African Americans: Past, Present, and Future
African Americans: Past, Present, and Future
Kenitra Evans
HIS 204: American History Since 1865
Lisa Burgin
February 10, 2011
African Americans: Past, Present, and Future
African Americans have been through devastating trials and tribulations before 1865 and so on. Freedom following the Civil War was the beginning to a new face in such a head strong racist’s community. Slavery was only the beginning to the issues and derogatory mishaps in African American history. As if slavery wasn’t enough, blacks were subject to lynching, segregation, minimal to non-paying jobs, as well as simply being put down for having a darker skin tone than “the man”. Although things of this sort occurred, it never brought an end to hope, and now the horrific past has become a promising future.
Slavery was one of the first mishaps to occur in our American history. Slavery is defined as the state or condition of being a slave; a civil relationship, whereby one person has absolute power over another and controls his life, liberty, or fortune. Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s strongest leaders passed the Emancipation Proclamation in June of 1863. This proclaimed that 3.1 million slaves were freed as Union armies advanced. By the year 1865 nearly all of America’s slaves were free. For the most part, while most slaves were free, the Emancipation Proclamation did not make the use of slavery illegal in some states. Due to this issue and knowing that slavery was still legal in some states, the Thirteenth Amendment was enacted.
Shortly after the release of slaves, most slave owners were afraid that their homes and land was in danger from poorly treated slaves. In result of this America passed laws that were known as black codes. Black codes are a body of laws, statues, and rules enacted by southern states after the Civil War to gain control over the slaves again. They also wanted to ensure that would keep the white man active while
Kenitra Evans
HIS 204: American History Since 1865
Lisa Burgin
February 10, 2011
African Americans: Past, Present, and Future
African Americans have been through devastating trials and tribulations before 1865 and so on. Freedom following the Civil War was the beginning to a new face in such a head strong racist’s community. Slavery was only the beginning to the issues and derogatory mishaps in African American history. As if slavery wasn’t enough, blacks were subject to lynching, segregation, minimal to non-paying jobs, as well as simply being put down for having a darker skin tone than “the man”. Although things of this sort occurred, it never brought an end to hope, and now the horrific past has become a promising future.
Slavery was one of the first mishaps to occur in our American history. Slavery is defined as the state or condition of being a slave; a civil relationship, whereby one person has absolute power over another and controls his life, liberty, or fortune. Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s strongest leaders passed the Emancipation Proclamation in June of 1863. This proclaimed that 3.1 million slaves were freed as Union armies advanced. By the year 1865 nearly all of America’s slaves were free. For the most part, while most slaves were free, the Emancipation Proclamation did not make the use of slavery illegal in some states. Due to this issue and knowing that slavery was still legal in some states, the Thirteenth Amendment was enacted.
Shortly after the release of slaves, most slave owners were afraid that their homes and land was in danger from poorly treated slaves. In result of this America passed laws that were known as black codes. Black codes are a body of laws, statues, and rules enacted by southern states after the Civil War to gain control over the slaves again. They also wanted to ensure that would keep the white man active while
References: 1. American Journal of Public Health: Washington (2010) Vol. 100, Iss.S1. pgs. s56, 10 pgs. 2. Challenges to Diversity from an African American Perspective (1994) Vol.32 Number The Wilson Quarterly: Washington (2010) Vol.34, Iss. 2. Pg.30, 6 pages. 3. Church History. Chicago: Dec. (2010) Vol. 79, Iss. 4; pg.952, 4 pgs. 4. Organization of American Historians. Magazine of History. (2009) Oxford Journals. Humanities. Volume 23. Iss. 4pgs. 19-23 5. Nation of Nations Volume II: Since 1865 (2004) McGraw Hill Davidson, Gienapp, Heyrman, Lytle, Stoff 6. America’s Changeable Civil War. The Wilson Quarterly Washington; spring 2010 Vol. 34, Iss. 2 pg. 30, 6 pgs. 7. "Black Codes." West 's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved February 07, 2011 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437700548.html