RECONSTRUCTION AFTER AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

RECONSTRUCTION AFTER AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

After the African American civil war, there were many social, economic, and political instability because of civil war. There was a need for reconciliation between these nations to retain their economic, political, and social status (Haldeman, 2016). The following were some of the social ways that used to reconcile Americans and African countries.

Resettlement of slaves

Slaves that captured in America freed and given civil rights. In regards, it showed a constructive step since most of them were the reason for civil war. Blacks from Africa demanded that the federal government give freed slaves land. Gen. William T. Sherman raised it. There was a large swath of land that was given to slaves in 1865 in Georgia and South Carolina. It ordered them to sell or rent the areas to freed slaves and black families.

Literacy expansion and education

There was a long-term engagement of the African-American community in improving access to education. It was aiming at fostering social order and expression of the need for freedom in 1879. It was also aiming at boosting equality in civil rights. It succeeded because of support from the north, which emphasized the creation of public and private schools. Therefore, after fighting illiteracy, a strong bond was created between America and Africa 

Religious institutions

When social and economic transformation proceeded in the south at a more significant pace, there was the creation of religious institutions. These institutions united both the westerners and the Africans as one. They acted as community life centers making them more independent once they gained popularity. They survived a long time even after reconstruction.

Reasons for using the above methods

Resettlement of slaves was a sign of peace and gave former slaves the need to realize the necessity of freedom. Civic education was aiming at improving the knowledge of Africans to see the necessity of order and its essential in economic, political, and religious points of view. Religious institutions used to give reference to teaching about peace and forgiveness to enable good relations for America and Africa.

References

Haldeman, D. S. (2016). Towards Liturgies that Reconcile: Race and Ritual among African-American and European-American Protestants. Surrey, NC: Ashgate Publishing.

Martin, M. T., & Yaquinto, M. (2017). Redress for Historical Injustices in the United States: On Reparations for Slavery, Jim Crow, and Their Legacies. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.