This second episode chronicles the rise and fall of Reconstruction, culminating in the fateful presidential election of 1872.
Another landmark achievement of Reconstruction was the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment that barred racial discrimination in voting. With the vote, 1,500 black men moved into positions of leadership.
After distinguishing himself in the Civil War by commandeering a boat, Robert Smalls became a legislator. He came to own the home in which he once worked as a slave.
Hiram Revels became the first black Senator. Joseph Rainey became the first representative in the House. The level of humane, intellectual discourse in Congress at the time is light years beyond the petty squabbling today. Robert Brown Elliott was a brilliant Congressman from South Carolina.
In 1870, the Department of Justice is established under Amos T. Akerman. But despite the good intentions of President Grant, the waning of Reconstruction began in the 1870s. There was the tragedy of the Colfax atrocities. The Panic of 1873 also contributed to the devastating economic conditions with political fallout. For the first time since the Civil War, the Democrats have a majority in the House.
Despite the landmark achievement of the 1875 Civil rights Act that was passed, the fateful 1872 election bringing Rutherford B. Hayes to the presidency marked a turning point as the next twelve years would bring uncertainty for the hope sof blacks in America.
Another landmark achievement of Reconstruction was the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment that barred racial discrimination in voting. With the vote, 1,500 black men moved into positions of leadership.
After distinguishing himself in the Civil War by commandeering a boat, Robert Smalls became a legislator. He came to own the home in which he once worked as a slave.
Hiram Revels became the first black Senator. Joseph Rainey became the first representative in the House. The level of humane, intellectual discourse in Congress at the time is light years beyond the petty squabbling today. Robert Brown Elliott was a brilliant Congressman from South Carolina.
In 1870, the Department of Justice is established under Amos T. Akerman. But despite the good intentions of President Grant, the waning of Reconstruction began in the 1870s. There was the tragedy of the Colfax atrocities. The Panic of 1873 also contributed to the devastating economic conditions with political fallout. For the first time since the Civil War, the Democrats have a majority in the House.
Despite the landmark achievement of the 1875 Civil rights Act that was passed, the fateful 1872 election bringing Rutherford B. Hayes to the presidency marked a turning point as the next twelve years would bring uncertainty for the hope sof blacks in America.
