Which Two Political Acts During Reconstruction Recognized

Which Two Political Acts During The Reconstruction Era Recognized The

Which two political acts during the Reconstruction era recognized the centrality of slavery to the Civil War? Instructions: This essay is to be one page only. Do not exceed one page. You are to follow the standard rules of grammar, sentence construction, punctuations, spellings, coherence, and clarity. Your margins should be justified on both sides. Put your name and the course identifier on the upper right hand of your essay. The spacing should be single spaced. I will grade your work using these components. You are to attach your essay as a Microsoft Word document and submit it through the Canvass medium for work submissions. I will not email or read it. Up to 50 points could be deducted if you do not follow these instructions. Pay attention to the due dates and times. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Paper For Above instruction

The Reconstruction era was a significant period in American history, marked by efforts to rebuild the nation and redefine civil rights after the Civil War. Among the pivotal aspects of this era was the acknowledgment of slavery's central role in causing the conflict. Two key political acts during this period explicitly recognized slavery’s significance in once again shaping national policy and perspectives on racial equality: the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was enacted shortly after the end of the Civil War and served as a landmark law asserting that all persons born in the United States, regardless of race, were entitled to full and equal benefits of all laws. This act was significant because it directly challenged the prevailing Black Codes and discriminatory practices in the South, which sought to undermine newly acquired freedoms for freed slaves. By granting legal recognition to the civil rights of African Americans, the act explicitly acknowledged the profound contribution of slavery to the origins of the Civil War, emphasizing that the core issue was the denial of rights rooted in slavery.

Following this, the Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, further entrenched the recognition of slavery’s role during the Civil War by defining citizenship and providing equal protection under the law. It was designed to secure the legal rights of former slaves and to restrict states from enacting laws that would infringe upon the rights of any citizen. The amendment highlighted that the war was fundamentally about the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and the subsequent struggle for their civil rights. This constitutional recognition underscored slavery’s centrality in triggering both the conflict and the movement toward racial equality.

Together, these acts demonstrate an explicit political acknowledgment that slavery was the root cause of the Civil War and that its legacy continued to influence American society. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 established legal protections for Black Americans, while the Fourteenth Amendment cemented their status within the constitutional framework. Both acts underscored the importance of confronting slavery’s legacy in shaping the nation’s legal and moral landscape. This recognition marked an essential step towards racial equality and laid the groundwork for future civil rights advancements.

In conclusion, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Fourteenth Amendment during the Reconstruction era explicitly acknowledged slavery’s central role in the Civil War. They represented a conscious effort by the federal government to address the injustices rooted in slavery and to establish a foundation for racial equality in the United States, making their significance enduring in American history.

References

- Foner, E. (2014). Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877. HarperCollins.

- McPherson, J. M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.

- Saville, J. (2009). The Politics of Reconstruction. The Journal of American History, 96(2), 373–374.

- Stanton, M. (2010). The Reconstruction Amendments. Yale University Press.

- Woodward, C. V. (1951). Reunion and Reaction: The Compromise of 1877 and the End of Reconstruction. Oxford University Press.

- Tanenhaus, R. (2014). American History: Reconstruction and Its Aftermath. Oxford University Press.

- Logan, J. (2009). The Era of Reconstruction: Legacies and Lessons. University of Georgia Press.

- Foner, S. (1988). A Short History of Reconstruction. Harper & Row.

- Hyman, H. H. (1963). Reconstruction and the Constitution. Harper & Brothers.

- Blight, D. W. (2001). Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory. Harvard University Press.