To what extent was the Reconstruction period a success with respect to black Americans?

A detailed Summary of To what extent was the Reconstruction period a success with respect to black Americans?


The Reconstruction period was not as successful as most people think it was with regards to African Americans. Though some factors may be seen as more successful then others, but overall the Reconstruction period (with respect to African Americans) was very unsuccessful.

In 1865 legislators ratified the 13th Amendment. With this step taken forward to civility, white southern Americans released their most precious piece of property, their slaves. Though former slaves, better known as freedmen were liberated, a tough road was built before them, one filled with potholes and bumps, the road of equality. Freedmen were anything but equal, documentary wise. Freedmen would find themselves in great peril concerning economic & social status. Though there were Amendments ratified stating "equal protection of laws", these Constitutional Amendments were indirectly deprived to the freedmen. The Jim Crow laws enforced Afric


Finally regarding suffrage, the extent of the Reconstruction here were somewhat unsuccessful. Two years after the ratification of the 14th Amendment, legislators would ratify the very tool essential to being elected, suffrage to African Americans. But one again, and not surprisingly new, Congress set certain conditions for voting, for example the grandfather clause which allowed only those whose granddad's had cast votes before could therefore vote, and since freedmen's grandfathers had all been slaves, freedmen would not come within reach of the ballot box. Another factor that disabled freedmen to vote was the poll taxed imposed to cast votes. With this, poor tenant farmers and sharecroppers were unable to pay this luxury were once again keep further from voting. Apart from the grandfather clause and having to pay taxes, voters would have to pass a literacy test which would certainly reject any uneducated freedmen.

Some common words found in the essay are:
African Americans, Johnson Congress, White Camelia, Black Codes, , african americans, Constitutional Amendments, Jim Crow, civil rights, equal protection laws, equal protection, protection laws, step forward, black codes, 14th amendment, slaves freedmen, reconstruction period, 13th amendment,

Approximate Word count = 620
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

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