A New Beginning

A detailed Summary of A New Beginning

This promise of great changes, and hope for a new beginning had been the single inspiration that kept a lot of African Americans from giving up completely. With the end of the civil war, and Union becoming victorious, African Americans hope that now they would be allow their whole and complete freedom.

Almost a hundred years earlier, African Americans were in a similar situation were they had hoped for freedom after they were promised it during the Revolutionary War. The promised of freedom was not kept. Few Africa Americans did gain freedom but the majority of them did not and life didn't improve much for most. However, there was a major difference between the Revolutionary and Civil war for Africa Americans.

The reason why the Revolutionary War was being fought had nothing to do with the issue of slavery. Whereas, the Civil War major issue turned into slavery. So, it was understandable why African Americans felt a great deal of hope when the side fighting for the end of slavery won the war. With the Union victory African American did gain their freedom by law, but didn't gain equality.

With the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in December 1865, slavery was officially

Things seem to be looking up for African Americans. They had a president in office who they believed in, several laws were passed they gave them great chances for advancement. Between 1868 and 1870, the southern states were readmitted to the Union, and large numbers of blacks were elected to the state legislatures. Blacks also won seats in Congress, with Hiram Revels of Mississippi becoming the first black senator and Joseph Rainey of South Carolina being the first black to enter the House of Representatives.

Many of the Southern States' leaders argued for slavery on the behalf of Blacks inability to assimilate into the dominant culture. These leaders felt that the end of slavery did not help the situation of African Americans, and slavery was a better situation for blacks. These same leaders who demand that former slaves assimilate into dominant culture were the same people who also deny them a real chance to participation in American society. For, example Southern States would not pay fair wages for work, but raise the price of land.(that is even if they sold land the blacks at all) These leaders would point out the high percent of illiteracy among blacks, but would not allow blacks into schools were they had chance learn how to read and write.

However, things would not always be this great for African Americans. Under new Republican president, Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republicans had agreed to remove the bulk of the federal troops in the South. The rights that had been granted to blacks after the Civil War could no longer be protected in the southern states.

Many Black leaders like Frederick Douglass felt along with education that voting was a very important step to improve Blacks position in American society. Douglass fought fo

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Approximate Word count = 1181
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English