Essay On Reconstruction Dbq

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During reconstruction many thought things were going to improve but in result many worrsened. Reconstruction lasted from 1865-1877, after the civil war. During the civil war slaves fought to gain their freedom which reconstruction offered. But many things did occur during reconstruction they had laws put against them were they couldn’t do as they pleased, instead were told what to do, never having a say. The success and failures impacted the life of newly freed African Americans in a both positive and negative way.

Reconstruction affected the lives of newly freed african americans in a negative social way unallowed to do as they please. Captain Charles C. Soule was a officer in the south of Carolina’s Freedmen’s Bureau in 1865 he stated, “You may have a harder time this year than you have ever had before; it will be the price you pay for freedom” (Document D). Document D reveals how during reconstruction African Americans were thought more as an item they owned, instead of a person who can make their own dicisions they had their choices given to them not ever having a say. Not only did reconstruction effects the freedom of African Americans but also taking away their liberty as of where they can go. Black codes during reconstruction in 1865 had newly revealed laws one of so many being, “No negro or freedmen shall be allowed to come within the limits of the town of opelousas without special permission from his employers. Whoever breaks this law will go to jail and work for two days on the public streets, or pay a fine of five dollars.” (Document F). Document F proves how in spite of African Americans being free they never had the privilege to be truly free. Southern whites felt superior than African Americans which restrained the ability of them going certain places. In addition to the neglect of freedom towards African Americans Southern whites also mistreated them in very cruel ways. Document J illustrates how a group of people known as the “Ku Klux Klan” who harassed, raped and violated the color race civility in result of them not voting. In document D a petition caused by the freedmen to the United States on March 25, 1871 it states, “ Many have been slaughtered while attempting to vote, we ask how long is this state of things going to last.” This quote manifest a very strong point, proving how harshly white folks didn’t want freedmen to have a say or voice, in result plenty were killed. The U.S constitution also had a big role in African Americans Economic say. Many newly freed African Americans were manipulated into doing so, which caused them to be effected during reconstruction in a economicly negative way.
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Freedmen’s Bureau Bill in 1865, an act to establish bureau for the relief of freedmen and refugees states, “That the commissioner hall have authority to set apart for use of loyal refugees and freedmen” ( Document C). Document C proves how negatively economic newly freed slaves were intitled to doing as they were told, they were forced to supervise abandoned lands established by the war department. Not only did newly freed slaves have to supervise abonded lands which affected their lives negative in a economic way but also lived in what’s called “The Cycle of Poverty”. Document G shows an image stating that white land ownesr would take most of what newly African Americans would make. Sharecroppers would need to buy the needed from their landowner which was absurred because everything would basically go back to them. Not only did sharecroppers get half the earing of what they made, they would also have to pay debt of the year which is totally unfair because they worked hard for that money. Because they had to pay debt every year sharecroppers owed more than he had earned which caused them to stay in debt and continuing the devestating cycle of poverty. On the other hand things went more positive for newly African American during reconstruction in a political say. Reconstruction held a positive say in politics allowing them the right to vote and also having more open options which they didn’t have before. After the civil war many colleges were created in

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