For the first time, an attempt to legalize the rights of black people was made during the Reconstruction. The beginning of Reconstruction was promising in the fight for the rights of black people and the elimination of segregation. After the war, freedmen created churches for black people, which became a place of religion and an expression of the spirit of liberation from slavery. The church provided support in protecting the rights of black people, helped in the construction of schools and hospitals, and was engaged in economic support for black people. An essential step in the struggle for the rights of black people was access to education. This right to education helped eliminate illiteracy among black people and allowed black teachers to be employed. However, one of the most significant changes of the Reconstruction was the policy. Black people could become members of the government, which was a huge step in achieving equality. In some states, the number of black delegates exceeded whites (White et al.). Thus, at the beginning of Reconstruction, a huge breakthrough was made in protecting the rights of black people.
The promotion in politics was met with aggression and rejection of this idea by white southerners. The former slave owners could not accept the independence of black people, which subsequently led to numerous murders and beating. According to former slave owners, black people were not competent enough to participate in politics (White et al.). The actions of white southerners during the Reconstruction period were aimed at restoring dominance over blacks. Underground organizations were created against blacks, one of which was the Ku Klux Klan. These organizations persecuted black people, and beat and killed them in huge numbers. After failed attempts to settle these actions at the legislative level, the government returned power to white southerners over the southern states, which led to the expulsion of black people from the government and discrimination at different levels of life. Thus, the promising beginning of Reconstruction turned into injustice and legitimate discrimination against the rights of black people.
Work Cited
White, Deborah Gray, et al. Freedom on My Mind: A History of African Americans, with Documents. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2016.