Slavery was abolished in 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which drastically changed the social and economic structure of the nation. Emancipation and the prospect of a life free from the shackles of slavery were what freedom meant to those who had been slaves. A more comprehensive definition of freedom that included equality before the law and civil rights was highlighted by the 14th Amendment.
It ensured that everyone born or naturalized in the US would have citizenship and equal legal protection. This amendment was essential in defining freedom as the existence of legal and civic rights as well as the absence of slavery..
Additionally, African American men were allowed the right to vote by the 15th Amendment, which further connected freedom to political participation and representation. For the formerly enslaved, being able to take part in the political process was a big step toward equality and empowerment. Freedom during the Reconstruction Era was directly linked to the eradication of slavery, civil rights, and political engagement. These modifications marked a dramatic shift from a culture that had institutionalized racial discrimination to one that acknowledged the equality of all people under the law.
However, during the Redemption Era, the advancements gained during Reconstruction were severely criticized. In an attempt to reverse the victories made during Reconstruction, organizations like the Ku Klux Klan utilized violence and intimidation against African Americans and their allies. These domestic terrorist groups aimed to stop African Americans from using their newly acquired rights and reinstate white supremacy. Civil rights activists continued to struggle for equality in spite of strong opposition and violent crimes. By promoting the defense of civil rights and the continuation of political and social progress, they sought to maintain the gains made during the Reconstruction Era.
The Supreme Court was crucial in weakening the safeguards put in place during Reconstruction. The federal government's capacity to defend African Americans' civil rights was severely undermined by rulings like the Civil Rights Cases of 1883, which declared the Civil Rights Act of 1875 unconstitutional. Jim Crow laws, which imposed racial segregation and denied African Americans the right to vote, emerged as a result of these decisions, which also helped to undermine the gains made during the Reconstruction era. In conclusion, the concept of freedom underwent substantial transformation during the Reconstruction Era, becoming strongly associated with civil rights, political engagement, and the abolition of slavery. A protracted fight for civil rights that lasted well into the 20th century was the result of a violent and judicial pushback against these developments during the Redemption Era that followed.