In the years after the Civil War, during the Era of Reconstruction, important events happened that changed the course of American history. This time was marked by important choices, big changes, and urgent problems that will never be forgotten (Prior et al., 2017). This essay argues that among the many aspects of Reconstruction, three stand out as being the most important in shaping the country’s post-war environment. First, ratifying constitutional changes like the 13th, 14th, and 15th changes showed a dedication to ending slavery, making sure everyone had equal rights under the law, and giving everyone the right to vote, no matter what race they were (Foner, 2024). Second, the creation of public schools became a key part of pulling African Americans up, giving them access to information and laying the groundwork for future social and economic progress (Byman, 2021). In the end, the controversial creation of the Freedmen’s Bureau, which was meant to help newly freed slaves with their immediate problems, shows how difficult it is to rebuild society. But the opening also stresses how important it is to consider different points of view, whether they are about political changes or economic policies, to fully understand the complex layers of meaning that were part of the Reconstruction era.
The approval of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments during Reconstruction is a turning point in American history. It shows how deeply the country wants to end slavery and advance the ideas of equality and voting rights (Foner, 2024). When the 13th Amendment was officially passed in 1865, it ended slavery. This was a big step towards the country’s democratic goals. After that, the 14th Amendment, which was passed into law in 1868, gave all citizens similar protection under the law. This protected the basic rights of people who had just become free. When it was passed in 1870, the 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote. This was a huge step towards universal suffrage that went against the norms of exclusion at the time.
Some people do not agree with this story of growth. Some people are skeptical about the constitutional changes, saying that even though they were important, they did not fully protect the rights of African Americans. Jim Crow rules in the late 1800s and the unfair treatment of African Americans throughout the 1900s show that the African American community still has a lot of problems. Critics say that the promise of equal rights under the law and the right to vote without limits was weakened by racism that was built into many institutions (Prior et al., 2017). Some people also say that these changes did not do enough to fix larger social and economic problems, leaving African Americans open to economic abuse, segregation, and social injustice.
The criticism of the constitutional changes shows a variety of views on how they work and what effects they have. Even though these changes were a huge step towards civil rights, discrimination and unfair treatment still happen today (Steinhauer, 2015). This shows how hard it is to get justice and equal rights in the United States. When we acknowledge these criticisms, we need to look more closely at the historical background and keep working to fix systemic problems. This is to make sure that the goals spelt out in the constitutional amendments lead to real and all-encompassing changes in society. Basically, the argument over ratifying the constitutional amendments during Reconstruction shows how complicated the relationship is between laws and everyday life in shaping the history of human rights in the United States.
Order a well-written high-quality paper now!
Setting up public schools during Reconstruction was a key step towards empowering and uplifting African Americans. The main goal was to give them access to education, improve literacy, and build a strong base for future social and economic mobility. People thought that this strategic move was very important for making up for past wrongs because they believed that education was the key to ending systemic oppression and giving the freshly freed population equal opportunities.
In this case, some people did not like the idea of public schools during Reconstruction due to the change it brought. People who were against this focus on education said that it took attention and resources away from more important problems like rebuilding the economy and reforming the land system (Simpson, 2020). People said that the few resources that were available during this troubled time could have been better used to
Struggling with online classes or exams? Get expert help to ace your coursework, assignments, and tests stress-free!