History 2057 Paper 1
History 2057 Section
Assignment 1
February 15, 2013
American Society From 1865-1910 From the end of the Civil War until the turn of the century there were many changes in American society. While some may see these changes as all beneficial, others will argue that the changes made in American society from 1865 to 1910 were mainly detrimental. When we talk about history, its difficult to say if it was good or bad. Throughout history some groups of people have benefited, while others were harmed. Not everyone can prosper from the same event; there will always be winners and losers. The 13th amendment was ratified in 1865 by Abraham Lincoln, and abolished slavery in the United States. Though most people believe that the primary motive behind freeing the African-American’s was to benefit their race, it was instead to assist in helping the Union gain more power and eventually win the war over the Confederate states. In order for the southern states to be readmitted to the Union, they were required to acknowledge and ratify this amendment. Lincoln knew that if he were to abolish slavery, the southern states would lose their labor force and weaken their economy. In response to the 13th Amendment, southern states still tried to maintain power over African-Americans by using certain techniques such as Black Codes. The Black Codes restricted African-Americans’ freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and legal rights; and outlawed unemployment, loitering, vagrancy, and interracial marriages. One of the documents, titled ‘Louisiana Black Codes Reinstate Provisions of the Slave Era, 1865,’ displays the codes that, even though freed, African-Americans were still forced to abide by in the town of Opelousas. The document states that no negro or freedman shall: be within city limits without special permission from employers, be within the city limits after 10 p.m., live within the city limits under any circumstance without being in regular service of a white man,
Assignment 1
February 15, 2013
American Society From 1865-1910 From the end of the Civil War until the turn of the century there were many changes in American society. While some may see these changes as all beneficial, others will argue that the changes made in American society from 1865 to 1910 were mainly detrimental. When we talk about history, its difficult to say if it was good or bad. Throughout history some groups of people have benefited, while others were harmed. Not everyone can prosper from the same event; there will always be winners and losers. The 13th amendment was ratified in 1865 by Abraham Lincoln, and abolished slavery in the United States. Though most people believe that the primary motive behind freeing the African-American’s was to benefit their race, it was instead to assist in helping the Union gain more power and eventually win the war over the Confederate states. In order for the southern states to be readmitted to the Union, they were required to acknowledge and ratify this amendment. Lincoln knew that if he were to abolish slavery, the southern states would lose their labor force and weaken their economy. In response to the 13th Amendment, southern states still tried to maintain power over African-Americans by using certain techniques such as Black Codes. The Black Codes restricted African-Americans’ freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and legal rights; and outlawed unemployment, loitering, vagrancy, and interracial marriages. One of the documents, titled ‘Louisiana Black Codes Reinstate Provisions of the Slave Era, 1865,’ displays the codes that, even though freed, African-Americans were still forced to abide by in the town of Opelousas. The document states that no negro or freedman shall: be within city limits without special permission from employers, be within the city limits after 10 p.m., live within the city limits under any circumstance without being in regular service of a white man,