African Americans During Reconstruction Dbq
Reconstruction was the time period after the Civil War lasting from 1865-1877. Within this time period, the U.S government helped rebuild the southern economy and protect former slaves new rights; but were the African Americans truly free during Reconstruction? The answer is no, African Americans were not free during Reconstruction.
In “Document B” the Black Codes state, “No negro shall be permitted to rent or keep a house within the limits of the town under any circumstances.” This section of the black codes takes the right to own property away from African American, while the whites are completely free and can own a house. Another section in the Black Codes says “No freedman who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry firearms,
or any kind of weapons within the limits of the town of Opelousas without special permission of his employer, in writing and approved by the mayor or president of the board of police.” This legal statement at the time completely takes the right to bear arms from African Americans. This ultimately contradicts with the Constitution because the right to bear arms is the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution.
In “Document C” (The Henry Adams Statement), Henry Adams recalls his former owner wife proclaim, “You should say ‘master’. You all are not free and you shall call every white lady ‘missus’ and every white man ‘master’.” This quote from the owner’s wife proves that many white people did not agree with the 13th Amendment and thought former slaves were still not free. Another part of the Henry Adams statement says, “The madam took a stick and beat one of the young colored girls, who was about fifteen years of age. The boss came the next day and whipped the same girl nearly to death.” This part of the statement shows the cruelty against former slaves and how they were mistreated.
As you can see African Americans were not free during Reconstruction. We looked through the “Black Codes” and the “Henry Adams Statement” and saw how rights were just taken away and how African Americans were abused by whites. If you still do not agree with me, why not I ask you a question. Would you be an African American during Reconstruction?
In “Document B” the Black Codes state, “No negro shall be permitted to rent or keep a house within the limits of the town under any circumstances.” This section of the black codes takes the right to own property away from African American, while the whites are completely free and can own a house. Another section in the Black Codes says “No freedman who is not in the military service shall be allowed to carry firearms,
or any kind of weapons within the limits of the town of Opelousas without special permission of his employer, in writing and approved by the mayor or president of the board of police.” This legal statement at the time completely takes the right to bear arms from African Americans. This ultimately contradicts with the Constitution because the right to bear arms is the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution.
In “Document C” (The Henry Adams Statement), Henry Adams recalls his former owner wife proclaim, “You should say ‘master’. You all are not free and you shall call every white lady ‘missus’ and every white man ‘master’.” This quote from the owner’s wife proves that many white people did not agree with the 13th Amendment and thought former slaves were still not free. Another part of the Henry Adams statement says, “The madam took a stick and beat one of the young colored girls, who was about fifteen years of age. The boss came the next day and whipped the same girl nearly to death.” This part of the statement shows the cruelty against former slaves and how they were mistreated.
As you can see African Americans were not free during Reconstruction. We looked through the “Black Codes” and the “Henry Adams Statement” and saw how rights were just taken away and how African Americans were abused by whites. If you still do not agree with me, why not I ask you a question. Would you be an African American during Reconstruction?