The Reconstruction Era was a period of rebuilding the United States after the Civil War. There was a large focus on integrating former slaves into society and beginning a new road towards freedom. One important characteristic of the Reconstruction Era was The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. These Amendments created great change. Black Past reads, “In the five years following the Civil War, the U.S. Congress passed and the states ratified the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution. These amendments permanently ended slavery and granted African Americans access to civil rights and suffrage as citizens of the United States.”(Wright). The New York Times reads, “the 14th Amendment changed a Constitution “for white men” to one “for mankind.” It also marked a significant change in the federal balance of power, empowering the national government to protect the rights of citizens against violations by the states.“(Foner). This redefined freedom in so many ways because of the new absence of slavery and more chances for political equality.
Another important characteristic was the rise of Black political participation. Black men were now able to vote, run for office and help shape state governments. Although it didn’t come easily. In the National Constitution Center video, Henry Louis Gates Jr. says, “ All those Black people took part in the Great Migration and went from Mississippi and the other southern states north. And because of the 15th Amendment they had the right to vote. And so they vote a northern into congress. (National Constitution Center) The New York Times reads, “The Reconstruction Acts inaugurated the period of Radical Reconstruction, when a politically mobilized black community, with its white allies, brought the Republican Party to power throughout the South. For the first time, African-Americans voted in large numbers and held public office at every level of government. It was a remarkable, unprecedented effort to build an interracial democracy on the ashes of slavery. Most offices remained in the hands of white Republicans. But the advent of AfricanAmericans in positions of political power aroused bitter hostility from Reconstruction’s opponents.”(Foner) The new Black political rights gave a lot more freedom. Unfortunately, white supremacists tried to suppress and silence Black political power.
Another major characteristic is The Compromise of 1877 and the End of Reconstruction. Federal Troops left the South and ended Northern interference. The article ‘Was there really a Compromise of 1877?’ reads, ”The Compromise of 1877 was an off-the-record deal, struck between Republicans and Democrats, that determined the victor of the 1876 presidential election. It also marks the official end of the Reconstruction Era — the 12-year period after the Civil War, designed to help reunify the country after the crisis of secession [3].” Another quote from the article is, “[Reconstruction] ended BOOM like it had been struck by lightning and it ended because of a lost presidential election... You can have the presidency which you did not win in this election but in exchange the Confederacy gets the South back. And that’s how Reconstruction was switched off in the South like somebody taking an axe to a junction box… Reconstruction got traded for the White House.” (“Compromise”)
This caused the Reconstruction Era to end and brought an end toward federal efforts to protect rights. This took away freedom and allowed segregation and racism to happen.
It makes me sad that Black people have had to fight so hard to be treated with equality and respect. White supremacy genuinely scares me. All humans having equal rights and opportunities is a no brainer to me.
During the Reconstruction Era, Congress passed amendments and laws for equal protection to all citizens. A lot of people were resistant to this. The Redemption Era was after the Compromise of 1877 and post Reconstruction Era. Smithsonian Magazine reads, “Immediately after the end of the war, different factions began fighting over power. Bitter over the Confederacy’s loss, many white Southern Democrats tried their best to continue disenfranchising and restricting the rights of former slaves. At the same time, insurgent white supremacist groups terrorized African Americans throughout the South.” (Lewis) The Ku Klux Klan was a terrorist group that started in Tennessee. Jim Crow stories reads, “The Klan spread beyond Tennessee to every state in the South and included mayors, judges, and sheriffs as well as common criminals. The Klan systematically murdered black politicians and political leaders. It beat, whipped, and murdered thousands, and intimidated tens of thousands of others from voting. Blacks often tried to fight back, but they were outnumbered and out gunned.” (Wormser) Jim Crow stories also reads, “ In 1883, The United States Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights act of 1875, forbidding discrimination in hotels, trains, and other public spaces, was unconstitutional and not authorized by the 13th or 14th Amendments of the Constitution.” (Wormser)
Another quote says, “"The world has never witnessed such barbarous laws entailed upon a free people as have grown out of the decision of the United States Supreme Court, issued October 15, 1883. For that decision alone authorized and now sustains all the unjust discriminations, proscriptions and robberies perpetrated by public carriers upon millions of the nation's most loyal defenders.(Wormser)
Congress took positive action toward equality, but ultimately strong opposition from Southern Democrats, white supremacists and the Supreme court took away a lot of the reconstruction efforts.
Works Cited:
“Compromise.” ELECTION of 1876, 2020, hayestildencontest.weebly.com/compromise.html. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Foner, Eric. “Opinion | Why Reconstruction Matters.” The New York Times, 28 Mar. 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/03/29/opinion/sunday/why-reconstruction-matters.html.
Lewis, Danny. “The 1873 Colfax Massacre Crippled the Reconstruction Era.” Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Apr. 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1873-colfax-massacre-crippled-reconstruction-180958746/.
National Constitution Center. “Henry Louis Gates Jr. Discusses Reconstruction and the Rollback of African American Rights.” YouTube, 14 Aug. 2020, .
Wright, Kianna. “The Enforcement Act of 1870 (1870-1871).” BlackPast, 12 Dec. 2019, www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/the-enforcement-act-of-1870-1870-1871/.
