Reconstruction Era

The Reconstruction Era: A Soul Crushing and Devastating Chapter

The Reconstruction Era was a soul crushing and devastating era that was a long and misunderstood chapter in American history. It shows the struggle of black people after the Civil War where slavery was supposed to be abolished. This triggered a backlash where people lost their lives, their rights, and their freedoms.

Reconstruction Era

Lincoln's Vision and Tragic End

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, is known for leading the nation during the Civil War, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. When Lincoln was president, he suggested that black men and veterans should be given the right to vote. A man named John Booth shot Lincoln April 14th,1865 while he was at Ford's Theater. Before he died he pushed for the 13th amendment which was to completely abolish slavery but it didn't get ratified until December- eight months after his death.

Johnson Takes Power

Hours after Lincoln's death, vice president Andrew Johnson took over as president. Andrew Johnson grew up as a poor white southerner. His presidency marked a significant shift from Lincoln's. While Lincoln was more lenient about the reconstruction policy toward the South, Johnson supported harsher measures. When Fredrick Douglas met Johnson he had doubts about the new president and said " he is no friend of the black".

The Memphis Riots

The worst riot had happened in Memphis in 1866. This event happened right after the Civil War where mobs of white men were attacking and destroying black neighborhoods. The riots reflected the anger of white citizens that saw blacks doing better than them economically. There were a total death of 46 black people, meanwhile not a single white person died.

Memphis Riots

The Dangerous Right to Vote

After gaining the right to vote, black Americans faced threats and violence at polling campaigns. Some states abandoned their electoral campaigns due to the danger of white citizens initiating violence against black voters. Despite numerous violent confrontations, half a million black men successfully cast their ballots.

Reconstruction Video