Ex-Slaves' Lives by 1877: Assessing Progress
TITLE
To what extent had the lives of ex-slaves improved by 1877?
ESSAY
The lives of ex-slaves had improved to a certain extent by 1877, thanks to the positive aspects of Reconstruction. The Thirteenth Amendment of 1865 played a crucial role in freeing all slaves, marking a significant milestone in their journey towards freedom. However, it was the Fourteenth Amendment of 1867 that truly granted ex-slaves citizenship and equal status with whites. This amendment, along with the Fifteenth Amendment of 1869, which granted them the right to vote, overturned the restrictive Black Codes imposed by some states in 1865-66. These legal and political advancements greatly improved the position of ex-slaves.
Moreover, the three amendments exceeded the expectations of many prior to the Civil War. Around 2000 ex-slaves were elected to official positions within Southern states, allowing them to actively participate in the political process. The establishment of schools and colleges by the Freedmen's Bureau in the late 1860s further contributed to the progress made by ex-slaves during this period. These educational institutions provided opportunities for ex-slaves to gain knowledge and skills, empowering them to pursue better lives.
The Reconstruction Acts of 1867, passed by Republicans in Congress, also played a significant role in improving the lives of ex-slaves. These acts imposed military rule, ensuring that the rights of ex-slaves were respected and limiting the power of returning Confederates. This alliance of scalawags, carpetbaggers, and freedmen aimed to reform Southern society along Northern lines, resulting in some limited progress.
However, despite these positive developments, ex-slaves still faced numerous difficulties by 1877. The disbandment of the Freedmen's Bureau in the early 1870s, when its contributions were still needed, hindered the lasting impact it could have made. This decision caused resentment among many white Southerners who opposed the Bureau's objectives and the involvement of the federal government. Additionally, Southern states bypassed federal legislation by implementing "Black Codes" to weaken the Reconstruction Amendments.
The Supreme Court's rulings in 1873 and 1875, known as the Slaughter-House cases and US vs Cruickshank respectively, further limited the progress made by the post-Civil War amendments. These judgments undermined the advancements made in the legal and political rights of ex-slaves.
Furthermore, in social and economic matters, the situation was far from positive. Ex-slaves turned to sharecropping as a means of making a living, but this system perpetuated the dominance of white landowners. Conservative Southern whites gained power in the South, while the federal government, under President Grant, lost the determination needed to enforce social change. The Compromise of 1877, which saw the Republicans hand control of the South back to Democrats in exchange for keeping the presidency, was more a consequence of the changing political landscape in the South rather than a cause.
By 1877, the position of ex-slaves had undoubtedly changed for the better, but the improvement was primarily limited to the legal and political realm. While some ex-slaves had opportunities that benefited them, many others still faced the harsh realities of their lives. The change was more apparent in the letter of the law than in the actual lived experiences of ex-slaves.
SUBJECT
HISTORY
PAPER
AS Level
NOTES
To what extent had the lives of ex-slaves improved by 1877? Possible discussion on the positives of Reconstruction for ex-slaves might consider how the 1865 Thirteenth Amendment meant all slaves were freed. It took the Fourteenth Amendment of 1867 to make them citizens, equal in status with whites, and the Fifteenth Amendment of 1869 to give them the right to vote. These overturned many of the limits imposed in some states by Black Codes in 1865–66. The three amendments did much to improve the legal and political position of ex-slaves. Additionally, the legal provisions made by the three amendments went further than many could have imagined prior to the Civil War. Some 2000 ex-slaves were elected to official posts within Southern states. The Freedmen’s Bureau also did much useful work in the late 1860s, especially in establishing schools and colleges. Furthermore, Republicans in Congress passed three Reconstruction Acts in 1867, the main consequence of which was to impose military rule. The army was used to try and ensure that the rights of ex-slaves were respected and to limit the power of returning Confederates. This rule allowed an alliance of scalawags (Southern Unionists), carpetbaggers (Northern activists) and freedmen to try to reform Southern society along Northern lines. They made some limited progress. Possible discussion on the continuing difficulties for ex-slaves by 1877 might include how, though the Freedmen’s Bureau did much useful work in the late 1860s, especially in establishing schools and colleges, it was scrapped in the early 1870s when, to make a lasting difference, its contributions were needed for many more years. It also caused huge resentment amongst many white Southerners who disliked its aims and the involvement of federal government. Southern states also by-passed the federal legislation by passing ‘Black Codes’ (began in Mississippi 1865) to weaken the Reconstruction Amendments. Judgements of the Supreme Court in 1873 (the Slaughter-House cases) and 1875 (US vs Cruickshank) also limited the advances made by the post-Civil War amendments. In social and economic matters, the situation was much less positive. To make a living, ex-slaves turned to sharecropping, a system of farming which maintained the predominance of the white landowners. Before long, more conservative Southern whites gained office in the South while at the same time the federal government of Grant lost the strong will needed to impose social change on the South. The Compromise of 1877, by which the Republicans handed control of the South back to Democrats in return for keeping the presidency, was more a consequence of the changing reality of Southern politics than a cause. By 1877 the position of ex-slaves had certainly changed and broadly for the better. They had some opportunities, which benefited some. For many, however, the change was more in the letter of the law than the reality of their lives. Accept any other valid responses.