Wormser, Richard. “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow . Jim Crow Stories . The Ku Klux Klan | PBS.” Thirteen.org, 2019, www.thirteen.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_kkk.html.
Wormser, Richard. “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow . Jim Crow Stories . Civil Rights Act of 1875 Overturned | PBS.” Thirteen.org, 2019, www.thirteen.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_uncivil.html.
Another important characteristic was the rise of Black political participation. Black men were now able to vote, run for office and help shape state governments. Although it didn’t come easily. In the National Constitution Center video, Henry Louis Gates Jr. says, “ All those Black people took part in the Great Migration and went from Mississippi and the other southern states north. And because of the 15th Amendment they had the right to vote. And so they vote a northern into congress. (National Constitution Center) The New York Times reads, “The Reconstruction Acts inaugurated the period of Radical Reconstruction, when a politically mobilized black community, with its white allies, brought the Republican Party to power throughout the South. For the first time, African-Americans voted in large numbers and held public office at every level of government. It was a remarkable, unprecedented effort to build an interracial democracy on the ashes of slavery. Most offices remained in the hands of white Republicans. But the advent of AfricanAmericans in positions of political power aroused bitter hostility from Reconstruction’s opponents.”(Foner) The new Black political rights gave a lot more freedom. Unfortunately, white supremacists tried to suppress and silence Black political power.
Another major characteristic is The Compromise of 1877 and the End of Reconstruction. Federal Troops left the South and ended Northern interference. The article ‘Was there really a Compromise of 1877?’ reads, ”The Compromise of 1877 was an off-the-record deal, struck between Republicans and Democrats, that determined the victor of the 1876 presidential election. It also marks the official end of the Reconstruction Era — the 12-year period after the Civil War, designed to help reunify the country after the crisis of secession [3].” Another quote from the article is, “[Reconstruction] ended BOOM like it had been struck by lightning and it ended because of a lost presidential election... You can have the presidency which you did not win in this election but in exchange the Confederacy gets the South back. And that’s how Reconstruction was switched off in the South like somebody taking an axe to a junction box… Reconstruction got traded for the White House.” (“Compromise”)
This caused the Reconstruction Era to end and brought an end toward federal efforts to protect rights. This took away freedom and allowed segregation and racism to happen.
It makes me sad that Black people have had to fight so hard to be treated with equality and respect. White supremacy genuinely scares me. All humans having equal rights and opportunities is a no brainer to me.
During the Reconstruction Era, Congress passed amendments and laws for equal protection to all citizens. A lot of people were resistant to this. The Redemption Era was after the Compromise of 1877 and post Reconstruction Era. Smithsonian Magazine reads, “Immediately after the end of the war, different factions began fighting over power. Bitter over the Confederacy’s loss, many white Southern Democrats tried their best to continue disenfranchising and restricting the rights of former slaves. At the same time, insurgent white supremacist groups terrorized African Americans throughout the South.” (Lewis) The Ku Klux Klan was a terrorist group that started in Tennessee. Jim Crow stories reads, “The Klan spread beyond Tennessee to every state in the South and included mayors, judges, and sheriffs as well as common criminals. The Klan systematically murdered black politicians and political leaders. It beat, whipped, and murdered thousands, and intimidated tens of thousands of others from voting. Blacks often tried to fight back, but they were outnumbered and out gunned.” (Wormser) Jim Crow stories also reads, “ In 1883, The United States Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights act of 1875, forbidding discrimination in hotels, trains, and other public spaces, was unconstitutional and not authorized by the 13th or 14th Amendments of the Constitution.” (Wormser)
Another quote says, “"The world has never witnessed such barbarous laws entailed upon a free people as have grown out of the decision of the United States Supreme Court, issued October 15, 1883. For that decision alone authorized and now sustains all the unjust discriminations, proscriptions and robberies perpetrated by public carriers upon millions of the nation's most loyal defenders.(Wormser)
Congress took positive action toward equality, but ultimately strong opposition from Southern Democrats, white supremacists and the Supreme court took away a lot of the reconstruction efforts.
Works Cited:
“Compromise.” ELECTION of 1876, 2020, hayestildencontest.weebly.com/compromise.html. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Foner, Eric. “Opinion | Why Reconstruction Matters.” The New York Times, 28 Mar. 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/03/29/opinion/sunday/why-reconstruction-matters.html.
Lewis, Danny. “The 1873 Colfax Massacre Crippled the Reconstruction Era.” Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Apr. 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1873-colfax-massacre-crippled-reconstruction-180958746/.
National Constitution Center. “Henry Louis Gates Jr. Discusses Reconstruction and the Rollback of African American Rights.” YouTube, 14 Aug. 2020, .
Wright, Kianna. “The Enforcement Act of 1870 (1870-1871).” BlackPast, 12 Dec. 2019, www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/the-enforcement-act-of-1870-1870-1871/.
Wormser, Richard. “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow . Jim Crow Stories . The Ku Klux Klan | PBS.” Thirteen.org, 2019, www.thirteen.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_kkk.html.
Wormser, Richard. “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow . Jim Crow Stories . Civil Rights Act of 1875 Overturned | PBS.” Thirteen.org, 2019, www.thirteen.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_uncivil.html.