Reconstruction

 Following the Civil War, the nation was forced to essentially rebuild itself and society. Countless slaves had now been freed and the union was made one again. While the northerners and Republicans attempted to helps the former slaves adapt to new life, many white southerners resented that idea. The federal government developed several plans, such as the Freedman's Bureau. However, Reconstruction is now known as one of the most tumultuous times in American history.  

After Lincoln's assassination, President Johnson was sworn in as president. While Johnson did not like the white and rich plantation owners, he forced these plantation owners to beg for forgiveness in order to get their land back. This seems to be Johnson attempting to boost his ego and feel above all of the people. However, he tragically hurt the former slaves more than anyone. The land that these former confederates would have received would have been the same land that the former slaves would have received through the Freedman's Bureau. The plan to help compensate these former slaves was to give them "40 acres and a mule." Unfortunately, this did not happen. Johnson ended up giving the land back to the former confederates and shut down any momentum for these freedmen. 

Reconstruction

However, the 14th and 15th Amendments gave many more rights to the former slaves, along with many other Americans. This didn't stop southerners from trying to recreate slavery. Labor contracts began to appear and laws that allowed segregation became more often. While these laws do not specifically say anything about race, companies and businesses were able to abuse this power to keep the African American population in subordination. Violence and hatred towards African Americans began to rise, along with the formation of the Klu Klux Klan. 

While Reconstruction did have its positives, such as the freedom of slaves and Amendments, it was the opportunity that could have changed the lives of millions and the United States. Reconstruction's attempt to help African Americans fueled more racism and oppression, and would finally make major strides only decades later. 

Other source-Reconstruction Video from Class

EOTO from the Other Group: Kansas-Nebraska Act and Bleeding Kansas

The construction of the transcontinental railroad was perhaps one of the most ambitious projects following the American industrial revolution. In order for the railroad to connect the nation, it needed to go through American controlled areas, such as the Nebraska Territory and the Louisiana Purchase. According to the presentations given, “Senator Frederick Douglass” wanted the these western territories to become two territories, and eventually states. I believe the presenter confused the Abolitionist Frederick Douglass with Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglass, who actually drafted the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Bleeding Kansas

 

The act proposed that through popular sovereignty, the people in these territories would decide if their territories would allow slavery. This resulted in the mass movement of pro and anti-slavery moving to the territories. Due to Nebraska being a more northern state, the state deciding to be anti-slavery was very likely. However, Kansas was more southern and became a hotspot for the controversy around the act. As both supporters and opponents of slavery poured into the state, tensions began to rise. Violence and brutality began in the state, which is now known as “Bleeding Kansas.” 

The Kansas-Nebraska Act was one of the last key events that sparked the Civil War. While the issue between the north and south was more heated than ever, the issue of the western states and slavery had not been in focus since the Missouri Compromise of 1870. If slavery was allowed in these states, more slave states could have arisen. The North desperately wanted to avoid this while the slave states tried to protect their ways, ultimately leading to the Civil War.