The Abandonment of Reconstruction

The Reconstruction of the South, was a very delicate era in America. The North became busy with their own political and economical issues, therefore putting reconstruction "on hold." The South's devastation potentially led to destruction. While some Southerners chose to keep their harsh opinions to themselves, others chose to put their thoughts into action, thus creating racial hate-groups. Though many different racist groups emerged during this time, the most infamously known African American hating group, the Ku Klux Klan, arose and was the most powerful. The Ku Klux Klan restricted the African Americans new found freedom. After enduring much oppression and terrible treatment, blacks were finally able to vote and earn citizenship. But many were still not able to enjoy those freedoms due to the KKK and other such groups. The hate groups were made up of so much ignorance that it was astounding. They would use physical force and torture to put fear into the African Americans discouraging them to even attempt to become politically active. The different groups would form alliances in a sense, and would make organizations impossible for African Americans to be involved in. Needless to say, blacks were still being excluded and felt as if they were inferior to the white folk.



Probert Encyclopaedia. Web. 12 Dec 2010. http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/j/Ku%20Klux%20Klan.jpg.

Not every white citizen thought negatively towards the African Americans. Many actually sought to broaden their freedoms. Though some just seemed to be "big talkers," there were individuals who actually took action. The Republican Congress worked to overturn the fad of racist vigilantes. Enforcement acts were passed in 1870 and 1871 as an attempt to stop the hate crimes and to broaden the rights that the African Americans deserved without strings attached. The acts became more well known as the Ku Klux Klan acts. The acts restricted the states in many ways involving discrimination against race in voting, serving in juries, and holding public/ political offices. Even though these acts were beneficial to African Americans, there was also a downside to them.

Perhaps the biggest blow to African Americans during this time period was the Compromise of 1877. This Compromise was what in fact diminished the Reconstruction Era. It united the Democrats and Republicans, which ultimately made sure another Civil War would not erupt. This Compromise was never officially debated or documented, but it enabled the two opposing political parties to come to mutual agreements. However, it was a huge betrayal to the newly freed 4 million slaves. Though the Compromise was good for the Nation, it put Reconstruction and equality for the African Americans "on hold" yet again.

The Crises of Reconstruction. Web. 12 Dec 2010. http://websupport1.citytech.cuny.edu/Faculty/pcatapano/lectures_us2/reconstructionF06.html

Shortly after the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified, the Reconstruction period was almost completely halted. The North had the attitude of “they can take care of themselves now, there is nothing else we can do.” The blacks were at a loss of support, making it difficult for them to thrive. Just when the African Americans had thought that most of their economical problems were diminished, a new theory came along that put things in a new perspective. A new concept keyed as “Social Darwinism,” was a theory that was basically used to belittle and weaken minorities. The idea states that “an individual who fails did so because of their own weakness and unfitness.” Though it seems like it wouldn’t have any relation to the Abandonment of Reconstruction, it actually played a major role in it. It Social Darwinism caused the government to intervene in even more issues, which took away attention from the much needed Reconstruction Reform. The money and incentives that the freedmen were supposed to receive quickly vanished. The money and incentives were instead used for social services issues.

Brinkley, Alan. American History: A Survey. 13th ed. 1. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2009. 420-425. Print.

Corrick, James A. The Civil War and Emancipation. Farmington Hills: Lucent Books, 2008.

Debopriya, Bose. "Compromise of 1877." Buzzle (2010): n. pag. Web. 15 Dec 2010. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/compromise-of%201877.html.

Mettger, Zak, Reconstruction: America After the Civil War. New York: Lodestar Books, 1994.