African Americans After Reconstruction Analysis

This chapter describes the condition of post-Civil War America, starting with the confusion in the South and the immediate plight of blacks who attempted to exercise freedom. Countless blacks, under the impression that they were free and equal to their white compatriots, attempted to start their own lives. Instead of freedom, many blacks were hunted down and killed on charges of unlawful escape. However, a great deal of blacks, empowered by the union army and years of pent up aggression, seized the opportunity for freedom with desperate hands. Once sure of their new status, freedmen began searching for any separated family members and started new lives for themselves as independently as possible. Legion of freedmen, referred to as “Exodusters,” went towards the West, until boat captains ceased to transport them. Encouraged by the Union’s military presence and continued Congressional support, blacks …show more content…
The new plan made the rebel states into union controlled military districts that tried to force them to accept the new laws. This plan ultimately failed, for as soon the armies left, white “Redeemers” would retake control of the state, making things the way they were originally. However, some changes were made, blacks had a few more rights and provided they could dodge the Black Codes, they could vote. One very large group of American’s still couldn’t vote, and that was the women. Prior to the Civil War, women’s rights movements had been working hard to gain their rights. However, with the war focusing mostly on black rights, the women decide to join arms and support that movement as well. The feminists were then mortified when they saw that none of the new civil rights laws included women! Sadly, the women would have to wait until half a century for their dreams to be