U.S. History To 1865 - Essay Example

U.S. History To 1865 If the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves then why did we need the 13th amendment The Emancipation Proclamation had several limitations. It only freed the slaves and therefore only applied to states where slaves were being held. It did not address the Border States or states that had come under Union control. It was an important document in the aspect of the moral commitment to emancipation, but did not have the gravity or the scope of the 13th amendment. Who were Carpetbaggers and Scalawags Carpetbaggers were northerners who went south for the purpose of capitalizing on the fall of the Confederacy.

They were known for the luggage that they carried known as "carpetbags". They often established businesses or purchased plantations. Scalawags were native Southerners who had become cooperative agents of the Union after the war. The Southern whites that were still dedicated to the Confederacy viewed them as traitors and called them scalawags. What is Juneteenth Juneteenth is the day that is celebrated as the final freeing of the slaves. On June 19, 1865 Union soldiers led by Major General Granger landed at Galveston Texas with news that the war had ended.

This prompted thousands of freed slaves to take to the streets in celebration, dance, and food. It has been widely celebrated in the South, and has recently gained more national attention as a traditional holiday. If you could go anywhere in time that we've talked about (1800-1865) where would you go and why I would like to have been on the Gettysburg Battlefield when Lincoln gave his famous address. That brief oration was not only a moving piece of American literature, it was the signal that the war was soon to be over.

The Gettysburg Address spoke to the reasons for the war and the future for the Union. What do you see in the world around you that you did not notice before taking this class Since taking this class I have become aware of the force of the US Constitution and how it affects individual lives. It has also illustrated America's personality and shown me why we feel the great drive toward liberty, democracy, and freedom. Founding fathers good or bad The founding fathers were courageous and far thinking men.

They showed their intellect by forming a Constitution and government that could grow and adapt without impacting our liberties. They built in safeguards against government abuse and protections for all individuals. They were also wise enough not to over zealously tackle some problems whose time had not yet come, such as slavery and women's suffrage. If you could sit down and meet anyone that was discussed during these times, who do you want to meet If possible, I would like to meet Frederick Douglas.

Douglas was a man that grew up as a child slave against all odds. He taught himself the illegal acts of reading and writing. He fearlessly confronted the issue of slavery with his articulate speeches and defiant writings. Douglas was an individual who spoke for, and furthered, the freedom of the slaves and in doing so helped secure everyone's liberty.