The Reconstruction era was a pivotal moment in American history. A main characteristic from this era was the legal progression of the rights of African Americans. During this time amendments 13, 14, and 15 were introduced to ensure equality for freed people. These collectively not only abolished slavery but also guaranteed equal protection under the law along with the right to vote. This connected with the definition of freedom at the time by making large leaps towards total equality in America. This closely resonates with my definition of freedom because without these simple rights that were granted to white citizens years prior their couldn't possibly be freedom for African Americans. Another important characteristic from the Reconstruction Era is the economic struggle of Freed people. After emancipation many black farmers were trapped in the sharecropping system. This was a process where "landowners divided plantations into 20 to 50 acre plots suitable for farming by a single family. In exchange for land, a cabin, and supplies, sharecroppers agreed to raise a cash crop (usually cotton) and to give half the crop to their landlord. The high interest rates landlords and sharecroppers charged for goods bought on credit (sometimes as high as 70 percent a year) transformed sharecropping into a system of economic dependency and poverty" (McNeil). This did not align with the idea of freedom at the time nor my definition of freedom because although African Americans were free they were still practically forced to stay on plantations due to economic oppression. Another characteristic of the Reconstruction era was the battle between federal and state governments. During Andrew Johnson's presidency he allowed southern states to create their own policies regarding civil rights. This resulted in many southern states enacted Black Codes which heavily set back the federal push for equality for African Americans. This also does not align with the idea of freedom at the time or my definition because African Americans were still segregated and suppressed from voting.
Congress achieved many steps towards equality which was responded to differently throughout the nation. During this time African American activist were able to motivate over 700,000 African Americans to registered to vote. Black voters were even able to elect black political figures. The redeemers retaliated against these attempts at equality even resorting to violence. Many "Secret organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, founded in Tennessee in 1866, and the Knights of the White Camellia were dedicated to ending Republican rule and preventing blacks from voting. Members of these organizations included judges, lawyers, and clergymen as well as yeomen farmers and poor whites" (McNeil). While The Supreme Court did pass civil right laws they later undermined them through restrictive rulings. These rulings weakened federal civil rights protections which allowed the Redeemers to introduce state level racial discrimination across the South.
Mintz, S., & McNeil, S. (2018). Digital History. Retrieved 02/06/2025 from
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu
Congress achieved many steps towards equality which was responded to differently throughout the nation. During this time African American activist were able to motivate over 700,000 African Americans to registered to vote. Black voters were even able to elect black political figures. The redeemers retaliated against these attempts at equality even resorting to violence. Many "Secret organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, founded in Tennessee in 1866, and the Knights of the White Camellia were dedicated to ending Republican rule and preventing blacks from voting. Members of these organizations included judges, lawyers, and clergymen as well as yeomen farmers and poor whites" (McNeil). While The Supreme Court did pass civil right laws they later undermined them through restrictive rulings. These rulings weakened federal civil rights protections which allowed the Redeemers to introduce state level racial discrimination across the South.
Mintz, S., & McNeil, S. (2018). Digital History. Retrieved 02/06/2025 from
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu