Monday, September 17, 2012

Schnicoli - just read some idec

Danielle Luna O’Byrne
Ms. Garvin
USHH –African American Southerner Essay
9/18/12
           In the 1860’s African American lives changed forever.  The end of the Civil War brought about a period of Reconstruction.  The main focus was on rebuilding the South, which suffered many losses, such as the demolition of entire cities and their industries, now in dire need of revival.  Most importantly, the added task of rebuilding the lives of those living in the South including freed slaves.  Many rejoiced for their new lives as free people but at what cost did it come?  With this new freedom came many consequences good and bad.   
           The birth of freedom brought about celebrations by Africans in the North and South.  African Americans self-expressed what they were unable to do under slave owners, from rugs to music, they began creating and inspiring.  But after the new freedom novelty wore off the realization of something much worse.  Being a slave guaranteed shelter and food, of course it wasn’t high class but it was something.  Being free, with no aid from the government, meant no shelter, food, and no way to make money without relying on the help of white landowners.  Although some managed to sharecrop, most were still struggling.  Without education a free slave could get nowhere,  those with education could and many did get into politics, but those without education, were left to work as  farm hands.  Many former slaves considered life as a slave better compared to what they now faced.   
           Soon after this realizing the circumstances of freedom, the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments were adopted.  Both amendments helping slaves gain rights.  Now the government helped with the education of African Americans and allowed them to vote.  Being allowed to vote gave the African Americans the chance to voice their opinion and take part.  In this way life being free was good, becoming a citizen of the country and contributing a vote was a benefit.  Yet right when things looked good, white supremacy groups targeted African Americans.  Using loopholes, like literacy test, they were barred from their rights, African Americans could no longer vote freely.  These groups also murdered or tortured African American, especially if it would stop them from voting.  Subjected to laws such as the Jim Crow Laws and the expiration of the Freedmen's Bureau the former slaves were not in for an easy life.
           Ultimately, the Great Compromise of 1877 brought about the end of Reconstruction along with the end of the Republican’s efforts to assist the African Americans.  In turn, many states stopped protecting African Americans, leaving the African Americans defenseless and giving the KKK an easy time capturing,abusing and murdering their targets.  Not only did losing government protection hurt African Americans and most of their rights deteriorated along with it.  Segregation began to take over and it left the African Americans out in the cold.  

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