How Did Reconstruction Affect African Americans
The Reconstruction period, between 1865 and 1876, was a time for rebuilding and healing to the nation after the Civil War. For blacks, however, it was a time of radical change politically, socially and economically. These changes, both good and bad, would affect the black race for generations to come. Some of these political, economical and social changes were negative, but most helped the blacks become better off. Reconstruction affected the blacks in many different ways. The main aspects that affected the blacks were their role politics, their social lifestyles, and their economic stability. In the world of politics during Reconstruction, blacks had limited opportunities. It became nearly impossible for blacks to vote due to the literacy
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The main change during Reconstruction that negatively affected the blacks was the formation of the Black Codes. These codes gave whites the ability to mistreat the slaves, even after they were freed. Also, the Blacks Codes limited their freedom. In addition to the Black Codes, wage slavery became more acceptable. Wage slavery was very similar to slavery in the sense that it was not fair to the blacks. They were not paid what they deserved, and were treated poorly in the fields. Furthermore, the idea of sharecropping made life worse for the blacks during Reconstruction as well. Sharecropping meant that they would rent land from the owner, and instead of getting paid in money, the owner would pay them in crops. Therefore, it was very easy for the blacks to get themselves into debt and not be able to get out of it. Without getting paid in money, they didn’t have a way to easily support their families as well. Finally, the Ku Klux Klan was a change that negatively impacted the lives of the newly freed blacks. Through the KKK, Southern whites dehumanized and interrogated the black males. They often times abused them publically in order to “keep them in their place.” Generally speaking, there are plenty of changes during the Reconstruction period that made life for the blacks even
The main change during Reconstruction that negatively affected the blacks was the formation of the Black Codes. These codes gave whites the ability to mistreat the slaves, even after they were freed. Also, the Blacks Codes limited their freedom. In addition to the Black Codes, wage slavery became more acceptable. Wage slavery was very similar to slavery in the sense that it was not fair to the blacks. They were not paid what they deserved, and were treated poorly in the fields. Furthermore, the idea of sharecropping made life worse for the blacks during Reconstruction as well. Sharecropping meant that they would rent land from the owner, and instead of getting paid in money, the owner would pay them in crops. Therefore, it was very easy for the blacks to get themselves into debt and not be able to get out of it. Without getting paid in money, they didn’t have a way to easily support their families as well. Finally, the Ku Klux Klan was a change that negatively impacted the lives of the newly freed blacks. Through the KKK, Southern whites dehumanized and interrogated the black males. They often times abused them publically in order to “keep them in their place.” Generally speaking, there are plenty of changes during the Reconstruction period that made life for the blacks even