African-Americans and Reconstruction

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer looks at the Reconstruction period and examines how the African-Americans were treated. The writer also discusses that there were issues that Caucasian individuals had to deal with as well, and many of these issues also affected the African-American population. The writer concludes that African-Americans have never completely gained their freedom, but things are working toward more freedom for African-Americans. The writer maintains that when they are no longer judged by the color of their skin, they will truly be free.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
African-Americans and Bias
Violence and Significance
Problems with Reconstruction
The Emancipation Proclamation
Land Grants and Job Opportunities
Masters and Freedmen
The Freedom of African-Americans
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Originally, the Reconstruction was hailed as a terribly boring time in U.S. history, but much of it is rich with interesting information and recently some credibility has come back to it, designating it a part of history that deserves further study. Many believed that everything that was learned and accomplished throughout the Reconstruction had been lost before it was actually over and that the idea of social improvement that it carried ended up being a failure. However, some of the things that were accomplished during the reconstruction and a great deal of what was learned remained with the country after it was over and built the foundations for many of the things that go on today.
The Reconstruction period was very valuable for many reasons and not all of these had to do with the emancipation of African-American individuals. Examples such as the slaves who took care of Jefferson Davis's plantation after he died indicated that African-Americans were very much interested in the reconstruction and found it very valuable."

Sample of Sources Used:

• An Outline of American History. 2002. In From Revolution to Reconstruction [on-line]. Westward Expansion and Regional Differences Available from World Wide Web <http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/H/1954uk/chap4.htm>.
• Berlin, Ira, ed. (1982). Freedom: A Documentary History of Emancipation, 1861-1867.
• Black Farming and History. 2002. Homecoming. <http://www.itvs.org/homecoming/ history1.html>.
• Foner, Eric. Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877. New York: Perennial, 2002.
• Manifest Destiny. 2003. In Darien.k12 [on-line]. Manifest Destiny Available from World Wide Web <http://www.darien.k12.ct.us/rclarke/apdbq/1840g/manifest/ manifest.htm>.

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