Does “Freedom” Mean Free?
The Union’s victory of the Civil War did not bring the previously anticipated peace to the United States. Instead it led to a period of time known as “reconstruction,” which lasted from the end of the war in 1865 to 1877. This period is significant for its radical reforms mixed with racial tensions and divisions. The North won the war and established laws to integrate equality into society. Meanwhile, the South lost the war but was able to manipulate the system and mandate how they treated blacks in their society. Thus, the reconstruction period passed laws and drastically revolutionized the social structure in America, and even though it was impeded by Southern mentality, its ultimate goals of freedom were realized. Upon becoming the victors of the Civil War, Northern Republicans setout to implement radical reforms like the 14th amendment in order to make all men free. In 1868, the 14th amendment was voted on and passed, largely due to Northern Republicans and enacted in the United States. It declared that, “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law…” (The 14th Amendment). Thus, all men, including freed slaves, were now seen as equals before the law. This was an idea completely new and revolutionary from that of before the war when blacks were not even considered humans by some and citizenship wasn’t even up for consideration. The North clearly wanted to make all men free and carried this out by passing such laws. They furthered their radical changes with the implementation of The Freedmen’s Bureau. This group was said to have, “Established operations in every department of the occupied South and provided aid to… freed slaves… [and] established schools for the freed people… “ (Oates). This group depicts yet another way the North enacted radical policies in order to attempt to create social change and make men free. Because the North was able to rally votes and pass both of these acts, the power they gained by winning the war certainty proved valuable and the changes they made directly affected the South. However, not willing to completely lose sight of their values to the North, the South retaliated with its own social practices. While the South may have lost the war, they were still able to maintain white supremacy in the South and manipulated the laws put in place by the North in order to live their lives in a way that brought them “peace”. While radical Northern laws attempted to bring social equality to the South, the Southern Democrats still managed to make changes in individual states that kept whites superior to blacks. One being Mississippi who passed the black code, which stated, “ No Negro shall be allowed to come within in the limits of the town of Opelousas without special permission from his employers” (black codes). The passing of such laws proves that while the North won the war, the South …show more content…
However, as portrayed in Lincolns Gettysburg Address and outlined in the 13th amendment, reconstruction achieved its goals of freedom. Before President Lincoln was assassinated, he addressed the nation in an effort to end the Civil War and offered very clear goals for the nation to live up to upon the conclusion of the Civil War. In his speech Lincoln said, “…we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom…” (Gettysburg address). Lincoln’s speech proves that reconstructions main goal was equality and freedom in all of America. This same goal was further achieved by the 13th amendment. This amendment, passed at the beginning of the reconstruction period in 1865 stated, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction” (13th amendment). This law shows that the slaves were freed and that slavery would never be acceptable again in America. While the actions and laws passed in the South attempted to eradicate Northerners ideals for freedom and keep blacks from being free, slavery was abolished and for the most part all black men were granted citizenship and
The Union’s victory of the Civil War did not bring the previously anticipated peace to the United States. Instead it led to a period of time known as “reconstruction,” which lasted from the end of the war in 1865 to 1877. This period is significant for its radical reforms mixed with racial tensions and divisions. The North won the war and established laws to integrate equality into society. Meanwhile, the South lost the war but was able to manipulate the system and mandate how they treated blacks in their society. Thus, the reconstruction period passed laws and drastically revolutionized the social structure in America, and even though it was impeded by Southern mentality, its ultimate goals of freedom were realized. Upon becoming the victors of the Civil War, Northern Republicans setout to implement radical reforms like the 14th amendment in order to make all men free. In 1868, the 14th amendment was voted on and passed, largely due to Northern Republicans and enacted in the United States. It declared that, “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law…” (The 14th Amendment). Thus, all men, including freed slaves, were now seen as equals before the law. This was an idea completely new and revolutionary from that of before the war when blacks were not even considered humans by some and citizenship wasn’t even up for consideration. The North clearly wanted to make all men free and carried this out by passing such laws. They furthered their radical changes with the implementation of The Freedmen’s Bureau. This group was said to have, “Established operations in every department of the occupied South and provided aid to… freed slaves… [and] established schools for the freed people… “ (Oates). This group depicts yet another way the North enacted radical policies in order to attempt to create social change and make men free. Because the North was able to rally votes and pass both of these acts, the power they gained by winning the war certainty proved valuable and the changes they made directly affected the South. However, not willing to completely lose sight of their values to the North, the South retaliated with its own social practices. While the South may have lost the war, they were still able to maintain white supremacy in the South and manipulated the laws put in place by the North in order to live their lives in a way that brought them “peace”. While radical Northern laws attempted to bring social equality to the South, the Southern Democrats still managed to make changes in individual states that kept whites superior to blacks. One being Mississippi who passed the black code, which stated, “ No Negro shall be allowed to come within in the limits of the town of Opelousas without special permission from his employers” (black codes). The passing of such laws proves that while the North won the war, the South …show more content…
However, as portrayed in Lincolns Gettysburg Address and outlined in the 13th amendment, reconstruction achieved its goals of freedom. Before President Lincoln was assassinated, he addressed the nation in an effort to end the Civil War and offered very clear goals for the nation to live up to upon the conclusion of the Civil War. In his speech Lincoln said, “…we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom…” (Gettysburg address). Lincoln’s speech proves that reconstructions main goal was equality and freedom in all of America. This same goal was further achieved by the 13th amendment. This amendment, passed at the beginning of the reconstruction period in 1865 stated, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction” (13th amendment). This law shows that the slaves were freed and that slavery would never be acceptable again in America. While the actions and laws passed in the South attempted to eradicate Northerners ideals for freedom and keep blacks from being free, slavery was abolished and for the most part all black men were granted citizenship and