Reflection post for the Trial/EOTO

My fellow classmates presented the reify victory into the concrete language of the law, anti-slavery leaders in Washington drafted the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments (the Reconstruction Amendments), and the states ratified them, they hoped, to put a final period on the end of the sentence.

The Reconstructive Amendments

I learned a lot about the fifteenth amendment. It was passed by congress on February 26, 1869 and was ultimately ratified on February 3, 1870. This granted African American men the right to finally vote. This was a step to equality on the rise after the 13th and 14th Amendments were passed. Even though African Americans legally had the right to vote, many Southern states took discriminatory actions to stop them from voting, such as literacy test, and poll taxes. The 15th amendment was supposed to be the last stop in Reconstruction on the Republican parties end. Although segregation followed, African Americans were finally starting to get a voice. The voting Rights Act of 1965 and then 24th Amendment passed laws against discrimination in these elections. In the end result, African Americans then began to serve in government in state and local offices, congress, and the senate. 

15th Amendment: Constitution and Voting Rights

The next thing I learned about was the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and 1875. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 protected all people in the United States and their civil rights to furnish the means of their vindication. This guaranteed basic economic rights to create contracts, sue, inherit, purchase lease, or own property. Lastly, it guaranteed citizens the right to engage in business and give evidence in court. 

The Civil Rights Act of 1866

Lastly, I learned the Civil Rights of Act of 1875. This act was designed to "protect all citizens in their civil and legal rights", providing for equal treatment in public accommodations and public transportation and prohibiting exclusion from jury service. This granted all Americans, regardless   of race, equal access to all public places. This included places like theaters, hotels, train stations, and restaurants. Another thing this act provided positively set a penalty for anyone who denied equal access for someone else because of race. This resulted in a $500, which was a very good amount of money given the time period. 

About the US Civil Rights Act of 1875