Reconstruction Period

 

After the Civil war ended in the 1860’s, a new time began known as the reconstruction period. What this was supposed to be was the reunion of the union and the rebel states. America could finally become the land they were supposed to be, the land they promised.. Freedom and equality for everyone. The country was supposed to come to terms with the results of the civil war and deal with the consequences. Although there was some rebuilding and adjusting this period was meant to leave a legacy of hope and as it partially did, it also left behind a trail of fear and terror.

    
The Emancipation Proclamation, the freedom the slaves had finally received. On January 1st 1863 president Abraham Lincoln announced this new freedom to the slaves. Soon after when black men were able to enlist, 180,000 men enlisted into the army. Lincoln believed that the role of black men in the army would help ensure the abolishment of all slavery. The life of a new slave was not easy. Although they were granted freedom people, especially southerns had a hard time grasping to the fact that slavery was no longer allowed. So even if they didn't own any slaved it doesn't mean that they were treated fairly. Also there was much protection or legal rights granted to the slaves, so they had to be careful. The freeman's bureau was put into place and ran by General Oliver Howard. This was supposed to help protect newly freed people, provide them with land and an education. They were barley given any money, just land and soon his plan failed. Black people just wanted the same rights as everyone else, they wanted the equality they deserved. To be able to get married, own land and get a good job. This left congress with a lot of deal with. 

President Andrew Johnson who happened to be the first president put into office due to an assignation, came in during the reconstruction period. He grew up as a poor boy in Tennessee and did not think he was noticed nor treated fairly by the upper class people in the south, He also didn't like the idea of shaking a Fredrick Douglas’s hand and had to get drunk before he could do it. So this shows that he has some personal issues. Also After the war he made all the upper class southerns personally ask him for a pardon. This brought him joy because all the people he hates are asking him for forgiveness. Later after the president decided that the rebel states came and meet all the terms of the union they became a whole country again allowing there to be people from the south in congress once again. So they had to decide together what life was going to be like for the newly freed slaves in America. 

The black code was put into place in 1865. These were restrictive laws made to limit the amount of freedom a black person would receive. Also this law forces them to take low paying jobs and cheap labor. Around the same time the KKK formed. This started in Tennessee and they targeted black people with land or children in school. They would destroy their property or run them out of town. This shows that although black people might be free they are not treated that way. Racism is still a problem in this country although it is significantly better than it was years ago it still exists.



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