8.11.5
Understand the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution and analyze their
connection to Reconstruction.
13th Amendment: Abolition of slavery (1865)
This amendment gave all African American slaves freedom and had zero tolerance for paid debt through personal services.
14th Amendment: Rights of Citizens (1868).
Four intentions of this amendment are: to
reprimand the Southern states, which deprived African Americans of the vote, “to
keep former Confederate leaders from serving in government”, “to forbid payment
of the Confederacy’s debt by the federal government”, and guarantee payment of
the war debts owed the federal government. Guaranteeing citizenship to
former slaves, this amendment resembled a magnificent answer to the prayers of
many slaves.
15th Amendment: The Right to Vote (1870)
Replacing Section 2 of the 14th
amendment, this amendment tolerates African American votes. Though this
amendment was ratified, numerous states denied African American votes with poll
taxes, literacy tests, and white primaries. Section 2 permits Congress to
enforce this amendment, which held stronger during the 1950’s and
1960’s.
The Reconstruction
Attempting to resolve poor circumstances still not resolved today, the
Reconstruction began (1865). Initially, it meant that the Southern states,
which had separated from the United States, would reunite, but later, specific
matters were inserted. It became an effort to improve the treatment of
slaves. Southern states and Democrats resented the Reconstruction and
favored slavery. This Reconstruction brought up violence and one of the
most feared groups: the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan’s objectives were to keep
the whites in power and preserve slavery. “In Jackson County, Florida, the
Klan murdered more than 150 people over a 3-year period.” The Klan caused
various other ailments, but was soon reduced by numerous arrests. Despite
the violence, the Reconstruction revolutionized important factors of American
lives. Education expanded, opening to African Americans, and became a
significant part of a good life. African Americans and whites went to
integrated schools (schools that included both groups). Farming, one of
the fundamental forms of business, also changed. When freed, most African
Americans desired land, which was seldom granted. Hence, a system,
identified as sharecropping, was established. Through this system a
landowner lent land, a crude shack, seeds, and perhaps a mule to a family, which
would, in return, provide a percentage of their crops. For many,
sharecropping was only partially better than slavery. Thus, the poor
circumstances were slightly “resolved”, though some improvement was
obtained.
Connection
Enhanced lives for African Americans, the idealistic outcome of amendments 13-15
and the Reconstruction, involved a magnificent effort to be acquired. The
amendments helped the efforts of the Reconstruction in providing these enhanced
lives and served well. Though failing to provide every characteristic of
the ideals of African Americans, these amendments and the reconstruction, hand
in hand, gave many opportunities, which clearly “enhanced” the lives of many
African Americans.
More Information:
1.
http://www.kukluxklan.org/just_for_kids.htm
A site for kids. This site introduces the KKK as a positive, "loving" group. May be good for proving the Klan to have good intentions.
2.
http://www.kukluxklan.net/Flags.htm
This site shows KKK merchandise, but on the merchandise shows some of the Klan’s symbols.
3.
http://www.law.nyu.edu/davisp/neglectedvoices/KlanActSpeeches.html
Speeches of African-American Representatives Addressing the Ku Klux Klan
"...H. Rainey, speaking on April 1, 1871, to explain how the Ku Klux Klan's actions limit ...of our expectations if
it had not been for the blasting effects of slavery..."
4.
http://www.worldbook.com/
Type keywords: Ku Klux Klan. This will have an article at the top of the list giving general information about the Klan (mostly its birth and its actions/objectives).
5.
http://www.altered.com/dengue/kkk/main.htm
A site tracing the rise of the KKK and giving its history, events, and telling about the KKK today.
6.
http://www.nisk.k12.ny.us/fdr/ideas/portfolio/vandersee/vandersee.html
A site that focuses on the rise of the KKK in detail. It also has a bibliography at the bottom.
7.
http://www.kkklan.com/
This site has media and books about the KKK on sale.
8.
http://www.whatsbetter.com/display.pyt?item=162
This is like a community site that tells how many people are for or against the KKK.
9.
http://www.kkkgallery.com/
An art gallery of KKK pictures.
10.
http://www.texaskkk.com/
Another site that doesn’t display hate towards the African American race, but "love" and
pride. It tells about the KKK, their beliefs, etc. Its purpose is most likely to accumulate more “Klansmen”.
11.
http://www.rice.edu/armadillo/Texas/Sharedpast/kkk.html
"At the conclusion of this lesson the student will be able to analyze the purpose and composition of the Ku Klux Klan in Texas in the 1920s."
12.
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/usa.htm
VERY informational. Contains documents, biographies, and other specifications about Construction.
Recommended Books:
1.
Under the Hood: Unmasking the Modern Ku Klux Klan
by Worth H. Weller
2.
The Ku Klux Klan: A Hooded Brotherhood (Journey to Freedom
by Ann Heinrichs
3.
Hooded Americanism: The History of the Ku Klux Klan
by David Mark Chalmers
4.
Klandestine: The Untold Story of Delmar Dennis and His Role in the FBI’s War Againsth the Ku Klux Klan
by William H. McIlhany
5.
Circle of Fire
by William H. Hooks
6.
The Fiery Cross: The Ku Klux Klan in America
by Wyn Craig Wade
7.
Violence, The Ku Klux Klan and the Struggle For Equality (an informational and instructional kit)
by The Connecticut Education Association (21 Oak Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106), The Council on Interracial Books for
Children (1841 Broadway, New York, New York 10023), and the National
Education Association (1201 16th Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20036).
Images:
These pictures display images of burning crosses, Klansmen, rallies, logos, a Klansmen’s hood, etc.
1.
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/j/Ku%20Klux%20Klan.jpg
2.
http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/edgelea/4thhistory/KKK.JPG
3.
http://www.history.ohio-state.edu/projects/clash/Imm_KKK/Images\burningcross.gif
4.
http://docsouth.unc.edu/dixonclan/small.jpg
5.
http://www.displaysforschools.com/kkk.jpg
6.
http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/photos/assets/photos/1005.jpg
7.
http://www.idgr.de/lexikon/stich/k/kukluxklan/kkk-1924.jpg
8.
http://www.uncp.edu/home/vanderhoof/graphics/kkkhood.jpg
9.
http://klavern.org/calhoun/positvefuture.gif
10.
http://www.texasknights.com/dewitt/tkdewitt.gif