Constitutional And Social Developments Betweeen 18 Essay, Research Paper

William FreburgerUS History- Mr. SmithEssay- due Feb. 11, 1999 Constitutional and social developments between the years 1860 and 1877 amounted to, in a sense, a revolution. Lincoln’s assassination hurt the plan for reconstruction Lincoln introduced, a plan that apparently appealed to the war-trodden and disgruntled south. The Freedmen, former black slaves, made up a great portion of Grant’s voters that elected him tot office, a new responsibility and right of the freed blacks. The ratification of the 13th and 14th Amendments, and the proposal of the Civil Rights Act changed many attitudes towards blacks, however it also made many more racists in the process. Through Reconstruction, the Freedmen, and the Amendments passed from 1860 to 1877 the USA underwent a change, a change that, to a certain extent, could be called a revolution, but not nearly in the fullest extent of the word. The assassination of President Lincoln severely thwarted Lincoln’s plans for reconstruction, plans that seemingly appealed to the south. The 10% plan, Lincoln’s re-entry plan for the south after the Civil War, stated that only 10% of the state’s voting citizens would have to pledge their allegiance to the constitution in order to rejoin the Union. Under this premise, the south would have to undergo a very painless and low-key re-entry. Lincoln’s 2nd inaugural address directly explained to the south that they were welcome to rejoin, no strings attached. The Emancipation proclamation, though issued during the Civil War, also gave black’s hope for the future. With the support of the president blacks had a protective blanket under which they were protected, theoretically, from severe and extreme bias and racism. With the death of the president, these people’s interests were no longer a high priority, as they were when Lincoln was around. The Freedmen, former black slaves, made up a great portion of Grant’s voters that put him in office, a new responsibility and right of the freed blacks. The blacks freed by Lincoln after the War gave their support to Grant, the reason being that grant fought for the North, the Anti-slavery group in the War. The fact that the 13th Amendment freed all slaves also made it so there was no new slavery, a change some Americans were not ready to accept. The Freedmen had a great influence on politics while they were still being “protected.”

The ratification of the 13th and 14th Amendments and the proposal of the Civil Rights Act changed many attitudes toward blacks, however, it also created a new breed of racists in the US. The 13th and 14th Amendments were made to protect the rights of the freed black slaves, defining the term “person” to include blacks. The Civil Rights Act threatened the security of persecutors of blacks, while protecting the rights of blacks as well. As a result of the protective laws for blacks, an anti-black group called the Ku Klux Klan was formed, this group a new breed of hate in America. The 13th and 14th Amendments, and the Civil Rights Act put into effect not only laws protecting blacks, but hate directed at blacks. Constitutional and social developments between 1860 and 1877 somewhat amounted to a revolution. Lincoln’s assassination diminished any chance of a tidy reconstruction after the Civil War. The former black slaves were given new roles and responsibilities, their presence being felt in Grants election to the presidency. The ratification and proposal of laws protecting blacks spawned a new group of racists. Through reconstruction, the Freedmen, and the Amendments passed from 1860 to 1877 the US underwent a change that, to a certain extent, could be called a revolution, but certainly not in the fullest understood sense of the word.