The first important characteristic of the Reconstruction Era is the 13th,14th and 15th amendments to the Consitution. The 13th Ammendment allowed for the abolishing slavery and allowed room to address freedom for people who were enslaved. This allowed for a huge legal shift and a shift in society to no longer allow for slavers to continue. In my opinion the 14th amendment is one the most important and a key role during the reconstruction era which is allowed for the protection of citizens under the law especially those who used to be slaves. It paved the way for them to have legal rights and also be as equals. The 15th Amendment allowed black men to vote and be apart of the process and integrate as citizens with a voice in the process of voting in which a lot of people did not agree. Another important characteristic of the Reconstrcution era was the “ Freedman’s Breau” this was created to allow former enslaved people access to an education,medical care and protect the rights that they deserved. During the Reconstruction they were also able to achieve African Americans being able to purchase land and create all black school systems/colleges, hospitals, churches.These changes connected to freedom during a time where people did not think they would have freedom. The decisions being made were these actions that felt like people who were formal slaves were being given a real chance and the same chances that “ whites” have had all along.
The Reedemers who were white democrats from the south and also mixed in with Confederate leaders did not agree and did not want the protections. They wanted to make it clear about white supremacy and wanted the south to return to how it was prior to the Civil War and all of the events afterwards. They wanted to intimidate date former/freed slaves and not allow them to vote. A lot of the intimidation worked especially from the Klu Klux Klan and more white supremacy groups that followed to do unite to keep African American voters from using their votes at all.Congress was able to achieve the 14th amendment and start there but it still came with a lot of backlash and many issues including more racism and even harsher conditions for African Americans.
Sources :
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=3110
https://online.gcc.mass.edu/pluginfile.php/5313808/mod_resource/content/2/Opinion%20_%20Why%20Reconstruction%20Matters%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Ti
The Reedemers who were white democrats from the south and also mixed in with Confederate leaders did not agree and did not want the protections. They wanted to make it clear about white supremacy and wanted the south to return to how it was prior to the Civil War and all of the events afterwards. They wanted to intimidate date former/freed slaves and not allow them to vote. A lot of the intimidation worked especially from the Klu Klux Klan and more white supremacy groups that followed to do unite to keep African American voters from using their votes at all.Congress was able to achieve the 14th amendment and start there but it still came with a lot of backlash and many issues including more racism and even harsher conditions for African Americans.
Sources :
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=3110
https://online.gcc.mass.edu/pluginfile.php/5313808/mod_resource/content/2/Opinion%20_%20Why%20Reconstruction%20Matters%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Ti