Reconstruction Era of the United States and New York Times

Allison Hwang Swanson 1030 11/16/2012 reconstructive memorys Failure Although the Civil fight steadytu on the wholey managed to come to a close, the end of the war wasnt exactly met with celebration. Instead, the Civil War brought up many new problems that were left unre work ond. In order to solve these problems, the intercourse likewisek responsibility and worked its way to reconstruct our demesne. The main part of the congressional Reconstruction was to establish and value the citizenship rights of the freedwork force.However, the Congress Reconstruction efforts did non last too long and came to an end by the year of 1877. The main reasons for the failure of the reconstruction efforts were due to the conflicting views and factor outs upon the purpose of reconstruction. There were much semipolitical contrary from the north and the south-central as head as from the republicans and the democrats, the entire body politic was facing frugal hardships, and the attempt to place the freedmen in the same social level as the white southerners caused so much tension that the efforts of the Congress Reconstruction gradually failight-emitting diode.Even though the 13th and the 14th Amendments were ratified in 1866, which go steadyd stir rights of all citizens, many of the white population continued to treat the condition slaves with in costity. Ignorance was one of the boastfullygest factors that led to the failure of the efforts of the congress reconstruction. Although the former slaves were non minded(p) liberty and freedom, they were still treated with in have-to doe withity because many of the white men continued to believe that the black men should not have the equal rights as the white men. Pennsylvania interpreter Benjamin Boyer, a Democrat, said, it is not the complexion of the negro that degrades him. race by nature inferior in mental caliberthe negroes are not the equals of white Americans, and are not entitledto participate in the Govern ment of this country In his speech, Congressman Boyer basically denies the right of the African Americans to vote simply due to his picture that black men falls short of the white and that they arent smart enough. In the excerpt in the New York Times it reads, Ku Klux Klan its grand purpose existence to establish a nucleus around which the adherents of the late rebellion magnate safely rally. The Ku Klux Klan was an organization that was formed in order to go against the purpose of the congress and lynch black men. Such activities were racially and violently performed, which undermined the Congress efforts to ensure equal rights to freedmen. In the excerpts from the editorial, Atlanta News, it says, If the white democrats of the North are men, they depart not stand idly by and see us innate(p)e pop by northern radicals and half-barbarous Negroes. But no matter what they may do, it is snip for us to organize. This editorial displays the racism that was demonstrated during the 1870s.The editorial is advocating the southern and the pop whites to come together to stop the black. It refers to the black men as half-barbarous negroes which racially displays the belief of the whites of how the black men are far inferior compared to them. racial discrimination was one of the big factors that led to the failure of the reconstruction. Another main factor that played a key graphic symbol in the beatfall of the congress reconstruction was the political opposition from the north and the south as well as against the democrats and the republicans. In an excerpt from The Era of Reconstruction it reads, In whitethorn 1872.Congress passed a general amnesty act which restored the right of office attrisolelye and voting to the vast majority of those who had been disqualified. The restoration of the voting rights to the white Southerners undermined the efforts to preserve and protect the voting rights of the freedmen. This was so because when they gave back the rights to vote to the white southerners, the Congress change magnitude the number of white voters. Thus these voters took more political positions away from the freedmen. in any case in November 1974, the headline text from the New York Times read, DEMOCRATIC achievement CONGRESS TO BE DEMOCRATIC. The victory of the Democratic only further stirred the downfall of the efforts of the congress reconstructions. Their victory helped undermine the Congress efforts to help the freedmen because the democrats were simply against the reconstruction. The opposing political viewpoints amongst the nation only further adds to why the Congress Reconstruction efforts to ensure equal rights to the freedmen failed. The final main factor that played a big role in the downfall of the Congress Reconstruction was the economic hardships that both the north and the south had to face after the Civil War.The civil war left the nation in ruins as far as being economically devastated. Although the slaves were u ltimately apt(p) their freedom after over 200 years of fighting, they did not know what to do the moment they actually achieved their freedom. Although some blacks took advantage and became successful, in that respect were many others who were left on the streets with no source of income to fend for themselves. In an excerpt from a book written by Dr. W. E. E. DuBois it reads, But the determinative influence was the systematic and overwhelming economic pressure.Negroes who cherished work moldiness not dabble in politics in order to score a living, the American Negro was compelled to give up his political power. concord to Dubois, the freedmen were convinced to stop voting or taking part in political events because they were under economic pressure. They werent to dabble in politics if they wanted to increase their income and to earn a living. The economic pressure of the slaves could also be seen in an interview with a man named John McCoy. He was born in 1838 and had lived 2 7 years as a slave in Texas.In the interview he says, Freedom wasnt no different I knows of. I works for Marse John just the same for a long time. He say one morning, . Ill feed you and give you dos but cant turn over you no money. I aint got none. Humph, I didnt know nothing what money was, nohow, but I knows Ill git plenty victuals to eat, so I stays This recollection by John McCoy displays the idea that the slaves may have even been fracture off to actually stay with their owners who will feed them and clothe them. This goes against the whole idea and purpose of the entire Civil War and the Congress Reconstruction.Due to the economic hardships during the 1870s, John decided to stay with his owner despite being granted his freedom because he did not even have knowledge as to what money was and was simply grateful for the food and the clothing that his owner would propose for him in exchange for labor. There were a lot of different reasons that led to the failure of the effor ts of the Congress Reconstruction to ensure equal rights to the freedmen. The three main reasons that touch the Congress Reconstruction efforts the most were political oppositions, economic hardships, and racial differences.The constant conflicts betwixt the different viewpoints of the democrats and the republicans undermined the purpose of the Reconstruction efforts. Racism played a big role in that the white men continued to look down on the black men and always felt superior compared to them. scotch hardships were also very important in the failure of the reconstruction efforts in that some slaves felt as though staying with their owners despite their gained freedom was better than fighting for survival alone on the streets. In the end, despite all the efforts of the congress, the reconstruction came to an end in 1877.