Failure Of Reconstruction Dbq

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The Reconstruction time period began after the devastating Civil War, where the divided nation struggled to integrate former slaves in their new lives. The country had to face a number of challenges that dealt with the issue of slavery. Soon, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were added on to the Constitution to grant freedmen natural rights. The 14th Amendment gave former slaves citizenship, while the 15th Amendment allowed them to vote. Although the Reconstruction Amendments attempted to extend the rights of former slaves, it ultimately failed since there was much resistance and many loopholes around their civil as well as voting rights.
The 14th Amendment did not fulfill its purpose of extending the rights to African Americans, even though it allowed former slaves and freedmen to be full citizens with equal rights. Immediately after the war, the black codes in Louisiana stated that, “No public meetings of negroes shall be allowed” (Doc C). Slaves before the war were restricted from holding meetings and once they were finally freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, things still stayed the same, since they were not allowed to do what they want. Even after the 14th Amendment was put into effect, the black codes still denied many rights of citizenship and also forced freedmen to work, which prevented them from achieving full equality.
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Even though the 14th and 15th Amendments aimed for racial equality and citizenship rights, after a while it failed due to the many laws and limitations that were put in place, both before and after the ratification of them, to diminish their freedom. In the past, America really struggled to allow former slaves to have freedom but slowly over time and after many years of the work of abolitionists, they finally got what they deserved. Today, everyone has the same opportunities and chances to pursue what they want regardless of