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Reconstruction Dbq

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After the Civil War reached its end, the time came to work on restoring the disparate pieces of the nation. Throughout this crucial time in American history (dubbed the “Reconstruction Era”) blacks and whites responded to the changes very differently. And here’s how. Slaves were finally free due to the passing of the 13th amendment that abolished slavery in the United States, as well as guaranteeing their citizenship. Theoretically, this meant that blacks now had equal opportunities as whites. They could hold positions in office, they could vote, and they were guaranteed all rights as a citizen. Upon their liberation, many slaves were left without shelter, food, or employment. The apparent ignorance of the newly emancipated slaves (who …show more content…

With training in leadership gained through military service, these men became the first generation of major African American politicians advocating for the rights of the freedmen. In addition, military service often opened educational doors when the men in service learned how to read and write. “Army life alerted them to new opportunities for economic advancement, social respectability, and civic leadership.” Here the freedmen’s bureau was born. Established on March 3rd of 1865, the Freedmen's Bureau was, in essence, a union of ex-slaves working to assist one another through the transition from slaves to citizens. It's main purpose was to provide resources to freedmen and advance in their efforts to achieve equal social and economic ground with white citizens. However, the bureau faced many challenges along the way. One of these was the fact that the union was not recognized in all states. Southern states in particular, rejected the ideas of recognizing the bureau of freedmen as a legitimate organization. Nonetheless, the bureau persevered until the united states government, for the first time, sent direct help to its new citizens by providing funding to the bureau for feeding, sheltering, informing the blacks of their newly gained rights as citizens, and assisting the freedmen's

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