Reconstruction: America After the Civil War, Part 1 Reflection

 The Post Civil war era, also known as the Reconstruction era, was an effort mainly coming from the north to repair and reform the south after the Civil War. While we typically gloss over this portion of American history, it is important to look back and learn about the gruesome aftermath of a civil war. Aside from military authority in southern towns, all of the south was battered- buildings had been destroyed, cities left ransacked, and emancipated slaves struggled to find means for survival with their newfound freedom. In a desperate attempt to retain white supremacy, immediately after the civil war the Black Codes were put in place in order to keep black people as close to slave status as they could be.

(pbs.org)

When first enacted, these appeared to be real black progress. For example, black people could choose who to marry and own property. They had access to some courts, but could not testify against non-blacks and could not even vote. In reality, these were a facade presented to the northerners, and gave former slaves little freedom because they relied so heavily on these laws and were forced,once again, into submission to the white southerners merely just to survive.

(history.com)

White farmers were still trying to pull the slaves back for cheap labor in an attempt to keep a stable economy. The first black codes started in Mississippi and South Carolina in 1865, and they required proof of employment for all black people. If they were to leave their job, they would face arrest. Unless they paid a hefty tax, they were not permitted to work any other position besides a farmer or servant. If found homeless, they were severely punished, even to the extent of being forced back into plantation labor.

(slate.com)

As the era of reconstruction began, northerners, both carpetbaggers and soldiers, came down to regulate the south. The north’s heavy influence only had temporary effects, and as they left and turned the south back over to southern government leaders laws were put in place to hinder black people’s progress in society. This is why the reconstruction period is considered failed, and explains why it took so much longer to see even just a glimpse of black progress in the south after the civil war.

https://www.history.com/news/black-codes-reconstruction-slavery

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-codes

https://www.pbs.org/tpt/slavery-by-another-name/themes/black-codes-and-pig-laws/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/black-code