Black History Month will quickly become a memory, but your search for knowledge should continue.
With that in mind, here’s a look at a term you should know: the Reconstruction Era.
In the history of the United States, the term Reconstruction Era has two classifications: the first covers the complete history of the entire country from 1865 to 1877 following the Civil War; while the second focuses on the transformation of the Southern states from 1863-1877, as directed by Congress, with the reconstruction of state and society.
The Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History describes the Reconstruction Era as the first test of interracial democracy in America, and a time that created a sense of hope for African-American people.
Historian Monroe Little Jr., lead undergraduate advisor of the Africana Studies Program at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), said the Reconstruction Era is now referred to as the Emancipation Era.
Little said he’s changed his teaching approach due to his growing weariness with students and faculty who lack respect and appreciation for this important era.
“The Reconstruction Era is now known as the Emancipation Era when dealing with African-American history and U.S. political history from 1867-1877. Emancipation sets everything in motion. Furthermore, this extends beyond 1877 to 1890, to the continuing history of America,” said Little. “For example, observing the new Negro African-American Renaissance decade highlights the emerging of modern African-American vision.”
According to American Promise Volume II: From 1895: A History of the United States, Reconstruction put into action Abraham Lincoln’s plan of restoration. This plan’s purpose was to bring the nation back together after the turmoil and destruction to land, and properties caused by the Civil War.
However, a large part of Lincoln’s strategy was to reunite the fractured nation, not to necessarily advocate for the freedom of African-Americans.
“The ‘Emancipation Era’ was a crucial experiment due to problems in America today, a current situation America faces has been an unwillingness to face the uncomfortable fact that this is not a true democracy,” said Little. “Most Black folks are considered citizens, but not treated as citizens.”
Anthony Carter, 41, an Indianapolis resident expressed his feelings about the Reconstruction Era and why it is so imperative today.
“The Reconstruction Era was the result of a series of wars, which essentially led to freedom of the slaves,” said Carter.
“In the past, Lincoln has been praised too much without people having the proper knowledge of who he really was. History classes in grade school failed to teach that money was the big motive with Lincoln, not equality and rights for the African-American people.”
According to the Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History, Black codes were laws limiting the rights of former slaves after the Civil War.
For instance, sharecropping was a system considered a legal form of slavery. Sharecropping bound slaves to their land owners, who were typically well off white farmers.
The Reconstruction Era was an era of huge economic and political change.
It can be debated on how it had a negative as well as positive effect on the U.S. Today, as a result of extensive, new research and profound changes in American race relations, historians view Reconstruction as a time of genuine progress for former slaves and the South.
However, many believe the defeat of Reconstruction’s full potential has left future generations the undone problem of racial justice.
“This era in history is significant to know because our ancestors sacrificed so much for the African-American race,” said Carter.
For more information, see: history.com/topics/american-civil-war/reconstruction.
