To what extent were federal government reconstruction measures
responsible for improving the lives of black Americans from 1865-77?
Federal Government – the national government of a country
Introduction:
There was a significant amount of changes made by the federal government which
improved the lives of black Americans, such as the constitutional amendments, the
civil rights acts, as well as the work of the Freedmen’s bureau, which overall meant
that the federal government was mostly responsible for improving the lives of
blacks, despite there being other contributing factors, such as the black code
regulations which did help black advancement, as well as the fact that some
congressional reconstruction failing to have a practical effect in some areas.
The Amendments:
The 13th amendment, made the most significant improvement, granting black
Americans freedom, and the 14th and 15th amendments also made key improvements
in their lives, as they gained important rights which created a definite improvement
in the lives of black Americans. Key voting rights and equality under the law were
some of the most significant improvements made during the period.
The ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment confirmed Lincoln’s Emancipation
Proclamation and abolished slavery in the US, marking a significant political
advancement.
• Furthermore, the Fourteenth Amendment gave all U.S. citizens equal protection of
the law, with its Equal Protection Clause being instrumental in challenging
discrimination and ensuring equal treatment under the law.
• Fifteenth Amendment granted African American men the right to vote, which
ensured their participation in political matters and also allowed the involvement of
African Americans in political positions. The amendment aimed to protect the voting
rights of African Americans and ensure that their race could not be used as a basis
for denying them access to the ballot box. The 15th Amendment was a significant
milestone in the ongoing struggle for racial equality and political empowerment in
the United States.
• It states: "The 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, colour, or previous
condition of servitude."
• African Americans now actively engaged in political activities and took part in
political process. They formed political organizations, held elected offices at local,
state, and federal levels, and participated in constitution conventions to shape new
state governments.
The Civil Rights Act:
The Civil Rights act, in conjunction with the 14th amendment represented a very
important change in the lives of black Americans, as it gave equal rights to all
citizens. The enforcement acts also allowed the states to punish the KKK, which
further spread the effect of these civil rights acts.
The Civil Rights Act (1866) gave black Americans full citizenship and equal rights.
