The modern Civil Rights movement in the United States was a pivotal period marked by significant strides toward racial equality. Historians have often drawn parallels between this era and the period immediately following the Civil War, known as Reconstruction, prompting some to refer to the modern Civil Rights movement as the "Second Reconstruction." This comparison highlights both the enduring struggle for African American civil rights and the efforts to address the legacy of racial oppression in America. The Reconstruction era sought to establish civil rights for African Americans through constitutional amendments and federal legislation. However, these gains were short-lived as they faced significant backlash from Southern states and white …show more content…
The essay will delve into the successes and challenges African Americans encountered in their pursuit of civil rights, their strategies, and the reactions of white Americans. Ultimately, it will assess the accuracy of the "Second Reconstruction" analogy in understanding the evolution of African American civil rights in the United States. During the First Reconstruction Era, the United States attempted to rebuild the South and establish civil rights for African Americans following the Civil War. Government policies included the Constitution's 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. The 13th Amendment was created to abolish slavery, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and the 15th Amendment prohibited denying the right to vote based on race and color. African Americans actively exercised their newfound rights by participating in politics and establishing educational …show more content…
Ferguson Supreme Court decision upheld "separate but equal" facilities, cementing segregation. African Americans responded with legal challenges through organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which fought segregation in courts, leading to significant cases such as Brown v. Board of Education. They also organized grassroots movements, such as Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association, advocating economic self-sufficiency and racial pride. Despite these efforts, white supremacist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, used violence and intimidation to maintain racial hierarchy, illustrating the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America. Government policies played a crucial role, starting with the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional and initiated desegregation efforts. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed racial discrimination, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to remove barriers to African American voting rights. African Americans employed various strategies, including nonviolent resistance, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and lunch counter sit-ins led by Martin Luther King Jr., supported by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which drew national attention to segregation