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The goal of this assignment was to discuss the economic, political, and social issues facing the United States, the former Confederate States in particular, after the Civil War in a time period known as the Reconstruction Era. Political problems included the re-entry of the formerly rebellious states; the economic issue was the devastation of the South's economy; and social issues surrounded the education and support of freedmen. Groups then had to locate historical events that served as solutions, or were attempted solutions, to one of these three issues and explain their significance. For example, the Specie Resumption Act traded in greenback paper bills for government certificates firmly backed by gold. This not only satisfied creditors, but also provided the nation with a more stable currency. This meant the American economy was less prone to depression, allowing new reconstruction efforts to progress and not succumb to Boom and Bust cycles as the Freedman's Bank had.
Overall, I feel as though Reconstruction efforts were hindered by the South's attachments to their old practices. The Black Codes and white terrorism organizations, including the KKK, hindered efforts to grant freedmen political and social equality. They did, however, prompt government actions to protect their freedmen's rights such as the Civil Right's Act of 1866 and the Enforcement Acts. Even though the average black per capita income rose by over 30% in this period, it was still less then half that of whites. While over half of all the white children in the South received education during the reconstruction era, only 40% of African American children received the same education. Overall, it would not be until the civil rights movements of the mid-1900's that African Americans would make significant gains towards equal rights.
The goal of this assignment was to discuss the economic, political, and social issues facing the United States, the former Confederate States in particular, after the Civil War in a time period known as the Reconstruction Era. Political problems included the re-entry of the formerly rebellious states; the economic issue was the devastation of the South's economy; and social issues surrounded the education and support of freedmen. Groups then had to locate historical events that served as solutions, or were attempted solutions, to one of these three issues and explain their significance. For example, the Specie Resumption Act traded in greenback paper bills for government certificates firmly backed by gold. This not only satisfied creditors, but also provided the nation with a more stable currency. This meant the American economy was less prone to depression, allowing new reconstruction efforts to progress and not succumb to Boom and Bust cycles as the Freedman's Bank had.
Overall, I feel as though Reconstruction efforts were hindered by the South's attachments to their old practices. The Black Codes and white terrorism organizations, including the KKK, hindered efforts to grant freedmen political and social equality. They did, however, prompt government actions to protect their freedmen's rights such as the Civil Right's Act of 1866 and the Enforcement Acts. Even though the average black per capita income rose by over 30% in this period, it was still less then half that of whites. While over half of all the white children in the South received education during the reconstruction era, only 40% of African American children received the same education. Overall, it would not be until the civil rights movements of the mid-1900's that African Americans would make significant gains towards equal rights.