Blacks were substantially better off in 1877 than they had been in 1863.' How far do you agree with this judgement on Reconstruction? In 1863 Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, prohibiting slavery in the Confederate states

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‘Blacks were substantially better off in 1877 than they had been in 1863.’ How far do you agree with this judgement on Reconstruction?

In 1863 Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, prohibiting slavery in the Confederate states that, at the time, were fighting against the Union. At this point, the African-Americans had no political rights, no money and were seen as little better than property. For the ex-slaves to be integrated into society, they needed help from white politicians fighting for equality and not just for freedom. This help came from the Radical Republicans. However, with a majority white population and the Democratic President Andrew Johnson in power, could this be achieved? A compromise came in March 1877 when a Republican President faced a Democratic Congress which meant Reconstruction (the period in American history where several steps were taken to rebuild the defeated south) to be abandoned. Did Reconstruction have a substantially positive effect on the Blacks social, political and economic status or were they at the same point they were at in 1863?

   Reconstruction was the period in time from 1865-1877 in which the US government tried to rebuild the south and integrate Blacks into society. Most of the Civil War had taken place in south because they were the defending side, so most of the damage had occurred in the south. Farms had been ripped up, houses burnt down and their labour force had been freed. The south had suffered heavier losses than the north and needed serious help if it was to survive. Also, many people in the north didn’t trust the south. They had seceded once; there was a chance it could happen again, so this trust also had to be rebuilt. The plantation owners that had fought on the Confederate side needed to be punished accordingly and several million ex-slaves needed to be relocated and given the chance for equality. Unless the Blacks gained equality, they could never be considered any better than a slave. However, for this to happen, more was needed than to give them a home and a job. Reconstruction was a time to change a majority opinion that African-Americans were second-class citizens and to end racial prejudice. In this essay I will be looking at the advancements the Blacks made during Reconstruction politically, socially and economically and the set backs that occurred. Only then can I make a judgement on whether Reconstruction was successful and whether the Blacks were better off in 1877 than 1863.

   Politically, the African-Americans gained the freedom which they deserved, in the form of the Emancipation Proclamation. However, for the abolishment of slavery to be permanent, the Emancipation Proclamation needed to become an Amendment to the Constitution. It was passed by two-thirds majority in the Senate and House of Representatives and was made an Amendment on 6th December 1865. This was to be the beginning of a long fight for equality for the African-Americans. Their support came from the Radical Republicans led by the likes of Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner. However, with Lincoln assassinated on 15th April 1865, America was left with the Democratic President Andrew Johnson. He was pro-slavery and in a speech in 1863 was quoted saying ‘I have lived among Negroes all my life and I am for this Government with slavery under the Constitution as it is’. Johnson was for the Reconstruction of the south but believed that now the Blacks were free they could all build their lives on their own. This didn’t matter too much that the President was against the ex-slaves gaining political rights and economic stability because the Radical Republicans at the time had a majority in Congress. They were the main reason for what little political success the African-Americans had during Reconstruction. They supported the 14th and 15th Amendments which stated that anyone born into the USA was a full citizen and that states were forbidden to limit the right to vote ‘on account of race, colour or previous servitude’. As long as the Radical’s were in Congress, African-Americans could rely on political support. In 1868 there were 700,000 black voters in the south against 625,000. This contributed substantially to the Republican vote and meant that the Radicals stayed in power. Those votes probably gave the Presidency to Ulysses S. Grant. They continued to help the African-Americans by passing the Enforcement Acts and Civil Rights Acts. The first Enforcement Act was passed on 31st May 1870. This declared that all men had the right to vote. The second and third Enforcement Acts were both passed in 1871 and they allowed military support to be present at elections so that they are fair and authorized persecution of terrorists groups like the Ku Klux Klan. The first Civil Rights Act was passed on 9th April 1866 which declared ‘all persons born in the USA were citizens and they could make and enforce contracts, sue and be sued, give evidence in court and inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey real and personal property’. The second Civil Rights Act was passed on 1st March 1875 and said that all persons be entitled to full and equal employment of accommodation in ‘inns, public conveyances on land or water, theatres, and other places of public amusement’. Even though they weren’t Amendments to the Constitution they symbolised that the Government was for equal rights (especially voting rights) and were doing all they could to make people gradually change their minds towards the ex-slaves and Reconstruction. Also, another issue which helped progress blacks politically was the election of Republican’s Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce (both African-Americans) to local and state office.

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   However, many political aspects also set the African-Americans back. A big issue was the remaining racial views towards them. I’ve already stated that for the African-Americans to gain equality southern (and northern) opinions towards them had to change. By the end of Reconstruction this had not happened because they were still seen as substandard compared to white Americans. Many southern states, still believing that Blacks were not ‘fit to perform the supreme function of citizenship’, did not ratify the 14th and 15th Amendments. State Governments found loopholes in the 14th Amendment and introduced voting qualifications such as grandfather clauses. This meant that ...

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