Reconstruction and the Jim Crow Laws

Essay by NEMMarineChickHigh School, 12th gradeA+, May 2004

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The Reconstruction era was a time when the government thought that all people needed human rights even African Americans. Until this point African Americans had no rights. They were still considered less than a full person in a society that proclaimed that all of God's people are created equal. The national debate over reconstruction began during the civil war. Laws were put into place that gave African American rights but they failed drastically. The reconstruction was most definitely a failure because of the implementation of the Jim Crow laws.

Before one can understand the reasons why the reconstruction era failed that must understand what the reconstruction era was. It was the period of time that followed the Civil War it is perhaps one of the most controversial periods in American history. It is traditionally portrayed as a sordid time when vindictive Radical Republicans fastened black supremacy upon the defeated Confederacy (Foner).

However the issue of reconstruction emerged early in the war and attracted increased attention as northern victory neared. Reconstruction provided the U.S. with the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. These amendments were designed to protect the rights of Southern blacks and restrict the political power of former confederates (Reconstruction). Basically reconstruction was supposed to provide equal rights to everyone regardless of race. What the American people thought was the end of the debate of equal rights for African Americans was just the beginning. Ending in 1877 reconstruction was over but the fight for equal rights had just begun.

In 1877 the Democratic party had gained control of the government on the southern states and these Democrats wanted to pass local and state laws the specified certain places for whites only and other for colored only. Blacks had separate schools separate seating in movie theaters and even separate water...