Reconstruction refers to the time period directly following the Civil War, where America attempted to bring both the white and black south back into the Union. Reconstruction was therefore extremely difficult, as whites were dealing with their loss and the fact that they’d have to live under those that beat them during the war, and that they’d have to live along side their newly freed slaves, those who they were bought up their entire lives to believe they were superior to.
The main thing blacks desired straight out of slavery was freedom. They wanted freedom from white men, from being owned, from everything that they were. They wanted to create their new lives as free people with new schools and churches and stores. They were still willing to work, they didn’t mind living a difficult life, but they wanted to live that life on their own terms. White Americans didn’t want any of that. The slave owners wanted their free labor back, and the poor whites wanted to be rid of the competition. (Slavery by another name) Blacks also desired the right to vote. Fredrick Douglass was quoted as saying “If he knows enough to be hanged, he knows enough to vote.” (African American experience.) Additionally, African Americans desired land to live on and work, to produce crops and to build themselves a life of their own. Before his assassination, Lincoln supported black suffrage, but didn’t call for it immediately. In his ‘last speech’, Lincoln addressed Louisiana’s attempt to rejoin the union under his reconstruction plan, which did not call for immediate black suffrage. Many radial republicans were upset with the lack of such a demand in Lincoln’s plan, but he was concerned that if he called for suffrage directly, he would damage southern will to rejoin the union. “Concede that the new government of Louisiana is only to what it should be as the egg is to the fowl, shall we sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it?” (Lincoln, the last speech, TAAE 330.) With the passing of the 15th amendment in 1870, all blacks did (for a time) gain the right to vote in all states. After Lincoln’s assassination blacks had strong hopes for Andrew Johnson, as he appeared to be a supported of blacks when he opposed the slaveholders with ferocity as he said in his speech to the colored of Nashville, “I will indeed be your Moses.” But time progressed, it was clear that he wasn’t. They realized Johnson wasn’t for the African Americans at all. Johnson supported the white yeomen far more, and was quoted as saying “Damn the Negros, I am fighting those traitorous aristocrats, their masters.” (found page 327 The African American experience.) Johnson and the African Americans may have had a common foe, but they were hardly fighting together. Church was an extremely crucial part to the African American life style. “It filled deep spiritual needs, offered enriching music, provided charity and compassion to those in need, developed community and political leaders, and was free of white supervision.” (AAach, 247) Within the decade, 1,465 (African Americans; a concise history, pg267) …show more content…
This was known as convict leasing. (Slavery by another name) Convict leasing was far worse than slavery. Since the convicts were far cheaper than slaves, they weren’t protected by their economic value. Convicts were pushed to their physical limits without any regard for their safety or wellbeing. Their white owners found the convict leasing to be extremely beneficial, as while they still had to pay for the convicts, it was far cheaper than paying workers. Peonage was another way of getting “free” labor. Blacks were accused (often under false charges) of debt to a white man, and were forced to work off their debt by doing work for their accuser. (Slavery by another name) Over time, the government realized they could use the blacks they were selling to private landowners could do government work. Chain gangs (who gained their title from the way their ankles were chained together) were used to work on projects such as roads. (Slavery by another
The main thing blacks desired straight out of slavery was freedom. They wanted freedom from white men, from being owned, from everything that they were. They wanted to create their new lives as free people with new schools and churches and stores. They were still willing to work, they didn’t mind living a difficult life, but they wanted to live that life on their own terms. White Americans didn’t want any of that. The slave owners wanted their free labor back, and the poor whites wanted to be rid of the competition. (Slavery by another name) Blacks also desired the right to vote. Fredrick Douglass was quoted as saying “If he knows enough to be hanged, he knows enough to vote.” (African American experience.) Additionally, African Americans desired land to live on and work, to produce crops and to build themselves a life of their own. Before his assassination, Lincoln supported black suffrage, but didn’t call for it immediately. In his ‘last speech’, Lincoln addressed Louisiana’s attempt to rejoin the union under his reconstruction plan, which did not call for immediate black suffrage. Many radial republicans were upset with the lack of such a demand in Lincoln’s plan, but he was concerned that if he called for suffrage directly, he would damage southern will to rejoin the union. “Concede that the new government of Louisiana is only to what it should be as the egg is to the fowl, shall we sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it?” (Lincoln, the last speech, TAAE 330.) With the passing of the 15th amendment in 1870, all blacks did (for a time) gain the right to vote in all states. After Lincoln’s assassination blacks had strong hopes for Andrew Johnson, as he appeared to be a supported of blacks when he opposed the slaveholders with ferocity as he said in his speech to the colored of Nashville, “I will indeed be your Moses.” But time progressed, it was clear that he wasn’t. They realized Johnson wasn’t for the African Americans at all. Johnson supported the white yeomen far more, and was quoted as saying “Damn the Negros, I am fighting those traitorous aristocrats, their masters.” (found page 327 The African American experience.) Johnson and the African Americans may have had a common foe, but they were hardly fighting together. Church was an extremely crucial part to the African American life style. “It filled deep spiritual needs, offered enriching music, provided charity and compassion to those in need, developed community and political leaders, and was free of white supervision.” (AAach, 247) Within the decade, 1,465 (African Americans; a concise history, pg267) …show more content…
This was known as convict leasing. (Slavery by another name) Convict leasing was far worse than slavery. Since the convicts were far cheaper than slaves, they weren’t protected by their economic value. Convicts were pushed to their physical limits without any regard for their safety or wellbeing. Their white owners found the convict leasing to be extremely beneficial, as while they still had to pay for the convicts, it was far cheaper than paying workers. Peonage was another way of getting “free” labor. Blacks were accused (often under false charges) of debt to a white man, and were forced to work off their debt by doing work for their accuser. (Slavery by another name) Over time, the government realized they could use the blacks they were selling to private landowners could do government work. Chain gangs (who gained their title from the way their ankles were chained together) were used to work on projects such as roads. (Slavery by another