Progression of African Americans Essay

When the American Civil War ended, all the enslaved African Americans obtained freedom from slavery. From then they were able to live their life in the land of the free. Unfortunately, African American’s didn’t really benefit from being set free. It was almost as though they were set free from slavery, but not set free from disrespect and were not given the same rights as other American citizens. In this assignment, I will discuss some of the progressions of African Americans from 1865 to our present day. Davidson, J. W., & Gienapp, W. E. (2008). Nations of nations: A narrative history of the American Republic (6th ed., Vol. 2). Boston: McGraw Hill. ISBN: 9780077279905. This text is a review of the American Republic and documents historical events of American culture and American government from 1865 through present time. African immigration to America first started between the 16th and 17th century. During that time, African American’s experienced slavery which consisted of clearing new land and growing crops to enhance and establish colonization. Many enslaved African Americans were transported over the Atlantic to do just that. It was very beneficial to landowners if they had more African Americans tending to their crops. The labor of the Africans became very economic. The more skilled an African was, the more they were valued. Dependent on skill sets acquired before slavery, slaves began to have variances in value which depended on skill set, education, and muscle. During this time African slaves fulfilled needs for woodworking, tailoring, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, longshoremen, and even as pilots that guided ships in and out of harbors (Davidson, 2008). Slave labor was not used depending  on the location of economic needs. For example, since the northern part of North America had landowners with smaller properties, slavery wasn’t needed. The North wasn’t as rural as the South. It was more of an urban area. During the 18th and 19th century, the need to own slaves increased as well as violence and discrimination towards the people. Slave codes were laws given to owners that basically allowed them to beat, punish, degrade (rape, sexual assault) and kill slaves. Subjects that will be discussed: -Ratification of the Constitution (Thirteenth, Fourteenth & Fifteenth Amendment) Ratifying these amendments ensured discrimination against African Americans or any other group of people was not allowed. Condit, C & Lucaites, J (1993). Crafting Equality: America’s Anglo-African Word. The University of Chicago Press http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hhNEAuDL0zgC&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=ratify+constitution+african+american&ots=eMK4tvOsaX&sig=PNNDWUX7oz9tFoQW_TpDXVjVpM#v=onepage&q=amendment&f=false -Abraham Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation / Lincoln Assassinated When Abraham Lincoln was Commander in Chief, he created a proclamation that would free all the slaves in the country that were not in rebellion. The 13th Amendment aided in this execution of slavery. Guelzo, A (2004). Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MOFHPTQYqzgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=abraham+lincoln+emancipation&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ondlUtbECI2BhAfihYHwDQ&ved=0CEcQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=abraham%20lincoln%20emancipation&f=false -Establishment of Negro National League and NAACP civil rights organization The NAACP is an important topic because this organizations main focus was and is to develop equal rights and to cease racial discrimination of people everywhere. Vose, C (1959). Caucasians Only: The Supreme Court, the NAACP and the Restrictive Covenant Cases. The Regents of the University of California. http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=OpkOKUlUQe0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=NA ACP&ots=Daef__LjAl&sig=9SuVw56UyLTcPOy4LbKgdYqRS4s#v=onepage&q=NAACP&f=false -Civil rights movement I will discuss the Civil Rights Movement because I feel that it was a very important time period in American history. The movement started our nation on the progression of freedom of speech, free exercise of religion, equality regardless of race, gender or religion etc. Levy, P (2008). The Civil Rights Movement. Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5AvHGSTFO8kC&printsec=frontcover&dq=civil+rights+movement&hl=en&sa=X&ei=aXBlUrKLBpCjhgerpYGQBw&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=civil%20rights%20movement&f=false References Davidson, J. W., & Gienapp, W. E. (2008). Nations of nations: A narrative history of the American Republic (6th ed., Vol. 2). Boston: McGraw Hill. ISBN: 9780077279905. This text is a review of the American Republic and documents historical events of American culture and American government from 1865 through present time.