Was There Any Success in Reconstruction?

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again it applied to both groups of people but the tax price was significantly different. A white man would pay about $1 whereas a freedman would have to pay about $100, maybe $200. The price was basically anything a freedman couldn’t afford.

It’s easy to focus on the wrongs committed in this situation but in reality there were many good things to come out of reconstruction. The 13th-15th amendment was created for the benefit of former slaves. It gave them the right to be considered citizens, the full protection of rights, rights not being taken away without good reason and gave freedmen the right to vote. There was the creation of the Freedman’s Bureau which protected the rights of former slaves but also created schools for parents and children, created hospitals, and distributed food. Even though these facilities were segregated it still provided somewhere for blacks to go.

Forty Acres and a mule was a southern homestead act. It allowed people to get land and make food for themselves. It was to give every black household head land but it was barely used. Only about 150,000 former slaves got land and a mule.

Reconstruction was created for the benefit of the people and the nation. As with most changes made to a whole country there were its benefits and its weaknesses. It brought up freedom to former slaves but since people continued to be prejudice and refuse to change their views blacks were not seen as equal. Segregation and injustice continued.