Essay on History of African Americans in America 1865-1960’s

Slavery began in the late 16th century to early 18th century. Africans were brought to American colonies by white masters to come and work on their plantations in the South. They were treated harshly with no payments for all their hard work. In addition, they lived under harsh living conditions, and this led to their resistance against these harsh conditions. The racism towards the African Americans who were slaves was at its extreme as they did not have any rights; no civil nor political rights.

Forever. 170). The Klan were white southerners who were organized and committed to the breaking down of Reconstruction. By methods of brutality, “the Klan during Reconstruction offers the most extensive example of homegrown terrorism in American history” (Foner. Forever. 171). The Ku Klux Klan as well as other groups killed or tormented black politicians or threatened the blacks who voted in elections. The Klan strongly disagreed with the northern idea that slaves should become part of the government. The Historian Kenneth M. Stampp states, “for their [the North] supreme offense was not corruption but attempting to organize the Negroes for political action” (Stampp. Era. 159). This corresponds with Foner’s idea that the South was not open to the idea of change but more so consumed with the idea of recreating a society similar to one of the past. However, the goal of white power groups was not just politics. The Klan wanted to restore the hierarchy once controlling the South. Foner observes that, “the organization took on the function of the antebellum slave patrols: making sure that blacks did not violate the rules and etiquette of white supremacy” (Foner. Forever. 172). Like the power the southern whites formerly held over the slave population, the Ku Klux Klan wanted to control the African American population still living in the South. They did not want the freedmen to become integrated into their society because they saw them as lesser people. By suppressing and

in February 1869, the Fifteenth Amendment gave black men the right to vote. Ultimately, the push to secure

Americans in the 1950s-1960s During this period of 1950-1960s, the nation experienced tremendous conflicts within the American society. This is due to increasing numbers of suburbs in American society, which caused tension between the rich and poor and also among women roles in society. The socially disorder from communism scare, the rise of culture rebellion of African American fighting strongly for their rights and Vietnam War also contributed to the social conflicts within the United States. The end of the World War II has led to many class conflicts.

America has changed, as a whole, throughout this time period. There have been many different presidents, elections, wars and other world issues. These factors contribute to the drastic change in America and to the American people. African Americans have gone through many different changes other than those of the other races. With the end of the Civil War, African Americans went through a lot of change with the end of slavery. Throughout this essay I will explain the legislature, economic, philosophies, leaders, movement of people and other factors that contributed to the drastic change of the African American people between 1865 to 1920.

The Ku Klux Klan is a native-born American racist terrorist organization that helped overthrow Republican Reconstruction governments in the South after the Civil War and drive black people out of politics. It revived in the 20th Century as a social lodge and briefly became a nationwide political power. During the 1960s, the Klan fought the Civil Rights Movement in the South. Under attack in state and federal courts, in a racially changed and disapproving South, the Klan hangs on —marginally, but still violent.

Africans first arrived in the area that later became the United States of America in around 1619 in the Chesapeake area. The large amount of fertile land in the area gave the settlers their biggest cash crop, which was tobacco. As time went by, more and more tobacco was being exported to England. Because of this, more labor was needed. This need for more labor was not only in the north, but in the south as well due to their mass production of cotton. This movement started the institution of slavery in America. Then, the colonies and other countries started to trade slaves and it became a business. The Royal African Company was the first slave trading company, which was started in 1672. The slaves were transported by the Middle

The Ku Klux Klan is a homegrown terrorist organization responsible for countless murders of African Americans throughout the south as well as projecting white supremacy by terrorizing opposing. At the end of Reconstruction, the KKK and White Leagues (opposition to the Union Leagues, made up of southern whites and members of the KKK) helped elect the Democratic party to power through repressive measures on the black citizens in the south. This era of states rights began with the help of terrorist groups who worked to deny the right to vote to black citizens. The KKK also used terror to keep control

During 1800-1860 there were many factors that severely limited black lives in the free states. Unjust laws and discrimination dominated the free states and made it so that blacks had limited opportunities in life, whether it be politically, economically, or socially. This discrimination was the catalyst which severely limited black life in the free states between 1820 and 1860 were segregation, discrimination, violence, and political exclusion was present. First, we understand that segregation wasn’t only present in the south. “North and Northwest served as the area for the earliest forms of segregation in the U.S before the South stated to follow.

The Ku Klux Klan was a racial hate group in the south that made sure blacks did not get any civil rights. Members in the Ku Klux Klan believed whites were superior to other races. The KKK hated the blacks because they believed slaves, who were the blacks, are to be less than human. Only white Anglo-Saxon Protestants or known as “WASPS” could become members. The members also had to pay monthly fees so they could “adopt a highway” to look good in the eyes of the communities.

African American Studies is a very complex subject. To confuse African American studies with black history is a common occurrence. African American studies is much deeper and more profound than just Black history alone. There are many unanswered and unasked questions among the Black American culture which causes confusion and misunderstanding in modern day society. In unit one there were many themes, concepts, and significant issues in the discipline of Africana studies. Both W.E.B Du Bois and Vivian V. Gordan touched on many concerns.

In the essay “On the Evolution of Scholarship in Afro- American History” the eminent historian John Hope Franklin declared “Every generation has the opportunity to write its own history, and indeed it is obliged to do so.”1 The social and political revolutions of 1960s have made fulfilling such a responsibility less daunting than ever. Invaluable references, including Darlene Clark Hine, ed. Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004); Evelyn Brooks Higgingbotham, ed., Harvard Guide to African American History (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2001); Arvarh E. Strickland and Robert E.

Imagine living in a world where your friends, family and neighbors are murdered because of the color of their skin, who they vote for, or the place they choose to work. What did they do so wrong? They simply existed. This is how African-Americans had to live in the southern states, Radical Republicans in the south, and northerners that supported Reconstruction during the Radical Reconstruction era. Later in American history, this was also settled upon Catholics, Jews, Gays, and many other groups during the World War II and the Civil Rights Movement periods. This hatred and cruelty was brought upon those who did not believe in causes that these white supremacists wanted them to believe in. The creation of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was a major contributing factor to racism and prejudice in America for over 100 years. Many opposed the KKK, but there was a slight few that supported the Klan, glorifying them and their cause. The Ku Klux Klan is known as a racial hate group, who forced African Americans and other minorities to live in fear, and influenced many social and economic issues of American culture.

Throughout the 1900’s we have documented African Americans being persecuted and slaughtered by hate groups, while the United states government turned a blind eye. Minstrel shows successfully convinced the American public that people of African ancestry have the natural urge to rob, rape, and murder innocent women and children without any remorse. Naively, the American people bought into the act and became frightened of the color black on a man’s skin. Movies and skits mocked African American’s culture and appearance. European Americans AND African Americans were taught that African Americans were uneducated and mannerless. That they did not have any self-value, dignity, or honor and nor should they be treated with any. African Americans became hated. Racism and brutality against them were encouraged and taught by local civilians without any punishment from the local and state government. Segregation was prevalent in restaurants and bathrooms and African Americans were discouraged to have a proper education.

The Fifteenth Amendment granted black men to vote. Put emphasis on men because at this time women still couldn't vote.This amendment would not be fully followed until almost a century. What the government did was that they made a literacy test so difficult that no slave could pass because they had no education. So no blacks could vote really for a long time. So to loop their loophole that made a rule called the Grandfather Clause. This made if your grandfather could vote you did not have to take the literacy test. So every white person's grandfather could vote since they lived in england. So this rule did not apply to blacks since their grandfathers were black and could not vote. One of the main reasons that they made this rule is because