Blog 10

What is/was Reconstruction? What went well? What went poorly?:
Reconstruction was the time period that came after the civil war when the union tried to regain power over the confederate states once again. One attempt was creating Freedman's Bureau which was an organization made to help freed slaves with food, medical care, and other basic needs. Basically, Reconstruction was a time for African Americans to really get settled into America. However, the Reconstruction did not go quite as planned. Abraham Lincoln died in the midst of freeing the slaves, and his replacement's (Andrew Johnson) new reconstruction plan went against actually reconstructing the Union all together. Johnson made Black codes (codes that took away the rights of African Americans) in the southern states, and even vetoed the early version of the Civil Rights Bill. Johnson was later impeached. This was also a time where many hate groups started in the south such as the Red Shirts, and the KKK.

Why is it relevant today?: It's relevant today because without this time of struggle and triumph, we probably wouldn't have gotten as far as we are today when it comes to being united as a country, and giving every race equal rights. We usually learn from mistakes made in history, and The Reconstruction had plenty to learn from.

http://current.com/items/89518095_female-kkk-recruit-shot-and-killed-as-she-left-initiation-ritual.htm

This article is about a recent KKK killing. A woman tried to leave the KKK upon the entrance ritual (a sudden change of mind) but was shot by one of their members before she got a chance to do so. This clearly connects to The Reconstruction, because it's basically an update on how far, or not-so-far the KKK has come after over 100 years. Apparently, their still around even after all of this change in America.