Americas unfinished revolution - Term Paper Example

AMERICAN HISTORY Dr. Eric Foner calls Reconstruction “America’s unfinished revolution.” Was it? Defend your response. He asserted that the American society still has unfinished revolution. This may be true owing to the facts that things are not working as expected during reconstruction. Reconstruction meant to bring people together and unite all from different social backgrounds. However, this was not fully achieved because of the forces, which were working within America. Some people worked very hard in ensuring that status quo maintained as others also worked in restoring unity in the American society. America has unfinished revolution. This is because of the remodeling that took place1. There was little or no change after the civil war. The efforts to restructure the south failed since the process did not complete. This left many factors that caused the civil war unresolved hence are likely to occur. Different parts of the south still practice the vices, which they were meant to leave or eradicate. The black Americans slaves were still denied opportunities to participate in most of the activities. Therefore, the bitterness they had could still result to another revolution. Secondly, there was an unfinished revolution because of the emergence of new complex race and class structure.2 The status quo in the south remained unchanged as they re-united after the north left. This made them continue with their slavery, therefore endangering the black slaves. Similarly, the whites in the south started to discriminate the blacks as they were considered slaves and were not entitled to equal opportunities and rights. The class relation was not good as both were hostile at each other. The postwar relation was not good and was perceived to be incubating another revolution. Therefore, Foner was right and justified when he said that there is an unfinished revolution. The division that took place in the American society where there were low and higher class is a symbol of disunity in the society. This can easily break into war since they do not relate. More so, the passage of thirteen, fourteen and fifteenth amendment, which gave the blacks some forms of rights was not welcomed by the whites.3 They were bitter and have to fight to bring inequality between them and the blacks. This notion signifies an unfinished revolution. The post-war result shows that the United States emerged to have more powers over the states. 4This has made the federal governments have increased interest in the rights of its citizens. This can cause a looming revolution because the two forms of government will put pressure on the citizens through denying them some rights. The citizens are aware of their rights under the constitution and attempt by the federal governments through its powers to infringe on their rights may not be welcomed. Individuals want to be freed from any York of the burden and abuse of human rights. Because of this, people may go to revolution if they feel the government is too much on them as witnessed in the past. Lastly, changes in the economy of the north affected reconstruction and class structure. The changes, which took place such as changing position of the blacks, conflict due to inaccessibility of resources in the north. 5The north benefited from the south, and this has caused bitterness among the southerners as they perceive the north to have benefited from them. This might lead to a revolution as those in the south may develop the urge to regain what was theirs. Attempts by the north to resist may result to revolution. Additionally, some blacks who were freed changed their economic status and became wealthy. 6The whites in the south who believe that all wealth belongs to them may not welcome their change of status. Because of this, there is a looming revolution as different classes of people and races are bitter with one another. In conclusion, there is an American unfinished revolution because of the reconstruction process. Reconstruction was meant to bring equality and was seen as a rebirth of freedom. However, the process was not finished leaving many issues pending. This had an impact since the bad practices continued in the south. The former slaves still experienced slave like in the south. The whites who were landowners ascended to power and made legislation that reversed the rights given to the blacks earlier. Things became more the same as those who were acting as a watchdog pulled away after getting tired. Was Reconstruction more of a success or a failure? Defend your response. Reconstruction of America took place after the civil war that broke. There were many bad and unconstitutional things that happened in America calling for reconstruction. The aim of the reconstruction was to bring American normalcy, which would promote unity among the residences. However, the reconstruction was met with success and failures as it corrected some things while leaving others. This gave it a mixed reaction as per many scholars. To begin with, reconstruction was a success because it restored the American society and made it as a unified country.7 Before the reconstruction, America was a divided nation as each federal state did their activities on their own. There was hatred among federal governments, and the citizens were not at peace. It took the intervention of the reconstruction to bring all the former Confederates to come together. Through this, they drafted new constitutions, which could govern the administration and the people. They also acknowledged the thirteen and fourteen as well as fifteenth amendments, which guaranteed rights and other benefits to the citizens.8 Similarly, the confederates pledged their loyalty to the central US government. Through this, one can justify that reconstruction was a success in bringing unity in the American society. Secondly, reconstruction was a success because it settled central states rights and that of the federal.9 There had been debates on the rights of the federal states and that of the central government, which began way back in 1790s. Reconstruction of the American society settled this debate as the central and federal states agreed on the rights and freedom that each of them enjoys. It also established the boundary between the two governing bodies as each was given a mandate. Therefore, reconstruction was a success. Despite all the success of the reconstruction discussed above, it failed to some extent. For instance, radical republican legislation which was adopted failed to protect the blacks who were the former slaves from the persecution of whites.10 It also failed to engender the fundamental changes to the social fabrics of the south. One of the aims of the reconstruction was to bring equality in the American society and to stop slavery. However, the legislation that were made did not consider this, and it placed slaves in an awkward position as persecution continued. This was a failure of reconstruction. Moreover, President Rutherford Hayes removed the troops from the south, which also allowed