In history there has been mistreatment of African Americans everywhere around the world. As said before history repeats itself many times. During the Reconstruction in the 1800's and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s.
The Reconstruction was when the government and states were trying to rebuild from a devastating war. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were passed by the Congress after the Civil War had ended. Then, afterwords it let the African Americans to have some freedom. But whites were against this and they stood up until the blacks were looked as inferior. Many African Americans were treated horribly . It was described as brutal, inhuman, and sickening. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) were feared very much in the south by many African Americans. This group beat and killed slaves. They also passed the Emancipation Proclamation which helped out the slaves to be freed from the whites as property.The Amendments have been changed therefore to fit the African Americans as citizens, and also to be free and be somewhat equal.
When the Emancipation Proclamation came out in 1863, it issued that that the slaves were free in the southern states at war with the north. This was the beginning of what became the freedom of African Americans. In 1865, it was when all the laws started to change in the U.S., the 13th amendment had been ratified, it outlawed slavery in the United States of America. The 14th amendment was ratified three years after 1865. Which said that African American Americans were granted citizenship. In 1870, the 15th amendment was granted, it allowed blacks to vote and therefore be involved in politics. Laws are granted and ratified to give African Americans freedom.
The Civil Rights Movement was around the 1950's and 1960's, which is around Martin Luther King Jr's era. During this time African Americans were not being treated fairly at all. It became such a racist era after all. As said, before history repeats itself African Americans are not treated respectfully. It was also a point where there was desegregation in the United States. African American where still brutally beaten by anybody even by the police. At this time Blacks were understood to be more educated and as people of the American Society. And many organizations also helped like the U.S. military, they tried to integrate the African Americans into society more. Many activities around the U.S. helped African Americans defend themselves and present them as an American. Many great leaders and activist came to lead the way to the Civil rights like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. They all believed in liberty and freedom which brings us to what America has become today.
African Americans changed much in the years after the Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement. From better education and technology. To freedom, equality, and rights to be the same. They have been a great accomplishment in the American Society.
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photo 2: http://blogs.davenport.edu/studentnews/files/2010/07/martin-luther-king-jr.jpg
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