9/4/2005 Luke Bullen FHH
To what extent did black Civil Rights improve in the years between 1863-1877?
Having endured the brutality of slavery and the uncertainty of war, America’s blacks enjoyed a period of relative respite during the years 1863-1877. With slavery abolished, the South underwent reconstruction within every component of its unsteady structure. However, one must measure the success of this reconstruction with the criteria of political, social and economic changes in mind. The amendments of the 1860s gave blacks greater political freedom, but were only upheld by the military force of the Northern army; blacks developed their first education and religious institutions, but only within a segregated framework; and economically, the black population worked long, hard hours- though in better conditions than slavery. Despite the progressions, the promise of Reconstruction and the 13th-15th amendments was far from fulfilled. It remained a tough life for the ex-slaves.
The political influence of blacks was significantly enhanced by the revolutionary amendments passed in the 1860s. The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments expanded black rights to an unprecedented extent, affording them rights equal to those of an average white man. The 1868 fourteenth amendment, giving “all persons born or naturalized” in the Union national citizenship, meant blacks should be protected equally by law and stand on a jury; the 15th amendment, giving them the vote, naturally followed in 1870. However, such measures were only held up by the Reconstruction Governments of the time, and it was clear that the states’ white citizens mostly disagreed with the schemes, responding to them with a barrage of cruelty and violence. However, for the first time blacks were able to participate actively in the realms of politics, and were keen to make an impact. During the Reconstruction years of 1863-65, a considerable proportion of blacks occupied several Deep South governments. In Louisiana, for example, African-Americans made up 42% of the lower- and 19%- of the upper houses. However, these numbers do not accurately reflect the influence wielded by blacks in this period. Very few blacks held top positions, and in five Southern states no black whatsoever held a major office during reconstruction. Furthermore, one must recognise that this progression came about in an environment of intense pressure, in which any successful blacks were subject to white violence and widespread animosity. Furthermore, once in the house, the blacks found that they had far less speaking time- and thus far less influence- that their white counterparts. This was a matter of procedure: governmental power is inevitably measured by experience, of which the blacks had none- but it is important to note that the black politicians were operating in an environment that was far from equal. Thus, one can see that although blacks made considerable progress into politics, their development was cut short by white activity. Unequal influence inside- and violence outside- government ensured that the African-American politicians were prevented from working effectively even in their limited posts. However, the fact that these people even had the remote chance of making a real difference would have been inconceivable a decade earlier. The blacks’ political rights had improved, but not nearly to the extent that the 14th amendment promised.