Civil War Vs Reconstruction Essay
The Civil War and Reconstruction had an outstanding amount of potential, however the flaws of both events are evident. The end of slavery as a whole created a great disposition. Slavery was an act that was without a question morally unjust. Slaves suffered tremendously, being stripped of their identity, rights and freedom to simply be a human being. It was very interesting to see the potential, however in so many ways it was evident that this new order was flawed and in route to fail. Eric Foner elaborated on the confusion and despair that many black people felt once freedom was officially allocated to them. The lack in definition of what freedom was seemed to leave blurred lines, reality did not coincide with their ultimate expectations.
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Black people were very excited to gain freedom, however this created even more of a divide. Plantation owners no longer felt entitled to accommodate the basic needs because the workers were now expecting pay. Foner continues to describe how the law, not only freed the slave, but it also freed the owners of any additional accommodations that they were supplying to their slaves. “And kindness proved all too rare in the aftermath of war and emancipation. Numerous planters evicted from their plantations, those blacks too old, or infirm to labor, and transformed ‘rights’ enjoyed by slaves— clothing, housing, access to garden plots — into commodities for which payment was due” (Foner, 1990, p.115). This primary example resonates with some of the issues society is facing today. The issues with minimum wage and those that are receiving government assistance can potentially find themselves in a similar disposition. Slaves wanted to be free, as anyone should be freed from such cruelty. However, while many were enslaved, they were accommodated in other ways. Once the work they were doing required payment, the benefits of those other accommodations were gone, and or they had to pay back the owner for. So it seemed they were trapped in this vicious cycle, in essence still slave to the white
Black people were very excited to gain freedom, however this created even more of a divide. Plantation owners no longer felt entitled to accommodate the basic needs because the workers were now expecting pay. Foner continues to describe how the law, not only freed the slave, but it also freed the owners of any additional accommodations that they were supplying to their slaves. “And kindness proved all too rare in the aftermath of war and emancipation. Numerous planters evicted from their plantations, those blacks too old, or infirm to labor, and transformed ‘rights’ enjoyed by slaves— clothing, housing, access to garden plots — into commodities for which payment was due” (Foner, 1990, p.115). This primary example resonates with some of the issues society is facing today. The issues with minimum wage and those that are receiving government assistance can potentially find themselves in a similar disposition. Slaves wanted to be free, as anyone should be freed from such cruelty. However, while many were enslaved, they were accommodated in other ways. Once the work they were doing required payment, the benefits of those other accommodations were gone, and or they had to pay back the owner for. So it seemed they were trapped in this vicious cycle, in essence still slave to the white