Freedom and Reconstruction

2.  Freedom and Reconstruction

In Unit I, we read about and discussed many antebellum (pre-civil war) stories, essays, and documents, primarily focused on slavery and the struggle to abolish slavery and free all African Americans. And, in 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery. With Unit II, we have begun to look at the stories, essays, and documents of post slavery and reconstruction after the Civil War. Then, in 1865 The Thirteenth Amendment proclaimed that “(n)either slavery nor involuntary servitude…shall exist within the United States….” In 1868, The Fourteenth Amendment proclaimed that “(a)ll persons born or naturalized in in the United States…are citizens of the United States…” and that “(n)o State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall nay State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”  In 1870, The Fifteenth Amendment proclaimed that “(t)he right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” And so ended the slavery and inequality of the previous 200 years, right? Not so, according to the many selections written from 1865 to 1919.

In at least 300-350 words, discuss what was seen as the continuing need to address abolition, even after abolition of slavery and emancipation had been made law. Name at least 3 issues that led many people to declare that slavery was not ended. Make well-developed, cited reference to at least 3 different authors. Also, what extraordinary struggle faced black women?

Remember that each time you make reference to ideas in the text, you must identify the author and the page on which that idea is stated. Also, when making reference be sure to present complete thoughts and ideas from the texts and to make clear links between what you’re saying and what the text is saying.