Reconstruction America

On June 17th, 2015, an historic black church in Charleston South Carolina was attacked by a racist terrorist, who had a deep hatred for the African American community. This event provided what can be described as an awakening for many, and also some pondering for others. To understand the motives for this event it is important to look into history. Post civil war is a good place to start.

The time period after the civil war is labeled the Reconstruction period. The hope and theme of this era was that blacks could integrate themselves in a white society, however there was steep hurdles that they were unaware of. Decades of hard work and persistence were on the horizon for the colored people of America.

The freed people longed for everything that they had been robbed of for centuries. The right to marry, own land, and live in society were some of the many things black desired. To assist this the freedman's burea was released, with over 850,000 acres of land and a budget that costs more than a week of the civil war.

Slaveries legacy was a tremendous barrier to change however. As blacks tried to integrate themselves in society, economic struggles began to haunt them more than they would have expected. Many black parent who did not have the necessary funds to raise their children had to release them into a type indentured servitude, with no say in the matter. Unable to protect their children and having them stripped away without discussion, was very reminiscent of the previous history in the centuries they desperately wanted to escape.

Military reconstruction began to protect blacks in the south from white terrorists, and threatened to jail or fire them if they continued their violence. Eventually many former rebel states compensated black communities with the right to vote (males only.) 80% had the right to vote by the end of 1867, and a new political culture rose up. The advent of black suffrage brought about mass change in the governing of America.

Former slaves brought life into society by supporting schools, shelters, and farming institutions slowly contributing to the reconstruction of the nation. White gangs began terrorizing them however, and were under an intimidation and pressure to cast their voting ballot. Half a million black men cast their vote. Ulysses Grant was elected because of these votes, and many black men were put into office. For freed people and former slaves, this was the moment they had yearned for.

The reconstruction that took place during and after these said events helped support American democracy. The value that these brave men and women brought during this era changed what was rational, and made the government realize to important black life was. The future was seen as limitless, and for one of the first times in human history a group that was so viciously oppressed grew into the highest echelons of political society.