Experiences of African Americans During the Civil War Period Essay

The 1860s and 1870s were particularly trying times for African Americans. The well-mannered War which lasted from 1861 to 1865 precept America submit to social and political change as Americans struggled to redefine their idea of race and baptistry the question of thrall. to a greater extent importantly understood were the experiences of foreboding(a)s during and after the war as they fought to be accorded the same estimables of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In the early mean solar days of the war, the issue of slavery was avoided vehemently by Lincoln and Davis (Norton et al. 2008) scorn it cosmos an essential issue in the war among the northwestern and S knocked out(p)h. In fact, freeing the slaves was never an agenda of the North.The North was against slavery because they perceived the South, who was pro slavery, as a threat to the Norths social and political order (Norton et al. , 2008). Consequently, be against slavery did non necessarily reckon N ortherners were not racist. In fact, many another(prenominal) salve saw themselves as racially crack to the non- whitens. condescension the apparent racial prejudice, black-markets in the South still saw in the Union army their route to freedom. afterward Lincolns Emancipation resolution allowing blacks to serve in the Union cause, thousands of slaves, amongst them, adept and totally(a) John Boston (Linden & Pressly, n. d), fled their master and joined the Union army in their fight against the South. Many blacks want to affirm their manhood despite discrimination in the army with the display of gallantry and valor. Still more died, alike(p) the Fifty-fourth mommy regiment, in their fight for equality. Therefore, although Lincoln had wedded them a motive to reak free, it was the blacks ingest endurance to fight for their own freedom which in the end led to their emancipation.The Norths achievement over the South in 1865 meant that the slaves were finally free . As freed state, one of their fore some desires was to own land as land meant subsistence and enough (Norton et al, 2008). Also, because it was all they had k todayn to do, many cut out back on plantation farming as their livelihood. Some, like Josua Culverson and Major X Whiteing, applied for leases through the U. S. Com of Plantations (Linden & Pressly, n. ). Because most freedpeople had no money to purchase land, they could only(prenominal) lend it on credit. However, because of preexisting prejudices, freedpeople represent even that to be a task. Consequently, they returned to their aged(prenominal) farms where they had worked as slaves.However, unlike previously, these freedpeople sought to let on their situation by reaching an apprehension with the possessor through a system of rules known as share doping. Often, such an accord would entail the provision of food and seeds in exchange for a portion of the crop earnings (Norton et al. 2008). Such is the case betwee n William R. Steen, a sportsmanlike citizen, and Caroline, a morose woman along with 7 other Arkansas freedpeople whom by contract, had to give one third part of the crop embossed upon the farm by their labor to the owner of the farm (Linden & Pressly, n. d). The years 1865 to 1877 saw efforts in reconstructing the war-torn South. A vast hurdle existed then to reconcile the freed blacks with gray whites, who were so used to operating in a slave society that their prejudices could not be eradicated so easily.Furthermore, they were threatened by the rise of black status and into the ranks of political power so much so that a group of whites came together and organize the premier(prenominal) Ku Klux Klan a society which sought to maintain white supremacy through intimidation, violence and terrorism (Norton et al. , 2008). Klansmen committed murder, arson, and attack whilst asserting their notion of white supremacy. As a result, despite having been emancipated, the freed blac ks still suffered immense pain and fear under the manpower of the Ku Klux Klan.Amongst the most localiseed were blacks who had rose to political power. Ann J. Edwards, the daughter of a black Congressman recounted that We, his family, lived in constant fear A day or two before option a mob gatheredin front of the house, and we thought the end had come. (Sterling, n. d). More gruesome was the story of Joe Johnson who was elected into the republican office. He was burned-over nearly to death, and unsettled because of his refusal to resign from office (Sterling, n. ). His execution was witnessed by his wife who could do nothing against the heavy terror and violence of the Ku Klux Klan. Blacks were not the only victims of the Ku Klux Klan regime. Whites who openly supported blacks saw their lives world threatened as well.Hannah Flournoy, a black woman, gave account of an execution involving a white Georgian who had supported the black cause. Men bolted right in and commenced s hootingThey were disguised plainly I knew a great many of them. Hannah thought it right to take Ashburn in and was willing to die for him simply on the basis of him being a republican (Sterling, n. d). The incident reflected the loyalty of many blacks to indorse beside those, white or otherwise, who sought to bear on their natural rights. Teachers were another group being targeted. Colored schools came under the attack of the Klan and were burnt to the ground (Norton et al, 2008). Many blacks endured the hardship of curse and violence despite its injustice and unlawfulness.Recounted Harriet Hernandez, He struck me on the forehead with a pistolkicked me over the fencedragged and beat me and my daughter along. Despite the blacks being freed in the South, the activities of the Ku Klux Klan ensured that blacks would not confine it away the same rights as whites. Colored people have no satisfaction to live like human beingall summer I have been working and it is impossible for me to enjoy it, verbalize Harriet (Sterling, n. d). Despite all the violence inflicted on them, blacks exhibited extraordinary courage in the cheek of threats by Klansmen.Emeline Bremfield whose husband was a target of the Klan, stood unwavering in the face of death, as the Klan confronted her of her husbands whereabouts (Sterling, n. d). Blacks even went out of their way to fit into a black aggrieved society. Many like, Caroline Smith and Lucy McMillan, habilimented down in order not to stand out for fear of being whipped (Sterling, n. d). Although the Ku Klux Klans primary motive was the trust of white political power, Klansmen took every chance they got to assert white supremacy mindsets.McMillans house was burned simply because she had mentioned she precious to own land. Smith was whipped only to cue her not to sass any white ladies (Sterling, n. d). Aside from the destruction of property and life, black women suffered in yet another ca-ca sexual assault. Klansmen sought to assert their favorable position over black women by sexually harassing them. Some black women were even mutilated, like Frances Gilmore who was cut with a knife, or gang raped (Sterling, n. d). Racial dislike and terror ultimately brought down the republican regime in the South.Efforts by the Ku Klux Klan prevented concentrated presence of the Republican coalition in the South and a restoration of the democratic majority. The Klan resided to terrorize black people and ran amok until the Enforcement Acts and subsequent persecutions brought an end to the first Klan. Overall, the blacks suffered greatly during the Civil War and reconstructive memory Era. Despite having obtained emancipation, prejudices continued to affect their lives. Although we now know that it did not succeed in driving them out of the country, blacks today continue to face the same prejudices.