The Reconstruction Era - 990 Words

The Reconstruction Era was from around 1865-1877, during that time many laws were passed to break down the color barrier. The 13th Amendment which officially abolished slavery and involuntary servitude was passed on April 8th, 1864. Then came the 14th Amendment passed on July 9th, 1868 which granted citizenship to everyone born in the U.S. Finally came the 15th Amendment passed in 1870 which gave freedmen the right to vote and could not be denied on account of race or previous condition of servitude. There were many cases of brutality against African Americans after the Emancipation Proclamation and following the Reconstruction Era but why did Boyle pick this story and this case? Unlike most accounts you hear which end with the individuals being killed this story ends on a somewhat better note. If one were just to skim a majority of the book they would get the gist of what it was about and even then would be moved, but still left unhappy because of the wretched state in which Ossian was left in. However, if someone was to read the book thoroughly they would be able to see exactly why Boyle picked this story. The tale of Ossian Sweet is in depth and complex; it goes over a lot of his life and experiences. On some occasions it depicts how Ossian gained freedom and opportunities new to him, although with each new freedom society and other variables made those accomplishments less satisfying. It is not apparent if Boyle believes the Reconstruction Era was a ‘failure’ but it isShow MoreRelatedReconstruction Of The Reconstruction Era1587 Words   |  7 PagesThe Reconstruction Era was known as a time to reconstruct the United States of America by the expansion of governmental power that began in 1865. â€Å"There were two central problems that animated Reconstruction; providing justice for freedmen and facilitating national reconciliation. (A New Birth of Freedom, pg. 1) After the 12 year span, reconstructing the nation succeeded in only a few of the goals that were set out to achieve within those 12 years that it was in progress. The Reconstruction’s intentionsRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Reconstruction Era1473 Words   |  6 PagesThe reconstruction era was a time that then affected America in positive facets and negative aspects as well, and still affects America today. Thanks to the reconstruction era, there are several implementations that geared the world on the path in which it is today. Had it not been for some of the laws that were set in place African Americans may have not had many of the opportunities that were presented during the reconstruction period, therefore the years of oppression and cruelty might still beRead MoreHistoriography of the Reconstruction Era2240 Words   |  9 PagesRiham Elshazli Professor Clement Price Civil War and the Reconstruction 12/11/12 Historiography of the Reconstruction Era At a time when America was trying to piece itself back together, the Reconstruction Era is one of the most important chapters in history. It is also, however, one of the most debated. After the Civil War, the South was devastated and thousands of freed slaves needed to be integrated into society. When Andrew Johnson took office, he was moderate in his views as to what shouldRead MoreThe Reconstruction Era And The Jim Crow Era1525 Words   |  7 PagesThe Reconstruction Era and The Jim Crow Era were both times of Rapid growth in the United States that were characterized by changes not only on the intrapersonal level, but also on the cultural and legislative level. The Reconstruction Era occurred directly after the civil war and spanned twelve years from 1865 to 1877 , while the Jim Crow Era occurred from 1877 to 1954. Some of the common themes of these eras were race relations and tension between northern states and southern states. The firstRead MoreThe During The Reconstruction E ra989 Words   |  4 Pages During the Reconstruction era which occurred after the Civil War there was animosity between the states as well as the debate over how freed slaves should be dealt with in terms of becoming citizens with the same rights as the Constitution provided for whites. The government had to come up some type of conditions which would attempt to allow the rebellious southern states back into the union. During this time period President Abraham Lincoln appointed provisional military governors to overseeRead MoreThe Reconstruction-Era Essay731 Words   |  3 PagesThe Reconstruction-Era The Reconstruction-era offered numerous opportunities to African-Americans, by attempting to secure the rights for ex-slaves, but the opportunities presented even more obstacles to them. The thought of freedom intrigued the African-Americans at first, but many of them quickly changed their minds after experiencing it. Henry William Ravenel, a slaveowner, proclaimed, When they were told they were free, some said they did not wish to be freeRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Reconstruction Era1920 Words   |  8 PagesIn the years prior to the Reconstruction era, the nation was involved in a brutal civil war—one of the most destructive to ever take place. The North and the South were fighting against each other, with the Confederate States fighting for secession and slavery, and the Union fighting for an in tact country. Abraham Lincoln, the newly elected president, was against secession and blatantly stated so in his inaugural address, â€Å"A husband and wife may be divorced, but the different parts of our nationRead MoreThe Word Reconstruction Era984 Words   |  4 PagesIn the United States history, the word Reconstruction Era has been considered in two intellects: the first comprises the comprehensive history of the whole country during the period of 1865 to 1877 subsequent to the Civil War; the second sense emphases on the alteration of the Southern United States, as engaged by Congress, from 1863 to 1877, with the rebuilding of society and state. Two men appeared as the foremost applicants in the 1876 election: Samuel J. Tilden who was a Democrat and RutherfordRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Reconstruction Era1303 Words   |  6 PagesThe Reconstruction Era America was in disarray following the events of the Civil War. Southern economy was in shambles while congress was struggling to find a middle ground between the radical republicans and Lincoln’s lenient policies. Many Southerners faced the aftermath of uprooting their society and their way of life while thousands of newly freed slaves struggled to find a way to support themselves. The country needed a strong leader, however on the 14th of April, 1865 President Lincoln wasRead MoreAfrican Americans in the Reconstruction Era1518 Words   |  7 PagesThe Reconstruction era was put into effect by Congress in 1866 and lasted until 1877. Reconstruction was aimed at reorganizing the Southern states after the Civil War. The reconstruction plan granted the means for readmitting the southern states into the Union, and tried to come up with the methods by which whites and blacks could live together in a non-slave society. Americas position as a country was established on principles of freedom but those beliefs were weakened by slavery. At the end