How did Congressional Reconstruction affect newly freed African Americans in the South?

Answer 1

When the war ended, the freed slaves were overwhelmed with their new rights. Black people were now United States citizens and they now could vote, go to school, and get jobs that paid money. Since black men were now able to vote, they were now able to run for sheriff and government positions. One of the first blacks honored by being elected to the Senate was Hiram Revals, Senator of Mississippi. Other blacks were also honored by being elected to positions like sheriff, mayor, and superintendent of education. Northern soldiers were positioned in the South to enforce the Reconstruction laws. The soldiers were there to make sure blacks could vote in elections, be treated fairly in jobs and court, and go to school and also prevent attacks by southern whites. In 1869, the Southern governments began to end control by the North in Tennessee and Virginia. The Southerners had regained some power to run their own state governments and the Northerners were having less influence on the Southern governments. Some Southerners had joined groups like the Ku Klux Klan because they did not want blacks to vote. In 1865, the Ku Klux Klan was started in Tennessee to stop blacks from taking advantage of their new rights. Members would beat and murder blacks to keep them from having their rights. Therefore, it was necessary for the Northern soldiers to protect the black race and make sure Southerners gave them their rights to vote, run for office, be treated fairly in jobs and participate in court trials. Many Southern whites were against the Reconstruction governments. Southerners could not accept the men who were once slaves as free black men who had the right to vote and participate in state government. Reconstruction was starting to die out. For example, the Black Codes were now being started by Southerners. These new laws were to make blacks' lives harder and to prevent them from using their new rights. Some of these codes forced blacks to work for a year, be thrown into jail if they were unemployed, and let them be whipped by their bosses. Now that there were no longer any Northern soldiers positioned in the South to enforce the Reconstruction laws, blacks had to live under the harsh and unfair conditions caused by of the Black Codes. By 1870, the Northerners had lost interest in reconstructing the South.The North tried to reconstruct the South and change the Southern attitude toward black people. This did not work because many Southerners were still racists and believed that the white race was superior to others. They thought blacks were not as good as Southern white men. Also, the Northerners lost interest in Reconstruction, allowing Southerners to gain control of their state governments again. Although reconstruction of buildings in the South (and North) took place between 1865 and 1877, it would be many years (even into the middle of the 20th century) before reconstruction of the Southern people's way of thinking about black people would change.
They were able to own their own land and get their own jobs, just like the whites.

Many states rolled back protections for African Americans. Also, many African Americans were now allowed to move where they wanted to, and maintain families.

Answer 2

they got better paying jobs it was alot better for them

Answer 3

The 13th amendment made slavery illegal. instead of being controlled and treated like animals by other poeple, african americans became their own masters.

Answer 4

1. They bought farms.
2. They sharecropped
3. They got discriminated against

Answer 5

They played the role of being freed.