In: Psychology
Describe the role that race played in "Reconstruction" (1865-1877) after the Civil War.
The period immediately after the American Civil War is known as "Reconstruction Period", which extended from 1865-1877. During this period it was supposed that African-American slaves would gain their freedom and equal rights as citizens of America which did not happen till the Civil Rights Movement of 1950s and 1960s. Instead during this period the African-American slaves were granted freedom from slavery, but, with ''Black codes" that segregated them from their white counterparts. There was a fierce opposition from the Southern States to give equal status to their former slaves, while the Northern states emphasized on equal rights for the African-American slaves. The freedom was granted under the Amendment of 13, but the Amendment of 14 and 15 were not effective for the former slaves untill the 1950s and 1960s when Civil Rights movement occurred. Thus whites enjoyed their supremacy and Blacks were left with their so called freedom, oppression and segregation, and nothing improved in their life.