The Rise of African-Americans from 1865 to 2012, Their Struggles to Become Free Americans
Running Head: The Rise of African- Americans From 1865 To 2012, Their Struggles To Become Free Americans
THE RISE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM 1865 TO 2012, THEIR STRUGGLES TO BECOME FREE AMERICANS
Brenda Maynard
HIS204: American History Since 1865 (GSN1241A)
Instructor: Tracy Samperio
Ashford University
October29, 2012
The Rise of African- Americans
The Rise of African- Americans From 1865 To 2012, Their Struggles To Become Free Americans After the Civil War African-American expected to have their freedom, but this was not really the case. Even though the approval of the 13th Amendment freed them from their Southern masters, they were still far from being free. The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction" (ourdocuments.gov). After surviving some of the most brutal injustices and dehumanization in American history, the African-American people have grown to be a powerful force, overcoming segregation, discrimination and isolation, and have worked toward the equality and civil rights they now enjoy. Before the Civil War, African-Americans had dreams of freedom. After the Civil War they thought those dreams would come true. But in reality things got worse for them. The 14th Amendment secured equal rights, citizenship, due process of law, and equal protections to all former slaves. Blacks had gained control of their own destiny. Now they needed a way to support themselves. But this was no easy task, jobs for colored people were hard to find and discrimination and segregation was high. Nothing showed this more clearly than the “Jim Crow” laws. Beginning in the 1880s, the term "Jim Crow" was widely used to describe practices, laws or institutions that arose from the physical separation of white and black people. These laws were
THE RISE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM 1865 TO 2012, THEIR STRUGGLES TO BECOME FREE AMERICANS
Brenda Maynard
HIS204: American History Since 1865 (GSN1241A)
Instructor: Tracy Samperio
Ashford University
October29, 2012
The Rise of African- Americans
The Rise of African- Americans From 1865 To 2012, Their Struggles To Become Free Americans After the Civil War African-American expected to have their freedom, but this was not really the case. Even though the approval of the 13th Amendment freed them from their Southern masters, they were still far from being free. The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction" (ourdocuments.gov). After surviving some of the most brutal injustices and dehumanization in American history, the African-American people have grown to be a powerful force, overcoming segregation, discrimination and isolation, and have worked toward the equality and civil rights they now enjoy. Before the Civil War, African-Americans had dreams of freedom. After the Civil War they thought those dreams would come true. But in reality things got worse for them. The 14th Amendment secured equal rights, citizenship, due process of law, and equal protections to all former slaves. Blacks had gained control of their own destiny. Now they needed a way to support themselves. But this was no easy task, jobs for colored people were hard to find and discrimination and segregation was high. Nothing showed this more clearly than the “Jim Crow” laws. Beginning in the 1880s, the term "Jim Crow" was widely used to describe practices, laws or institutions that arose from the physical separation of white and black people. These laws were
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