The end of The Civil War brought an end to four years of bloodshed. The United States were once again united. However with the end came many concerns for the Republic such as how they were going to defend the rights of newly freed African Americans. This would be addressed during the Era of Reconstruction which was a time where African Americans saw a lot of progress towards equal rights. 1865-1866 (March 1865) The very first step taken towards equal rights by African Americans was with the Freedman's Bureau. It was a document which secured support for blacks by providing the newly freed food, clothes, education and job training. It was eventually ended but was perfect for the situation at the time. (April 9, 1865) This was the day the Civil War came to end with Confederacy surrender. This may have been a victory for democracy but it was bittersweet as just five days later President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by James Wilkes Booth a southern sympathizer. (May 1865) The Freedmen's Bureau showed the kind of society people were now going to live in and have to get used to. Obviously there was resentment by southern whites as they were not used to an African American being equal to them. In response a group of southern whites came together to oppress blacks and they formed an infamous group called the Ku Klux Klan. This group made its presence known to America through intimidation and murder. (December 1865) This is a very important month as it was the month the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified and ended slavery as well as outlawed it everywhere in America finally bringing an end to the issue that nearly destroyed the Union. Within the year 1865-1866 there were the lesser known Black Codes were passed in Southern States which limited the rights of African Americans. So not every action was a step forward. 1867 In 1867 many Reconstruction Acts were passed that split former Confederate territory into five military districts occupied by federal troops. While living under these conditions African Americans were guaranteed civil rights. 1868-1870 Between the years 1868-1870 the last two Reconstruction Amendments were ratified being the Fourteenth and the Fifteenth. The Fourteenth Amendment defined citizenship in the Constitution stating all born in the U.S. are citizens including those born as slaves. this amendment effectively nullified the Dred Scott Case a few years earlier which ruled that slaves weren't citizens. In 1869 Howard University made history for being the first black law school ever. The Fifteenth Amendment ratified in 1870 gave blacks the right to vote and Hiram Revels made history for being the first ever African American Senator and one of the first few black political officials. 1877
Reconstruction finally came to an end in 1877. The Radical Republicans in Congress had wished they could have done more and provided blacks permanent civil rights but failed to do so and hopes to died out for a long time.
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