Essay On African American Equality

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Ever since 1787, and even before, African-Americans have struggled to gain political, legal, social, and economic equality. Although some national and state government programs were constructed to help African-Americans with this perpetual problem, it is also the same state and national government policies that expanded this problem. In fact, this is still a problem that persists today. The national and state governments definitely have gone a long way in providing African Americans with political, legal and social opportunities; however constant setbacks have lessened their effectiveness. Beginning in 1787 there was an unspoken guarantee that all states had the option to decide whether or not they wanted to be slave sates. Although this did not necessarily hurt or help African-Americans it did allow for the possibility that more state could be come free. This was the first step towards the equality for African-Americans. Then many years later the Compromise of 1820 occurred. This compromise split the United States into two states, slave or free across the 36̊ -30’ line. Slave states being below the line and free states being above it. There were two exceptions to this rule which were Missouri would be made a slave state and Main would be broken off of Massachusetts and will be made into a free state. By doing this the national government performed a small amount of aid for African Americans because it gave them least hope that more states one day become free. However, despite the slight hope that more states could decide to become a free state it was still not enough. Free blacks, although they were free they had fears of their own like if states slave states. An example of why free blacks had this fear is Wilmington, North Carolina in 1850. Wilmington was below the 36̊ -30’ line so it was made into a slave state. This cause a problem from free blacks because in Wilmington the state government made a law stating that if a free black was native born to North Carolina then they had a certain amount of days to move out of North Carolina or they would become slaves. By stating this North Carolina’s plan was to limit the free black population. It also is a clear example of how the state government wanted to take the all legal, social, political, and economic opportunities away from African-Americans because they were willing to make free blacks slaves. One of the other things the national government did to help African Americans gain some opportunities is the Compromise of 1850. In this compromise California became a Free State. This was also useful for African Americans because it offset the power in the Senate, which allows the North to essentially end the expansion of slavery. Another advantage for Africa American that was given in the Compromise of 1850 is that it also abolished the slave trade in Washington, District of Columbia. However, despite improvements for African Americans the Compromise of 1850 did that hurt some opportunities for African Americans because of establishment of the New Fugitive Slave Law. This law was much stricter than the previous laws and forced northerners to help in the capturing and returning runaway slaves. It also gave commission based of the ruling for slave or free; ten dollars if one of them was found to be a runaway slave and five dollars if one of them was found to be a Free …show more content…
The Reconstruction Act of 1867 divided the south into military 5 districts and made northern troops take control of the south. This was both for the prevention of another civil war and to ensure the southerners did not reestablish slavery. The northern troops stayed in the south from 1867 to 1877. The final action taken by Congress was the establishment of the Freedman’s Bureau. This agency was specifically constructed to provide food, shelter and other necessary aid to African Americans. After the national government expunged slavery their role changed from condemning African Americans to providing them with rights and extra opportunities. Then in response the state tries to undo what was granted by African Americans, as will be shown

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