African Americans After Reconstruction

The reconstruction era was a highly anticipated period for former African American slaves. After the north won the Civil War, questions remained as to how to unify the country, and what rights should be ascribed to former slaves. Yet, former slaves further questioned how this period would influence their newly acquired freedoms. Despite the anticipations of newly freed African American slaves, the reconstruction era failed to create conditions that would allow African Americans to achieve equal rights. The failures of the reconstruction era, and the decision to allow former African American slaves to remain in the south will be explored in order to determine how these decisions influenced the lives of African Americans. Prior to the onset of the Civil War, the United States was a divided nation. McPherson …show more content…
For example, The Atlantic (2014) acknowledges that there were no policies addressing how newly freed African American slaves would survive in society. Specifically, reparations were widely frowned upon on a national level. Yet from a different perspective, The Atlantic acknowledges that the “Redemption” movement played a role in influencing the rights given to African Americans after the Civil War. This movement, was dedicated to “upholding a society ‘formed for the white, not the black man.’” This movement is widely credited for the continuation of discriminatory practices targeting African Americas. However, it could further be argued that the policies passed during reconstruction were a reflection of the needs and desires of the Redemption party. These needs and desires directly impacted nearly every aspect of the lives African Americans led. As a result, African Americans continued to experience discrimination for nearly one hundred years after the reconstruction era