the former Confederates to return to power as well as slave owners.11 The newly empowered white’s southern politician used the support from the conservative Supreme Court to pass black codes, voter qualifications and other anti-progressive legislation. They were meant to reverse the rights given to the blacks during radical reconstruction. Given the power of the few politicians, the Supreme Court bolstered the anti-progressive movements, which lead to the repealing of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. It also repealed the civil rights act of 1875.12 Additionally, sharecropping that was a legal form of slavery that tied the blacks to land owned by the rich white farmers spread to other areas such as the south.13 The blacks remained with little or no economic power making them fight for civil rights on their own. The northern whites who were interested in reconstruction lost interest by the year 1870s. This was a failure of a noble project, which was started to help the blacks and improve their living conditions. By the year 1877, the northern whites who pioneered reconstruction became tired of the corruption cases, scandals and the fights for black rights. This made them relent and leave the process of reconstruction.14 Therefore, reconstruction was not completed making most of its goals unaccomplished. Hence, reconstruction did not achieve all its goals because the pioneers left it at some points since they faced opposition, hostility, and criticism. Besides, reconstruction needed may resources, which were not available because of the many interests that were at play. Describe the "new birth of freedom" Lincoln called for in 1863 for that happened during Reconstruction. The American civil war brought a new birth of freedom according to Abraham Lincoln. During the war, the nation began the efforts, which it could use in destroying slavery and defining a good meaning of freedom. In his speech, Lincoln told the crowd that it was a new birth of freedom where he meant that the people must now be free in order to enjoy the benefits. One of the meanings of the "new birth of freedom" is a reminder to those who were listening to him that, his government and the Americans as a people was based and borne of the idea of freedom, which guarantees individual liberty.15 He acknowledged the preamble to the declaration independence that states that all men are created equal. This meant that he was aspiring to lead in government, which guarantees individuals freedom and liberty. He aspired to have a society where all men are equal, and nobody subordinates the other. This followed the developments of slaves and slavery, which denied the majority blacks freedoms and other rights they were to enjoy. During the civil, there were soldiers who went to fight, although they were not citizens of America. Some were brought as slaves, and they found an opportunity to join the war. Because of this, their birth of freedom would come when they get US citizenship. Ex-soldiers as well as serving soldiers in the military who were not American citizens were given citizenship. It meant that they were to be given equal opportunities just like other soldiers they were working with, who were Americans. 16Therefore, giving a new birth of freedom meant differently to different demographics as in the case of ex-soldiers. Education to freed people was a birth of freedom, as slaves were not entitled to an education. 17Reconstruction that the president talked about meant that those who had been denied education opportunities were going to get as it was their right just like other people living in America. Slaves were not entitled to education, as this would inspire them to fight back at their masters. Similarly, educating slaves would give them opportunities to pursue hence their masters were against it. However, the presidents speech acknowledges that slaves need to get education to enjoy other benefits like other people. Therefore, the birth of freedom implied that black slaves would get an equal education. Before the civil war broke, the slave trade and slavery was rampant in the American society. People were captured and taken to the rich whites’ farms. They provided labor with little or no payment.18 Because of this, slavery was in demand as the rich could get cheap or free labor. The birth of new freedom was to guarantee individual rights to what they want to do. It would change from forced labor to free labor where an individual chose what he or she wants to do. It would guarantee individuals and free them from forced labor. Doing this would promote equality in the American society as no one was born a slave, but all were born the same. Among the blacks, the birth of new freedom would mean reuniting their families, which were separated under slavery. It would also imply solidifying the existing family relations. The black’s family stood as the main pillar after the war. 19This means that they valued their families as they acted as their foundation of existence. Therefore, the birth of a new freedom to the blacks meant that they would be united with their families after long time separation. Through this, they would find freedom to allow them enjoy life just like other whites in the American society. Declaration of American independence guarantees everyone the right to life and political participation. The new birth of freedom implied that an individual more so ex-slaves will be guaranteed life and political participation.20 For long years, the blacks who were slaves were not entitled to political participation. They had no rights and freedom, which would give them the political power through contesting for elective posts. However, the birth of new freedom would give them rights just as other American to participate in political activities as well as the rights to life. Lastly, slave marriage had no legal standings, as they were not recognized. 21The birth of new freedom would guarantee the freed people the rights to marry and be legally recognized. Because of this, most marriages among the ex-slaves registered their unions before the army, local governments, and the freedmens bureau. This was used to enhance the birth of a new freedom. Things would change to favor those who had been discriminated and subjected to inhumane conditions. The rights of individuals would be guaranteed, and they would have the freedom that can enable them to explore their full potential. Bibliography Berkin, Carol, Miller Christopher, Cherny Robert, Gormly James and Egerton Douglas. Making America: History of the United States, Volume 2: from 1865, Brief. 6th ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2005. Blight, David. Race and re-union: the civil war in American memory. Harvard University Press, 2009. Digital History. (N.d). Americas Reconstruction: people and politics after the civil war. Available from http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/exhibits/reconstruction/section2/section2_family.html Foner, Eric. Reconstruction: Americas unfinished revolution. Belmont, MA: Wadsworth, 2003. Read More