Thursday, September 3, 2015

End of Reconstruction

Why is the period of Reconstruction  important? What changed because of it?

This post will be available for comments until Thursday, September 17.



45 comments:

  1. The period of Reconstruction is important because that is the period where America is coming out of their war and are reconstructing their society and their laws. It is the end of a war and the beginning of new begins where equality is becoming more prominent and important to American society. Reconstruction is important because it is when America decided to reconstruct their constitution to add amendments that will be pro-African Americans and end slavery.

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  2. The treatment of African American slaves, while it didn't change right away, was something that changed in America. They could legally get jobs and no longer counted as "one third" of a person when it came to voting. Their voting rights and their legality was one of the biggest changes in the time of the reconstruction.

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    1. After the civil war, they are no longer slaves because of the thirteenth amendment so it would have been better to call them freedmen. Not all black were slaves and some of them were freedmen, therefore they could legally obtain jobs. Some black slaves were able to work to obtain their freedom, therefore I don't think that legally obtaining a job was part of the obstacle. The obstacle was the opportunity to obtain a good job with good pay and good conditions.

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  3. The period of reconstruction is important in the fact that during this time, laws, infrastructure as well as equality was defined. After the civil war, the once limited education African Americans faced became widespread with the help of individuals involved in organizations such as the freedmen bureau. Also in this period, women who were overlooked stood up to fight for their equality. Elizabeth Stanton, a women rights activist wrote about women gaining divorce laws, voting rights, as well as authority. This period of reconstruction simply "reconstructed" the lifestyles of individuals disregarding gender or color in the search for equality.

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    1. Although you say "[t]his period of reconstruction simply 'reconstructed' the lifestyles of individuals," it was not so simple at all. Unless I misunderstood what you wrote, I feel it is important to realize that despite changes being made in the right direction, equality in terms of gender and color was not exactly established during this time.

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    2. Yes equality was not exactly established during this time, however it initiated a movement in the right direction. Sorry for being unclear, but that is what I meant.

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  4. The end of reconstruction is important because this is when The north and the south tried to resolve equality issues among the people. They also tried to resolve financial issue and political issues. During this time new amendments were made such as the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendment. In the end of reconstruction women wanted freedom outside of the home where their marriage felt like slavery, they wanted the power to vote. Asian Americans wanted the power to become citizens and Blacks wanted to be treated with respect and dignity in public places-equality among all things.

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    1. I think you meant, after the civil war because at the end of reconstruction the government pretty much 'hands off' the South. That was the contract that Hayes have with the democratic party in order for him to be voted in for office, that he will take back all the troupes that were sent to the five states. This was a problem because those troupes insured that the freedmen has the right to vote. Also, it was during the reconstruction that the 13th, 14th, 15th amendment were made possible and that time period was between 1865 to 1870. While reconstruction ended in 1877.

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  5. The period of Reconstruction was important because it was during this time that efforts in the direction of establishing equality for African Americans were made. Former slaves had the opportunity to reunite with their families taken from them, and to read and go to school. Two other big changes were the opportunities for former slaves to work for themselves and their families and for them to own their own land.

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  6. Despite those newly granted opportunities, it is important to understand that not all people were fond of African Americans having so much freedom, one of those people being Andrew Johnson. Because of this, laws were made to grant liberties that had to be given due to the South's loss in the war, but to also limit said liberties. Looking back at how those in power abused their power to the disadvantage of those they saw beneath them is important for us to study currently as a way to stay away from repeating the evils of the past.

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  7. Also, although the feminist movement was a movement that had been established many years before the Reconstruction period, and even so not very successful during the period, African American male suffrage served as a platform for feminists to have their voices heard louder than ever before. There weren't many feminist supporters, but because the right for black men to vote was such a revolutionary change in America, I believe that people started to see that women being able to vote should be possible as well.

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  8. The period during reconstruction was important because it created the first public schools in the South. It was a period of time that allowed freedmen to vote and take office within the government. Although, those opportunities were limited, it changed American in a forward-thinking way. The reconstruction also created opportunities for females to take hold of their lifestyles, fight for divorce, and to be equal as men in the eyes of the law.

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  9. The period of reconstruction is important because it provided change that ultimately help rebuild the United States after the civil war. The three major changes that reconstruction aimed toward was restoration of the Union, rights for freed slaves and the reconstruction of the south. As a result, citizenship and the right to vote were given to black men. There were also a growing number of schools and churches in the south for the black community. It also created opportunities for women to fight for the same rights as men.

