Racism During The Reconstruction Era

America's current battle with racism is an unfortunate example of when history "repeats itself." The issues regarding racial inequality were confronted in the Civil War, then again during the Reconstruction era. Despite the efforts of both these events, racial conflicts still exist today. The Civil war is taught in schools to be the conflict that ended with the abolishment of slavery. While this marked a turning point in American history, racist belief systems did not disappear. In the southern states that sided with the Confederacy, the Civil War was viewed as a “Lost Cause.” Despite losing the war, the South applauded the “chivalric Southern soldiers” who fought against the “rapacious Northern industrial machine”(Wills, 2015) in defence of their state rights. The Union may have ratified the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to abolish slavery, but it could not erase the intolerance that still existed in the country. Thus, the amendments held little power over the southern ideals. …show more content…
Racism is still prevalent today because of the holes left in the laws and amendments formed in the Reconstruction era. These holes represent the racial inequalities left unaccounted for, that would eventually lead to the Civil Rights Movement. The Ku Klux Klan was mainly responsible for keeping racism alive since the Civil War. Immediately after African American people gained civil rights, the Klan formed to “keep blacks subordinate,” (McAndrew). Since that time, the KKK has carried the legacy of racism into today’s politics. Their views taint our world by providing campaigns against people whom they feel are “hurting America,” (McAndrew). Especially in our current racial climate where we have to again face the racism in our country, the Klan has a prominent influence on