Race Relations In Post-Reconstruction America Essay Example

In the year 1861, the republicans were freed by the southern secession. The administration of the Lincoln and the republican majority who were in congress repealed racist laws and then declared secessionists’ slaves free. The congress went ahead and enrolled African-American troops and finally they passed the thirteenth amendment which was meant to abolish slavery throughout the country.
The then slaves in America tried to free themselves by escaping and joining the union territory. The most deadly war experienced destroyed not only slavery but also most of the south’s physical and financial capital. After being defeated, the south becomes demoralized and economically depressed. This made them seem helpless before north that by that time seem self confident and prosperous.
After the reconstruction period, the racial segregation and tribalism witnessed before the reconstruction period emerged again. The tension that had stopped during the reconstruction period once again took the center stage. The relationship between the blacks and the whites once again was tested. Their relationship once again get ruined. The blacks were not allowed to seek employment in major industries such as the mills industry. The civil rights of the blacks were greatly interfered with.
Before the reconstruction, the blacks were excluded from attending public schools; the orphans were apprenticed to their former owners. The black servants were also required to labor from sunup to sundown for their masters. The life seemed very difficult during this time especially to slaves and the naturally black Americans. There were all sorts of humiliation. The blacks were not also allowed to intermarry.
However, following the civil war, the post reconstruction brought many reforms in America though it was not an easy step. For instance, the bill extending the Freedmen’s bureau vetoed by Johnson brought many changes. The ensured that food was provided to the southerners destitute of both races and also supervised labor contracts and further went ahead and started schools where even the ex-slaves could be educated. They also created courts where the concerns of the ex-slaves more so the blacks could be adjudicated.
Indeed, the reconstruction brought many changes. It was painful that they could even be sold and or moved against their wills. Their families also broken up and their masters intervened constantly in their lives.
The freedman later elected governments of the people which promote equality at all level. This government later launched statewide education systems, encouraged railroads, passed the civil laws and protected to the latter the rights of laborers. These were some of the reforms made during the post reconstruction in America.
During this time, social changes were also striking, the blacks could easily and legally marry, warship as they wished, form private clubs, receive inferior education at the expense of the public and often enjoy public accommodations such as the restaurants, theaters and railroads on anon-segregated basis in any case they could afford to pay. This actually brought some difference because now the blacks could go to school as well as get legally married.
It is important to note that during this time, historians broke themselves into groups. For instance, there were historians who believed that reconstruction was too radical. The historians who belonged to this school of thought contend that more gradual enfranchisement and stronger republicans’ alliance could bring more lasting changes. However, the historians who belonged to this school of thought say that it was too conservative and that only widespread land redistribution from the former masters to former slaves would have brought the social revolution that many had been aspiring for.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that despite of the reforms made during reconstruction such as the fight against racial segregation and other humiliation, it is sad to report that these humiliations came to light again after the reconstruction. For instance, tensions increased and continued to center the relationship between the blacks and the whites. The small percentage of the African Americans who managed to be employed in the iron foundries and the steel mills were barred completely from the textile mills which later became the region’s major industry. The mill industry would rather use children (whites) rather than blacks simply because they portrayed the blacks as being lazy, ignorant and shiftless. Segregation was again institutionalized throughout the south and the civil rights of the blacks were also sharply curtailed.