Civil War Vs Reconstruction Essay

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 …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