Introduction
The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was a significant event in the history of American society. This showed how much people wanted to establish racial equality and improve social justice. People learned from the Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction to make the United States more comfortable and safer for everyone (Excel High School, 2022). All the events mentioned are related because it would not have been possible to start the Civil Rights Movement without the war and Reconstruction.
Legacy of the Civil War
The Civil War began over the decision to abolish slavery and the decision of some states to withdraw from the union. Racial prejudice and inequality were deeply ingrained in American society at the time. After the victory of the Allied side, which advocated the abolition of slavery, the marginalization of the black population did not disappear. The liberated African Americans did not have the rights that the rest had, so there was a strong stratification of society (Gudmestad, 2023). From that moment, the foundation was laid for the segregation and division of society.
Failures of Reconstruction
After the Civil War, a period was supposed to rebuild the country and give Americans opportunities to realize their potential and empower themselves. However, the laws adopted at that time in the country did not allow the good intentions of the reconstructionist movement to materialize. The advent of the Ku Klux Klan began to impair progress in equalizing rights as their demonstrations and attacks on blacks increased racial tension and segregation (Office of Art & Archives, n. d.). As a result, Reconstruction failed to empower African Americans but instead placed them in an uncomfortable position. Discrimination and racism intensified due to the wrong actions of politicians who did not cut down the negative attitude and all sorts of attacks towards African Americans.
The Civil Rights Movement
The struggle for equalizing all people in rights was a landmark and necessary for the society of that time since African Americans were significantly limited. Segregation and negative attitudes towards them must be corrected to provide society security and stable development. In the civil rights movement context, some events, such as Brown v. The Board of Education (1954) and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, encouraged the black population to become more active (Office of Art & Archives, n. d.). To do this, many African American rights movement figures sought to use the protests to force the government to change the law.
The civil rights movement’s success can be commended for its ability to empower African Americans significantly at the time. They gained access to public institutions, schools, vehicles, and political participation. Thus, the Civil War and Reconstruction contributed to the polarization of society and increased racial tension, which resulted in the civil rights movement (Excel High School, 2022). Today, the fight for equality continues as many people continue to have prejudices and negative attitudes toward African Americans. Television and mass media development help ensure that blacks gain equal opportunity and representation.
Conclusion
The American Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction era profoundly influenced society in the United States. They played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for the emergence of the civil rights movement. This is because, during the mentioned periods, intolerance and oppression became a reasonably significant problem. All decisions taken by the authorities were only partially helpful; in this regard, African Americans had to take action to gain equal rights.
References
Excel High School. (2022). U.S. History. Web.
Gudmestad, R. (2023). What really started the American Civil War? The Conversation. Web.
Office of Art & Archives. (n. d.). Rights and representation. Web.