reconstruction video.

The Reconstruction Era is a time in American history that is often misinterpreted. On surface, Reconstruction is consistently displayed as a time when the southern states, which had seceded during the Civil War, were simply reintegrated into the Union. Truthfully there's a much more complex reality of the time. Reconstruction was not just about rebuilding the physical infrastructure of the South or restoring the old order; it was about redefining the entire social and political system of the United States, particularly in how it related to African Americans and their place in the nation.

One of the most biggest failures of Reconstruction was the persistence of racism, which, is still a problem in today's society. There were laws that were so called "legal advancements" such as the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and protected voting rights, respectively, however these laws did not lead  to  equality or opportunity for African Americans. Jim Crow laws, which began to take hold in the late 19th century, stripped away the rights and freedoms that African Americans had "gained" during Reconstruction.

The views on Reconstruction differed heavily between the North and the South wIn the South, which caused a huge tension. White Southerners were pretty much against  changes that would contrast to the norms and customs that they were used to, and this resistance manifested in violent actions such as the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan. In the North, there was a tear between exhilaration and apprehension. former slaves who'd been freed, had long were eager to reunite with family members who had been separated by the horrors of slavery—through family members being sold away, through auctions, or through escapes. However, many White people in the north were not confident about how to handle the major  economic as well as social challenges that would come behind integrating millions of former enslaved African Americans into American society.

The concept of the failure of Reconstruction had ongoing effects. Although negros had obtained legal rights during reconstruction they were declined the reality of true equality socially, financially, and economically. The advance of segregation, made certain that black people in the south would remain behind the ball for many years to come. The promises of Reconstruction, from distribution of land, to civil rights, were left foiled and its has continued to lead to poverty for African Americans in the United States to date.

Reflecting on Reconstruction, it’s transparent that the true challenge of this period not only to reunite the country, but to put an end to systemic racial oppression that had existed for for hundreds of years prior. Reconstruction may've been a faulty movement, but it also created the foundation for future struggles of civil rights, including the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century.  The harsh  divisions sown during this time still effect us today, a freindly reminder that the work of true equality is far from fruition.