AFRICAN AMERICANS

• What was the position of AA'S in 1865?

  • Freedom from Slavery: The end of the Civil War in April 1865 resulted in the abolition of slavery.

  • Reconstruction Era Begins: A period of federal efforts to rebuild the South and integrate AA into society.

  • White Reaction and Discrimination: Despite newfound freedom, African Americans faced hostility, segregation, and systemic racism.

  • Economic Hardships: Many AA lacked land, jobs, and financial security.

  • Social Limitations: AA were denied basic rights and faced violence from white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
• What was the impact of the Civil War on African Americans?

  • Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Issued by Abraham Lincoln, it declared all slaves free

  • The 13th Amendment (1865): Officially abolished slavery across the U.S.

  • The 15th Amendment (1870): Granted AA'S men the right to vote, though it was later undermined by Southern states.

  • Lincoln’s Assassination (1865): Led to Andrew Johnson’s presidency, which weakened Reconstruction and protections for AA'S

  • Southern Devastation: The war left the Southern economy in ruins, increasing resentment toward freed AA'S.
• What were the positive prospects for black Americans in 1865?

  • Right to Vote: The 15th Amendment granted voting rights to African American men (though it faced resistance in the South).

  • Education: Freedmen’s Bureau schools provided literacy and education opportunities.

  • Employment Opportunities: Some freed slaves found work as sharecroppers, craftsmen, or laborers.

  • Land Ownership: There were efforts (e.g., “40 acres and a mule”) to provide land, though these were largely reversed.
• What were the negative prospects for black Americans in 1865?

  • Housing Discrimination: Many freed slaves had no property and were forced into sharecropping or tenant farming.

  • Racism and Prejudice: White supremacy persisted in both North and South.

  • Violence: The Ku Klux Klan and other groups used terror to suppress black political participation.

  • Lack of Legal Protection: Southern states passed Black Codes to restrict black freedom, including curfews