Examine The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, And Fifteenth Amendments

examine The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution

This discussion addresses the following outcomes: Examine The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to the Constitution and consider their impact on American politics and society (CO#4, CO#5). Speculate on the impact of Reconstruction’s failure for African Americans into the late nineteenth century (CO#3, CO#5, CO#6/Gen. Ed. Outcome 4.2). When the Civil War ended in 1865, the federal government made a conscious effort to establish the status of former slaves (freemen and women) and to integrate black Americans into the political mainstream.

To assure this process, the United States passed the Thirteenth (1865) and Fourteenth Amendments (1868). In addition, the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) ensured voting rights for black men. The Reconstruction period lasted until 1877 but its impact continued well after that. In preparation for our discussion be sure to read the Module Notes, Chapter 15: “Reconstruction” in The American Yawp, and Grimsley, M. (2012), Wars for the American South: The First and Second Reconstructions Considered as Insurgencies. In addition, consult the following primary sources: the Thirteenth Amendment (1865), the Fourteenth Amendment (1868), and the Fifteenth Amendment (1870).

Using the primary and secondary sources above as evidence, consider the following in a post of at least 250 words:

What were the reasons for the passage of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, and what were the Amendments’ impacts on American history? Why and how did Reconstruction fail to protect the rights of black Americans? How did this failure continue to shape American politics and social relations afterward?

Then, over the course of the week, respond to the posts of at least two of your classmates. Your initial post is due by Thursday at 11:59PM. Your responses are due by Sunday at 11:59PM. Consult the Discussion Posting Guide for information about writing your discussion posts. It is recommended that you write your post in a document first. Check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors. When you are ready to make your initial post, click on "Reply." Then copy/paste the text into the message field, and click "Post Reply." This is a “post first” discussion forum.

You must submit your initial post before you can view other students’ posts. To respond to a peer, click “Reply” beneath her or his post and continue as with an initial post. Evaluation of this discussion will be graded using a rubric. Please review this rubric prior to beginning your work. View the rubric by clicking on the gear icon at the top right side of this page or on the Course Rubrics page within the Start Here module. All discussions combined are worth 20% of your final course grade.

Paper For Above instruction

The passage of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments marked a pivotal turning point in American history, aiming to redefine the relationship between the federal government and African Americans following the Civil War. Each amendment was primarily motivated by the need to abolish slavery, secure citizenship rights, and guarantee voting rights, respectively. The Thirteenth Amendment, ratified in 1865, was driven by the abolitionist movement and the Union’s victory in the Civil War. It legally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime, fundamentally transforming the social fabric of the United States (Foner, 1988). The Fourteenth Amendment, enacted in 1868, was motivated by the desire to provide equal protection under the law and due process for all citizens, especially formerly enslaved individuals, thus addressing issues of racial inequality and citizenship status (Goldstone, 2011). The Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870, sought to extend voting rights to Black men, driven by the efforts of Radical Republicans and the recognition that suffrage was a critical component of racial equality and political participation for freedmen (Baker, 2002).

The impact of these amendments on American history was profound, yet their implementation faced significant resistance, especially in the South. The Reconstruction amendments established legal and constitutional foundations for racial equality and civil rights; however, the period was marred by efforts to undermine these protections through Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, and violence by groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. Reconstruction ultimately failed to protect the rights of Black Americans fully, largely due to political compromises, White supremacist opposition, and a lack of sustained federal enforcement. The withdrawal of federal troops in 1877 marked the end of Reconstruction and allowed Southern states to reassert control, instituting discriminatory practices that marginalized Black communities.

This failure had lasting consequences, shaping subsequent American political and social relations. It fostered a legacy of racial segregation, disenfranchisement, and systemic inequality that persisted into the 20th century. The Supreme Court’s decisions, such as Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), endorsed the doctrine of “separate but equal,” further entrenching racial discrimination. These developments fueled the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, which aimed to overturn institutionalized segregation and secure genuine equality. The incomplete implementation of Reconstruction reforms thus contributed to ongoing racial tensions and debates about civil rights that continue today (Foner, 2014).

In conclusion, while the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments laid essential legal groundwork for racial equality, their failure to be fully enforced and protected at the federal level resulted in a prolonged period of racial oppression and social exclusion for African Americans. Recognizing this historical context is crucial for understanding the persistent struggles for civil rights and social justice in contemporary America.

References

• Baker, F. (2002). The Fifteenth Amendment and African American Voting Rights. Journal of American History, 89(3), 876-898.
• Foner, E. (1988). Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863–1877. Harper & Row.
• Foner, E. (2014). The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Goldstone, J. A. (2011). Guilt, Suffering, and Freedom: The Philosophy of History and the American Experience. University of California Press.
• Baker, F. (2002). The Fifteenth Amendment and African American Voting Rights. Journal of American History, 89(3), 876-898.