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  10. The period of Reconstruction was important because it showed how the United States handled some of the issues leading up to the Civil War. It helped the United States reconstruct the old ways of the government and doing things. Along with governmental reconstruction there was physical reconstruction of properties that were destroyed in the war such as railroads and many buildings. Reconstruction allowed us to question how people were viewed as individuals and what freedom really meant.

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    1. I agree with you that rebuilding of infrastructures occurred during Reconstruction and that the meaning of freedom was questioned.

      I just want to clarify what you said. Are you saying that the U.S. was trying to fix the problems that caused the Civil War through the act of Reconstruction? Also, the point of Reconstruction was to reform the government (even though it might not have worked out), not to restore the old way of things. Please correct me if I've misunderstood your wording or if anything I pointed out was wrong.

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    2. My wording was unclear. I meant to say that the point of Reconstruction was to reform the old ways of doing things into new more ideal ones. With regard to the question on my comment involving the Civil War, I was reforming to the reunification of the Union as being a main goal of Reconstruction.

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  11. Reconstruction caused many changes to people's way of life, especially African Americans. Reconstruction put in to motion the idea of freedom and equality. Out of Reconstruction came the restoration of the Union, the right to vote for freed slaves, and the fact that African Americans could now become citizens. It also helped establish public schools in the South. Equality was a strong idea during this period. Reconstruction tried to change the way people viewed how and who could have the rights that white men enjoyed. Although Reconstruction wasn't fully successful, it sparked a movement not only in African Americans, but also women as well as other minorities such as the Asian community.

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  13. The reconstruction period is very important time in our history because in a sense it was the turning point in America when people could change and become better. They could allow freed slaves the rights that other white men shared. It created schools in the south and allowed equality to be seen as the forefront of hope. It would birth the spark of equality between all races and sexes. Women would start to believe that the way they live were different and should change. The reconstruction could have allowed for change to occur in great amounts but instead didn't, however what did change would push for a better future. It would act as a bandage on a wound allowing America to heal.

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  14. Reconstruction was an important period because it signified the rebirth and reuniting of the United States. The Southern state's governments were being changed to grant equality amongst people of any race, while the actual infrastructure of the war torn South was being rebuilt as well. Also, public schools were finally established in the South in order to provide education to all, regardless of race. Reconstruction wasn't as successful as women wanted it to be, but a few decades later amendments were added to grant equality regardless of sex.

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  15. Reconstruction marked a time of not only human rights, but the rebuilding of a nation from the ground up. On top of the south's infrastructure needing to be completely rebuilt, the nation as a whole was creating a new way of life. The government was being transformed into a more equal playing field which started the freedom for all men. I say started because this would take many years after reconstruction to actually succeed, but it was a definite starting point for freedom. With schools and new jobs being created in the south, reconstruction acted more as a time of healing following the civil war and would be the first step in the right direction for America.

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  16. The period of reconstruction was important because it was the federal government's attempt to mend the broken relations between the north and the south post civil war. It was also a plan to rebuild the souths economy, traditions and customs. Due to reconstruction the former black slaves were allowed to be free, exist as American citizens and gave black males the right to vote.

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  17. The most important changes due to Reconstruction was the addition of the 13th, 14, and 15th amendments. Although there were still many barriers set by people who disagreed, these amendments officially abolished slavery and allowed people to vote without regards to race. The building of schools in the South were also important.

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    1. Sorry, I forgot to put my name in that previous comment. It's Liting Zeng.

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  18. The Reconstruction Era was important as it was a period spent repairing a war torn country and making strides in the political and social aspects of America. One of the biggest changes during this time was the abolishment of slavery and attempting to integrate African Americans into society.These efforts were in conjunction with the addition of the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendment which abolished slavery, granted citizenship to former slaves and ensured that the right to vote was not prohibited by race respectively. Reconstruction extended the confines of freedom in America but not for other racial minorities or women.

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  19. Reconstruction was important because it transformed the nation into something better. The biggest changes during this time was the treatment of African Americans and where they stood in society. Laws were put into place so the freed slaves had equal rights like white men and discrimination in public places were illegal. The 14th and 15th amendments granted citizenship to the former slaves and allowed people to vote regardless of race.

