The addition of black slaves to the American population was a new event in history during the late 1860s. Congress was just beginning to devise plans for equal rights and opportunity since the Radical Reconstruction was just getting into full effect. Perhaps the two most significant amendments to ever be passed by Congress; in 1865 and 1868 the 13th and 14th amendments were ratified. These two amendments gave newly freed slaves significant rights that gave them equal freedom amongst people of the United States, although; the fact that there was a difference of 3 years between the 13th and 14th amendments, things did not become so smooth right away. The 13th amendment abolished slavery but did not necessarily make everyone equal since newly freed slaves in 1865 experienced blatant racial discrimination by white equals. It was not until the ratification of the 14th amendment on July 28, 1868 that these new citizens received significant civil rights and no one could deny “life, liberty and property without due process law” to any race.1 The fact that the 14th amendment was ratified in order to complete the 13th amendment entirely, making it just, only showed that it took the government 3 years to do this, and this largely, in-part, was responsible for the high level of tolerance of racial discrimination which led into the advancement of civil liberties for all newly freed slaves, even though; these amendments are the roots of freedom in the U.S. today.
Prior to the ratification of the 13th amendment into law forever, the South and few states in the North were advocates of slavery. The South had fallen victim to the North at the end of the American Civil War in 1865. After this war, the only states that were left in the “union” were those in the North. That meant the southern states were not a part of the voting system at the time the 13th amendment was put into place.2 Kentucky and Delaware were the only two official states that upheld slavery at that time.3 Before the American Civil War began in 1861, Congress would pass laws keeping slavery afloat but with the push of support from President Abraham Lincoln, slavery would be a thing of the past. Inside the Constitution the amendment reads as follows: |
Even though there was a sudden stop to slavery, there was not a dramatic halt to the discrimination and advancement of equality for all free men in America. Blacks still dealt with Jim Crow laws and grandfather clauses as well as discrimination in public places and little to none civil rights. States still had the power to govern its citizens to the point that those being discriminated sought change and justice. Federal court also was able to freely pass judgment as the majority saw fit, yet unfair.4 Newly freed slaves did benefit from the 13th amendment but at the same time had to endure the hardships that came along with it. These new citizens were like the kid that got picked last on the playground: nobody wanted or liked them but they had a right to be a part of the team.
When the 14th amendment was finally ratified three years later, there had already been a large amount of turmoil surrounding the admittance of newly freed slaves as citizens. Still, with 4 sections clearly stated along with the underlying laws that were necessary in upholding the purpose at large of the amendment. The official 14th amendment is written as follows:
The first section of this amendment stated that any human born in the United States is a citizen and those whom have rightfully earned citizenship could not be denied their right to life, liberty, or property. The second section stated anyone may be seated at the House of Representatives regardless of race, except untaxed Indians and that if any State denied any 21 year old male the right to vote, they would lose representatives during elections for their state. The third section stated that no person who rebelled against the country could represent it and 4th section stated that any debt a slave had would be illegal and void thereafter. The final section concluded that all previous sections were appropriate, legal, and enforceable by Congress. These newly added civil rights were not an immediate change for newly freed slaves. These new citizens would undergo intense discrimination and the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 which coined the term “separate but equal” was also a step towards civil liberty but not exactly in the right direction.5
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Yes, African Americans were enjoying freedom they never felt before but it was not the type of freedom that would stick forever. It simply was not completely justified. The “separate but equal” public facilities were not very equal in terms of quality and with this case, the Supreme Court made it okay for such a discrimination to take place throughout the country, in every situation between whites and blacks.
It was not until the Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954, more than 50 years later, did the Supreme Court rule that segregation in the United States was unnecessary and unjust. The basis for the ruling was rooted in the Equal Protection Clause which was a part of the 14th amendment.6
The Radical Reconstruction period, in 1867-1877, was a time of great change of the status quo of the newly rising great nation, now called, the United States of America. Through war and amendments made by Congress, the land of the free was finally becoming just that. It is important to understand the process that is accepting foreign nations into a nation of its own for its own good and prosperity. African Americans were first brought into the country as slaves and that is why the process of absolute equality and freedom came so late in the nation’s history. The time that it took for these amendments to be made beginning with the 13th amendment made it difficult for new citizens to adapt to the American lifestyle, although; history would have it no other way. Although the gap in time made it difficult for newly freed slaves to be welcomed into the nation as its people, the 13th and 14th amendment acted as strong pillars in the advancement of civil life and liberty for newly freed slaves and their generations to date.
Notes:
1. “The Constitution: Amendments 11-27”. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.2014. Accessed May, 2014. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html
2. “Overview of the 13th, 14th, 15th Amendment”. Matthew Ewalt,Yahoo Voices. June 13th, 2008. Accessed May, 2014. http://voices.yahoo.com/overview-13th-14th-15th-amendment-1530841.html?cat=37
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Foner, Eric. "The Reconstruction Amendments: Official Documents as Social History." Gilderlehrman.org. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, n.d. Web. Accessed May, 2014.
6. Kelly, Martin. "14th Amendment Summary - What Is the Fourteenth Amendment." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. Accessed May, 2014
It was not until the Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954, more than 50 years later, did the Supreme Court rule that segregation in the United States was unnecessary and unjust. The basis for the ruling was rooted in the Equal Protection Clause which was a part of the 14th amendment.6
The Radical Reconstruction period, in 1867-1877, was a time of great change of the status quo of the newly rising great nation, now called, the United States of America. Through war and amendments made by Congress, the land of the free was finally becoming just that. It is important to understand the process that is accepting foreign nations into a nation of its own for its own good and prosperity. African Americans were first brought into the country as slaves and that is why the process of absolute equality and freedom came so late in the nation’s history. The time that it took for these amendments to be made beginning with the 13th amendment made it difficult for new citizens to adapt to the American lifestyle, although; history would have it no other way. Although the gap in time made it difficult for newly freed slaves to be welcomed into the nation as its people, the 13th and 14th amendment acted as strong pillars in the advancement of civil life and liberty for newly freed slaves and their generations to date.
Notes:
1. “The Constitution: Amendments 11-27”. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.2014. Accessed May, 2014. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html
2. “Overview of the 13th, 14th, 15th Amendment”. Matthew Ewalt,Yahoo Voices. June 13th, 2008. Accessed May, 2014. http://voices.yahoo.com/overview-13th-14th-15th-amendment-1530841.html?cat=37
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Foner, Eric. "The Reconstruction Amendments: Official Documents as Social History." Gilderlehrman.org. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, n.d. Web. Accessed May, 2014.
6. Kelly, Martin. "14th Amendment Summary - What Is the Fourteenth Amendment." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. Accessed May, 2014