Achievements of the African Americans
. A Brief History
Abolishment of slavery in the United States was one of the fundamental achievements for African Americans after the American Civil War. There were about four million enslaved in America which had influence on American history. African Americans began to control their work environment by starting to establish many institutions, for example, schools and churches. They also began to establish their own homes and families and participate in public life
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Achievements of the African Americans
The struggle of the African Americans in order to achieve many goals was a long struggle. From slavery to freedom, millions of black people were murdered. We cannot deny that in this time that African Americans got their rights as white people there were still some events that showed some types of discrimination and segregation.
African American achievements were plentiful especially during the Civil Rights Movement, but the most important goals the black population achieved were the 13th and 15th Amendment. Those amendments gave many advantages to the African Americans to participate in public life. Let’s take a close look at those two amendments.
The 13th Amendment
The United States Constitution established fundamental laws. When America got independence in 1776, the country was very disorganized and did not have strong laws. The United States Constitution established the American national government and fundamental laws. In the Constitution we have amendments. An amendment means a change of the constitution of a nation or state; the method of modification is typically written into the constitution itself. The American Constitution made many changes in the laws, like the 13th Amendment.
The 13th Amendment in the Constitution of the United States was an amendment that was meant to keep citizens of the United States from accepting title of nobility from foreign powers. The Constitution passed the 13th Amendment to make slavery illegal. This Amendment made the African Americans free and they started establishing their community.
One of the main results of the Civil War in America was the abolishment of slavery under the 13thAmendment. This amendment technically made all African Americans free from racial segregation. Abraham Lincoln was opposed to any extension of slavery and declared that all African Americans were free in 1865. The 13th Amendment states:
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been dully convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction” ( Harold Holzer.p8).
The Constitution of the United States abolished slavery. Nonetheless, the Southern States refused to accept the 13th Amendment. But after many years of the suffering and struggling to gain full citizenship, the African Americans achieved one of the most important rights in 1856: they became free.
The 15th Amendment
After African Americans got their freedom under the 13th Amendment, they struggled to gain more rights. On February 3, 1870, the African Americans achieved one of the most important rights which was the Fifteenth Amendment. The 15th Amendment of the United States Constitution allowed black people to vote. Most importantly of this amendment, it meant that African Americans were accepted as citizens in America like white people. This amendment opened the door to black people to participate in politics.
No one can deny that the Fifteenth Amendment was one of the most important steps the Africans took towards democracy. During the Reconstruction time period, the African Americans struggled and fought to get their full rights and we can see that in the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment. The government was becoming closer to the issues of the African Americans, not just white people. (Jill Karson.P 64)
The 15th Amendment of the United States Constitution states:
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the U.S or by any state on account of race, color, and previous condition of servitude”. (source)
This consideration gave the African Americans normal human rights just like white people because the amendment omitted discrimination and segregation. The 15th Amendment provided all people in America, black, white, women and men, the guaranteed right to vote. Any American now could not be refused to have the right to vote.
There were some problems with the Fifteenth Amendment. The African Americans had the right to vote, however, if they wanted to vote, they should know how to read and write. The majorities of the black population in America were slaves and did not know how to read and write. (source)
The 15th Amendment monumentally changed the structure of the lives of African Americans in all domains: politics, economy, education, and personal lives. They became more accepted in the structure of American society. The black population achieved many rights but the 15thAmendment is one of the most important achievements.
written by Hassan Mebrouk
White Supremacy
