Week 2 Reflection - History of Reconstruction and the Rise of Jim Crow

When the American Civil War approached its demise, the leading officials of the US began "revamping" the country in what became known as Reconstruction. Throughout the Reconstruction era, authorities were attempting to fix the country in three aspects: politically, economically, and physically. Reconstruction can be considered as a success and a failure also. It can be considered a success due to the bills and laws passed during the era, and a failure due to so many steps taken back by the states during this period. The 15th Amendment gave voting rights to black men, restoring all eleven confederate states back into the Union and the Reconstruction Acts that were passed are viewed as major accomplishments when looking back in time. The Black Codes, which were set up to deny African-Americans the freedom to purchase or rent land and the heavy belief in white supremacy in the era are among some of the major failures of Reconstruction. As stated previously, one of the greatest accomplishments of Reconstruction was bringing all 11 Confederate states back to the Union. In 1868, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee were readmitted into the Union, and by 1877, Mississippi, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia joined the previous seven. The first public school systems in the South were developed as a result of Reconstruction. Major foundations of the black community in the South were established; black churches and black landowners, businessmen, clergymen, and teachers found new jobs as a result. However, with all the newfound success, there were also negatives from the Reconstruction period. Racism increased and violence peaked and kept immigrants from moving into the South. Jim Crow was a character created by a white male to make a mockery of African Americans. The Jim Crow era, restricted the daily lives of African-Americans, making it difficult for them t
o flourish in society. After the Civil War, Southern states stripped basic rights away from African Americans. The laws were created to keep African Americans segregated from whites after slavery ended. These laws affected education, health care, as well as social and cultural events for black individuals.

Image information: Picture called “Jim Crow/Jump Jim Crow” by Cassandra Waggoner on November 20, 2007. Source: https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/jim-crow/

Foner, Eric. “Reconstruction.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 6 Jan. 2020, www.britannica.com/event/Reconstruction-United-States-history.