Reconstruction was the effort to reconstruct and transform the south politically, economically and socially after the Civil War and to modify race associations throughout the country. This issue of reconstruction was very political and marred with several controversies arising from the slavery and the Civil War that it had arose from in the first place. During 1861, the southern secessionists helped in freeing the Republicans from the burden to compromise to reserve the Union. Several laws promoting racism were repealed secessionist slaves were declared free and African-American people were finally allowed to join the army. It did not take long before slavery was abandoned throughout the country during the Lincoln Administration. Many slaves freed themselves by escaping to the Union territory and several fights ensued between the southerners and the slaves however the southern power structure applied some methods that made freedom more challenging to these former slaves.
The Democrat Party waged a war against the Republican Party just due to the fact that the Democrats wanted to continue keeping blacks as slaves while the Republicans were against it. This war was so serious that it almost brought down the process of Reconstruction to its knees with constant quarrels between these two parties. The Democrats representing the southern power structure came together to deny blacks civil rights during these years while the Republicans passed civil rights legislation. The southern states were completely against empowering the African Americans that they had to come up with some secret organizations that they used to terrorize these blacks. The Ku Klux Klan was the most notorious at executing black Americans and ensuring the southern power structure succeeded in their quest to continue having blacks as slaves. Several southerners joined such groups as KKK or other groups with similar agendas just because they despised the blacks and many supported their goals and aims.
After the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and with a new president in place the southern states through the senate would pass “Black Codes” that dealt a big blow to the freedom of most African Americans. The white Americans were afraid of the large population of blacks in their states especially Louisiana, Missouri and South Carolina that had over 40% of black population. These Black Codes denied African Americans several rights such as buying or leasing real-estate anywhere within the country. They were unable to serve on the juries or even testify against whites in a court of law and were not allowed to participate in the voting within the country. The Codes also expelled blacks from public schools and black orphans were taken back to their former owners as the black servants were required by owners to work from sunrise to sunset on a daily basis. It was like slavery was back again where it all began with black squarely feeling its effects. The main aim of these actions was to intimidate the blacks while repressing and denying them opportunities to exercise their democratic right that is voting in elections.
While many southern whites were against reconstruction, several African Americans approved of it simply because it was meant to protect and preserve their rights. They believed that it was only through Reconstruction that they would gain the much needed freedom they had fought for in many years and no amount of intimidation from the southern whites would stop them. Due to the conflicts of interest between the southern whites and blacks, the blacks came up with several actions to challenge the efforts of the whites who were against their freedom. Some of them escaped to the north where slavery was abolished and were then able to start new life some even joined schools where they were able to learn how to read and write. The freed slaves tried to begin new means of support for themselves and did take advantage of the rights that were allowed to them by the 14th and 15th amendments of the constitution but certain politicians and groups still tried to impose certain legislations to intimidate and maintain the prewar status quo.
After the wars many freed blacks were able to search for their long lost families while others got married since they knew they would not be lawfully separated again. Some of the freed blacks opted to send their children to schools to gain education that was previously prohibited to them. Many formed their own churches where they would worship freely and even join political outfits. With the federal government trying their best to save the black population from slavery most of them were able to start living normal lives and engage in several activities such as politics and religious activities. They all came together to strengthen one another and build foundations for better future to their siblings.
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln also led to several changes within the United States. The entire political structure changed and some radical Republicans in the congress tried several ways to deny blacks their rights of gaining civic power. Groups such as KKK among others waged violence against blacks often mob killing blacks and using several tactics to scare them away from the polls or even discipline those who challenged their orders. The Post-Reconstruction era had several challenges to the former slaves and other groups that were vulnerable to discrimination both politically and socially. The discr5imanation continued mainly in the south where most were against reconstruction and this led to many blacks suffering even after slavery had been abolished. Southern states led in the formation of demeaning laws that denied blacks their rights and freedoms. Nonwhites were also not left behind as these laws also targeted them making life unbearable mainly the Hispanics and the Chinese population that had a presence in these areas. With the radical Republicans in congress several laws were passed that further demeaned the blacks and solidified the white Americans as a more superior race.
Conclusion
Most southern states were in a state of resistance to the granting of blacks absolute freedoms like the whites mainly because there was a great population of them that could greatly influence any election and so they had to fight to keep political control of the areas. They came up with laws banning blacks from voting or engaging in political activities as a way to continue their domination over them. Despite efforts by the federal government to intervene in these cases they still were unable to end this grave violation of human rights. The discrimination was not only against black Americans but also other minority races such as the Hispanics and the Chinese who were targeted by this southern power structure. The formation of groups such as KKK and many others with similar goals was to maintain control of the situation and be able to take the law into their own hands while disciplining the blacks who were regarded as second rate citizens.
Reference List
Foner, E. (1988). Reconstruction: America's unfinished revolution, 1863-1877. New York: Harper & Row.
Gillette, W. (1979). Retreat from Reconstruction, 1869-1879. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.
Kousser, J. M. (1974). The shaping of Southern politics: Suffrage restriction and the establishment of the one-party South, 1880-1910. New Haven: Yale University Press.