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  20. The period of Reconstruction is important because it was an era of not only of literal reconstruction of infrastructure post-war (especially the Southern region), but also a time to redefine laws, as well as create new ones and repeal/amend existing laws. In a way, the opportunity for the government to change/add/remove laws was a chance for the tension between the North and the South to settle down and to cooperate. One of the most dramatic changes that occurred during this time would be the abolishment of slavery. This is the biggest turning point for African Americans because they were no longer bound by an owner, and black males were permitted to vote.

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  21. Although the period of Reconstruction was not a complete success, it was extremely important. First, the addition of the 14h and 15th amendments were established into the Constitution, granting citizenship and the right to vote. Also, it created a platform for social and economic reform. While the radical congress was working on transforming the re established nations, African Americans were trying to create opportunity for themselves. It also brought to light the difference between federal and state power in my opinion. Although the nation was slave free, racism was still alive and well and tensions were still very high in the United States. Although there were some flaws during Reconstruction, the overall feeling of hope was still there for the nation. The passing of the Amendments will later on set the stage for women's suffrage and minority rights.

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  22. Why is the period of Reconstruction important? What changed because of it?

    Reconstruction was important in american history because it was necessary, groups of various races, were tired of the oppression that surrounded they're daily lives. Reconstruction is important for obvious reasons; such as allowing Blacks to own land, the right to vote, the right to hold office. Rudimentary rights universal to Whites. Due to Reconstruction a lot changed, but a lot stayed the same, literacy test would still hinder Blacks from voting; and the KKK would terrorize Black communites in efforts to change things to the way they were before Reconstruction. "SHARECROPPERS often found themselves in debt, for they had to borrow on bad terms and had to pay excessively for basic supplies. When the harvest came, if the debt exceeded harvest revenues, the sharecropper remained bound to the owner. In many ways, this system resembled slavery." - (us history.org) Another "Reconstruction" would not happen for almost 100 years. Im not sure if much had changed, I'm not sure if much could change, but i strongly believe that education is the only way to remove oppression, and the 2000 schools that are built in the south provides a certain feeling of progression .

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  23. The period of reconstruction was important for several different reasons. First of all, it was the period in which slavery was abolished, meaning there were no more slaves in the U.S. Another important effect of reconstruction was the modernization of the South. For so long, the North was the only part of the country that was advancing forward. Once reconstruction happened, public schools and hospitals opened in the South which became the foundation for education and equality for the newly freed slaves.

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  24. The period of reconstruction was important for many different reasons.The most important part of reconstruction was the push to secure rights for the former slaves.The thirteenth amendment was passed in order to abolish slavery.Laws were passed in order to protect blacks rights under constitutional law(having in mind racism will be a very big issue).The fourteenth amendment granted blacks citizenship.The fifteenth amendment gave black men the right to vote.The rights granted to blacks were not granted fully for another century. Although these measures were positive steps toward racial equality, their enforcement proved extremely difficult (ushistory.org,Independence hall association in Philadelphia).Reconstruction was also known as a time of reuniting between the north and south.Helping ex slaves and creating state governments loyal to the union would take years to resolve.

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  25. The period of Reconstruction was important because it called for the rebuilding of the nation as a whole. After the civil war, there were many issues that needed to be resolved due to what caused the war. This was an improvement towards equality for blacks especially; ending slavery, providing an opportunity for education, giving land, and having the right to vote. These brought changes to not only the blacks, but to the lives of rich and poor, and whites in the south as well. This also gave an opportunity to women to promote feminism since the destruction of slavery.

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  26. The era of the reconstruction was so important because of the many changes the south went through. From the beginning the freed slaves wanted to have the same equal rights as the white folks. The south went into the process of the black codes, the sharecropping system in order to improve the gap between the freed slaves and whites. Even though many different precautious were put into place, the gap between equals was very big. The north and south divided themselves because of the civil war, which was to blame and the different opinions of how each perceived the ‘colored’ people. At the end of the reconstruction the fourteen and fifteen amendment was abolished as well as the civil right act of 1875. The ultimate goal was to have equality within the black and white community. The annulling of the amendments and act was a big step in order for African Americans to be viewed as equal in society. This was because they would have to be treated equal in public and society.

