History Essay Sample on The Reconstruction Era

The Reconstruction Era was the federal government trying to rebuild the nation after the Civil War, it lasted from 1865 to 1877. After the Civil War ended the government tried to reform the nation. There were multiple plans but they can be grouped into two categories, presidential and congressional. The main difference between the two was that the presidential plan did not mention African Americans and wanted to give the southern states the same power again, the congressional plan wanted to punish the south and talked about the rights of African Americans in the country. During this period there were many changes made to the USA socially, politically, and economically. The Reconstruction era changed the United States Politically, by adding new laws, economically, by abolishing slavery and creating new ways of profit, and socially, by people being riled up by the past war and disagreeing with the outcome.

Firstly, the Reconstruction Era changed the US politically by introducing new laws. The 14 Amendment was passed in 1868, which said “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States”. This is important because it is an example of a law put in place during the Reconstruction Era that was faced with controversy. The 14th amendment gave citizenship to the newly freed slaves. This was controversial because many felt that Black people were the inferior race. Another example is the Black Codes. The Black Codes were Rules in certain states (mainly the south) that denied African Americans many rights. One specific set was from Opelousas, Louisiana, which said African Americans could not come within the limits of the town without permission from hi employers, they could not rent or keep a house under any circumstance, they can not have public meetings, they could not carry weapons or firearms of any kind, and they had to work for a white person. This correlates because it is also an example of new rules put in place. The Black Codes limited African Americans’ rights and it also showed A group of people’s reaction to the outcome of the Civil War.

Secondly, the Reconstruction Era changed the US economically by abolishing slavery and causing people to find new ways to gain profit. For example, during the Reconstruction Era, a way for white landowners to establish a labor force was created, it was called sharecropping. Sharecropping was a deal where someone could buy a portion of land that they could live and farm on but would give half his earnings to the landowner. After the sharecropper paid their debt the landowner would say they owed more than what they have given. This is important because sharecropping was a way to have a labor force after slavery was abolished. Sharecropping is essentially keeping the sharecropper in this endless loop where the landowner is still the one gaining the most. Another example is from Harper’s New Monthly Magazine march 1887 in a section called “The South Revisited”. It was an article talking about the changes made in the south “Instead of a south devoted to agriculture and politics, we find a south wide-awake to business”. It goes on to talk about the new products that are being manufactured and sold in the South. This correlates because it is an example of the US changing economically creating new jobs and developing new ideas during the Reconstruction Era.

Finally, the Reconstruction Era changed the US socially because some people were angered by the outcome of the war. One example is the KKK (Ku Klux Klan). The KKK was originally a group for people unhappy with the Civil War’s outcome but it quickly turned violent. According to the Petition to the United States Congress the KKK would come at night and terrorize them, they reported that many African Americans have been slaughtered while attempting to vote. The petition also said that the court was not helping them, not allowing them to “testify in the state courts where a white man is concerned”. This is important because it shows what is happening to African Americans who are just exercising their rights. It also shows prejudice and unfair treatment by not allowing African Americans to testify in court. A second example is from a public statement made by the African American council, in which they say that African Americans’ right to vote is being denied by some states even though it is against the law to do so. They also call on the 14th amendment as proof showing that it is against the law for the state they live in to deny them the right to vote based on their “race and color” or their “previous condition”. This example is important because it is African Americans trying to bring attention and fix the fact that states and people are freely breaking the laws/amendments that protect them and get zero repercussions.

In conclusion, the Reconstruction Era shaped the United States politically, by adding new amendments and rules, economically, by abolishing slavery, and causing people to find new ways to gain profit, and socially, by people’s reaction to the new laws and segregation. The Reconstruction Era was a pivotal time for America and while many bad things happened during the time it was also the spark for many movements that led to many good things in the future. This is significant because we can see the after effects of these moments in our current society where people who throughout our country’s history were considered “inferior” are continuing what was started all those years ago by standing up and bringing attention to the injustice and prejudice that is so deeply ingrained in our country.