Reflection- week five

I really enjoyed the first unit of history and learned a lot about part of the American history. Learning about the reconstruction and civil war explains the journey of the country and the citizens until they got to this point which makes the United States a great nation in the world.

The civil war started in 1861-1865 due to the secession of the southern states from the union. The war was the deadliest war in American history. After the south lost the battle, the government started the reconstruction of the south and passed the law to abolish the slavery, protect the citizen’s rights and right to vote. It wasn’t as easy because there were many conflicts between the executive branch and legislative one. For example, when President Lincoln proposed the ten percent plan, the congress didn’t vote for it. Therefore, the Wade-Davis plan came up with the fifty percent and the President vetoed it. After Lincoln’s assassination, President Johnson was insensitive towards the south and the congress had to take over the decisions of the reconstruction. These conflicts created more restrict laws on the blacks like the black codes, Plessey- Ferguson (separate but equal), Jim Crow laws and so on. By ruling the restriction, not only the constitution was not practiced, but also it made it more painful for the blacks and the south.

Learning what the African- American endured all these years makes me sad and at the same time, I appreciate their endurance and scarifies. After years of recognizing the blacks and changing the point of view of the nation about the skin color, the doors became open for other immigrants to come here and experience the freedom. This also gives me a chance to be part of this great nation and not be treated differently and can practice my rights. I never take my freedom for granted since it was paid such a high price for it.