The Reconstruction Era ( 1865-1877 ) - 1589 Words

The Reconstruction era (1865-1877) was a period of excitement for ex-slaves because they were declared free American citizens. However, all their expectations of freedom were not fulfilled as soon they expected because of the conflict their new freedom bore between them and their former masters. In this discussion, the focus of Eric Foner on the Reconstruction will be compared with that of P. Downs and Scott Nesbitt to get a clearer understanding of the occurrences of the period using their works. The chapter â€Å"What is Freedom?: Reconstruction† by Foner focuses on what freedom meant to ex-slaves and the conflicts that resulted from the declaration of black freedom during the Reconstruction. On the other hand, the digital history project,†¦show more content†¦According to these authors, even though the emancipation proclamation had been signed before the Reconstruction and the 13th Amendment had banned slavery, the oppression still persisted in many parts of the So uth. According to the authors, mere proclamations could not end slavery, and the presence of Union soldiers was necessary for the former masters to accept that slavery had surely come to an end (Downs and Nesbit n.p). The authors add that the soldiers traveled throughout the plantation regions reading the freedom proclamations hence signaling the termination of slavery. While the chapter â€Å"What is Freedom† details how white southerners opposed the new black-freedom during the Reconstruction, â€Å"Mapping the Occupation† explains the role the occupation played in ensuring that this did not hinder emancipation efforts. According to Foner, Southerners opposed slave emancipation during the Reconstruction with Black Codes (Foner 565). These were laws that the new southern governments passed to curtail the freedom of former slaves. These laws aimed at denying the ex-slaves voting rights, and the freedom to testify against white men in the courts (Foner 565). The laws also required the freed blacks to get back to working on the plantations and required them to sign annual labor contracts, failure to which, they would be arrested (Foner 565). Some states’ black codes even denied blacksShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Reconstruction Era: The Planted Seeds1231 Words   |  5 Pagesended in 1865, yet it was known as one of the bloodi est wars America has ever walked through compared to other American Wars (â€Å"Civil War Facts†). After the Civil War the Reconstruction Era rose up and flourished into a luminous path of freedom for slaves in America. The president’s impact on the Reconstruction Era lit a path to the rights of African Americans. Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and Ulysses S. 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