Reconstruction Era

Reconstruction Era

The Reconstruction Era, from 1875-1877, was a time where the “United” States were not as “united” as it is said in its name. It was a time to bring the nation back together and to reestablish and to fix the damages caused by the Civil War. Not only the North was torn from the South on major issues, but different opinions separated the nation on what to do and how to do during Reconstruction. The issues that the convention presided over depended on the opinions of the attendees, at that time, which would be unlike those in the future. The main issues debated were on freemen’s rights, southern states’ return, level of implementation and organization, and the leading overseer.
Because slavery was almost completely abolished after the Civil War, the new matter was whether freedmen, or “Negroes,” would possess the same rights as those of white men. The debate had brought up points about what may happen as a result of the amount of rights the government will give to the Negroes. One had argued for equal rights in saying that “all men are created equal,” under the Declaration of Independence. Though this statement is morally right, one can say that the Negroes do not receive the proper education; therefore, not worthy to own rights like voting and taking place in politics. During the Reconstruction time, there were acts passed that were not in favor for equal rights amongst all men. In 1865, the Mississippi government, and other states later on, enacts the “Black Codes.” According to the Northern states, these codes were another adaptation of the “Slave Codes” a two-hundred or so years ago. It appeared to be another form of slavery, or “virtual slavery.” This shows that even if abolitionists and Negroes have fought for many years, they still have to fight equal rights. However, there were still attempts at which equal rights were proposed. On March 1, 1875, the Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress provided equal rights in...