African American History
African American History: 1865- Present
Aneshia Y. Glover
HIS204: American History Since 1865
Instructor Mohamed Khan
April 29, 2013
African American History: 1865-Present African Americans had a very rough time in the early years. Not only were they looked down upon, but they were tortured, criticized, and belittled by those from other ethnic groups. Forced to work as slaves and having to endure hours and days of painful work and cruelty without ever having the opportunity to say a thing. Their rights were stripped from them and they were not treated as human beings, but all that changed with time. The historical progression of African Americans was a great one in history and should not be overlooked. I will be discussing how African Americans evolved and what role they played amongst society, as well as laws that were enacted to finally give them a voice! Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to aid in the production of such lucrative crops as tobacco (History Channel, 2012). Though they were frowned upon and ridiculed, African Americans actually helped to build the trade and industry foundation for America. Because of this growth, Americans wanted to expand into unchartered territories through a westward expansion, and it was this very reason, along with the abolition movement in the North, that would provoke a great debate over slavery that would tear the nation apart in the bloody American Civil War from 1861-1865 (History Channel, 2012). The most devastating war in history also brought light to such a controversial issue and not soon after did the nation begin to divide. President Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1861, and it was also during this time that the most devastating war in United States history occurred, the Civil War. The Civil War was fought over a number of things like economy and states’ rights, but one of the most controversial
Aneshia Y. Glover
HIS204: American History Since 1865
Instructor Mohamed Khan
April 29, 2013
African American History: 1865-Present African Americans had a very rough time in the early years. Not only were they looked down upon, but they were tortured, criticized, and belittled by those from other ethnic groups. Forced to work as slaves and having to endure hours and days of painful work and cruelty without ever having the opportunity to say a thing. Their rights were stripped from them and they were not treated as human beings, but all that changed with time. The historical progression of African Americans was a great one in history and should not be overlooked. I will be discussing how African Americans evolved and what role they played amongst society, as well as laws that were enacted to finally give them a voice! Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to aid in the production of such lucrative crops as tobacco (History Channel, 2012). Though they were frowned upon and ridiculed, African Americans actually helped to build the trade and industry foundation for America. Because of this growth, Americans wanted to expand into unchartered territories through a westward expansion, and it was this very reason, along with the abolition movement in the North, that would provoke a great debate over slavery that would tear the nation apart in the bloody American Civil War from 1861-1865 (History Channel, 2012). The most devastating war in history also brought light to such a controversial issue and not soon after did the nation begin to divide. President Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1861, and it was also during this time that the most devastating war in United States history occurred, the Civil War. The Civil War was fought over a number of things like economy and states’ rights, but one of the most controversial
References: Bowles, M. (2011). A history of the United States since 1865. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc Goodman, D. (2010). The fourteenth amendment 's effect on article IV, section 2, clause 1 of the Constitution of the United States of America History Channel. (2012). Slavery in America. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/slavery Maidment, R.A. (1973). Plessy v. Ferguson Re-Examined. Journal of American Studies. Cambridge University Press The Yale Law Journal. (1904). Negro Peonage and the Thirteenth Amendment. The Yale Law Journal