Essay On African American Equality

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 …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