmen. This also started the Jim Crow laws. This prevented blacks from using the same facilities as whites. This started racial segregation, which led to black and white only schools. This was a sign of racial discrimination. This was unfair; the laws were too racial.
With all of these events happening, it’s hard to deduce if African Americans benefited. There were more cons than pros. But most of the pros were impacting. At the beginning, the policies against African Americans were strict everywhere. Now, they have a bit more freedom in the North. But they still have problems in the South.