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  27. Reconstruction played a tremendous role in shaping Americans view point in modern society. It was the first time in American history that Americans actually took a moment to question, "What if it was me in their shoes?" Over the course of several years and several difficulties, white men were able to see through the eyes of a former slaves at least to some degree which prior to reconstruction, they could not do. Not only did it shift our view towards blacks, it shifted our view towards humans as a whole. Toward the end of Reconstruction freedom for Asian Americans, as well the rights of Women became very large concerns. Until this day America has made much progress toward developing equality, although unfortunately the equality amongst men, women, and all races has not yet fully established itself even today. But as domino effect of the civil war, America has been opening it's eyes to those who they have been oppressing and slowly but surely developing equality everywhere, not only on the lawful level, but as well as on the level of its citizens minds.

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  28. The Reconstruction Era was a critical point in history because it commenced the reunification of the southern and northern states in the wake of the Civil War. This era in history saw changes in the social, economic, and political aspects of the nation as the country moved towards an industrial economy, saw the first impeachment of a president, and the creation of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendment. Because of Reconstruction, the nation saw a rise in infrastructure such as schools and black churches, automatic citizenship for all people born in the United States, and suffrage for literate black men.

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  29. The reconstruction era was an important period in American history because it was the first time ever in history where efforts for equality for African Americans happened. Even if they were not perfect by any means and the whites of the south still holding a lot of anger and hostility against the blacks this was still the first time ever there was any attempt at equality. Furthermore this is the period where we saw the first ever impeachment of a president. Lastly this period in history was important because it was absolutely necessary for the south's infrastructure and economy to be rebuilt.

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  30. During Reconstruction the values stated in the constituion embedded in the foundation of what America is, a country of freedom & justice for all, were tested in every way possible. The governing bodies were challenged to uphold the values they claimed they represented. Doc 99 by Frederick Douglass is a perfrect example. On a political platform this came in the form of voting rights,citizenship, & holding gov offices for Blacks, women, and immigrants, whom previously were denied these freedoms. These same groups fought for equal treatment in a court of law & in society at large. Laws were passed during this era that allowed Black men the right to vote. Over 100 Blacks held gov office positions post Cival War. Public edu was established in the South for the first time which gave a largely illiterate population access to something that was previously reserved for the aristocracy

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  31. The Reconstruction period was very important because of its effects on individuals throughout the country. In terms of the blacks, the Reconstruction period allowed the blacks to acquire certain rights and freedoms. This was the start for the blacks in becoming citizens of the United States. In terms of the women, the Reconstruction era encouraged women to stand up for their rights compared to the men.

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  32. The period of Reconstruction was important because it showed America dealing with the aftermath of the Civil War. The North offered financial help to the South, as their own currency was worthless after the war, leaving them practically broke. Former slaves were given certain rights, like being able to vote and participate in the government, allowing many freedman to run for office.

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  33. The period of Reconstruction was important because it was an attempt to unite a divided country. The North and the South remained divided after the Civil War and needed to be brought back together. Reconstruction also lead to many laws and movements that were attempts to establishing equal rights for all. Such as the 15th Amendment that gave African American men the right to vote. Reconstruction also lead to new labor laws. African Americans now were given some rights, but it still wasn't equal for all. A major change that came from reconstruction was the access to education. Education was not available for most people in the South before the period of reconstruction.

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  34. The time frame of 1865-1877 , known as the period of Reconstruction , brought into question the particular aspects and influence of federal and state power over what liberties were to be granted and enforced to individuals, in particular recently emancipated slaves. It ultimately established what are called as civil liberties through the 14th amendment , however left for independent states and court systems to solidify their extent with court rulings or local enforcement by their own choice. This idea made this time period particularity important as it would be an influential topic to be battled upon at different points through out the centuries. This altered the notion of what it was to be a free individual in America and what was to be the influence of the federal government's influence over the state.

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  35. The era of Reconstruction highlighted many important questions that is a central aspect of American government and what it is it stands for. As mentioned by it few others, it questioned the dynamics between the balance of powers (particularly between the Presidential brand and Congress), whether federal government or state government should hold more power, and it focused on the definition of freedom and equality. For a country whose origins and roots were founded on freedoms, when brought to light many could not agree on exactly what it entailed. It is a question that influenced others to question their own status in American society and led to many other movements, such as the Women's suffrage. It is still a question that is being asked today in regards to the LGBT community.

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  36. To continue, it brought about many changes in the South. As some have mentioned, while the South was predominantly without a form a public schooling, several schools were opened in the Reconstruction period, freedmen began forming their own communities which included churches, schools, and taking active roles in government.

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