Who Killed Reconstruction: Hypocrisy in The Post-reconstruction Era

Introduction

America is currently known as one of the most powerful and economically advanced countries in the world. However, this wouldn’t have happened without the technological and economic booms during the Reconstruction Era. As Modernism began to sweep the country, the United States of America also wanted to exercise Manifest Destiny by expanding westward and creating an industrial boom that would pave the path for the country’s success. While Modernism led to immediate expansion, and further, the positive economic growth that still lives on today, minority groups faced harsh treatment from those in power, the ones who killed Reconstruction. More specifically, Native Americans, African Americans, and various immigrant groups were negatively impacted as a result of the country’s ‘fate’ to expand West. While European settlers were successful during this time period, it’s clear that the underprivileged were mistreated and undervalued for the coming centuries. The newfound democracy in America had fostered success for the settlers, while at the same time, barring immigrants from the country and taking the land of the natives. When taking a look at the different groups of people, it’s clear that the American experience was immensely different. For example, “The New Colossus,” was a tribute to the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom; at the same time, the Chinese Exclusion Act banned Chinese immigration to America. The two concepts are quite hypocritical, given the circumstances; yet, the government and time period made this acceptable. In Untold History, by Stone and Kuznick, the concepts of freedom and liberty are told through the hypocritical perspectives between the United States and the underprivileged; by viewing the successful democracy of America, “The New Colossus,” and the Chinese Exclusion Act, one can determine the hypocrisy of it all.

The Transformative Post-Reconstruction Era

Foremost, the United States was going through an extremely transformative time period during the Post-Reconstruction Era. During this time period, the United States had finally found footing within the economic and political fields; as such, the country was flourishing through expansion and the power they harvested in comparison to other countries. There was an essence of independence and freedom following the Civil War, as the United States continued to grow into a proper democracy. It’s stated in (INSERT TEXT BOOK), “The severe depression that began in 1893 strengthened an idea developing within the political and financial elite for the country: that overseas marketing for American goods might relieve the problem of underconsumption at home and prevent the economic crises that in the 1890s brought class war.” Essentially, the country was looking to continue its stronghold as an established country. Following the Civil War, when the slaves were freed, one may think the country was considerably more free. While this may have been the case for the multitude of white men in the country, it’s clear that other minority groups continued to face discrimination and a lack of privilege. The concepts of liberty and freedom were well-sung throughout the country’s founding and growth, yet, these concepts were only relative towards white men.

Failure of Reconstruction: Lack of Freedom for Minorities

Following the Civil War, freedom and liberty were readily available — for white men. Though slavery was outlawed, discrimination was still evident through segregation and open racism that was faced by the underprivileged. During this time period, white women still could not vote in the established democracy the country prided itself on. There was an obvious gap in the rhetoric of hope and democracy peddled by American institutions and leaders and the reality of it projected onto the general masses. Given that the government was made up entirely of white men, there’s no question that their hope and democracy was subjective in nature. What they may have thought of as free, the North, and other minority groups, could see discrimination through racism and sexism. It’s stated in Untold History, “What is freedom? Is it the bare privilege of not being chained? If this is all, then freedom is a bitter mockery, a cruel decision.” Essentially, Congressman James A. Garfield was explaining the true meaning of freedom that was accepted at this time period; while white men were free in every way due to their privilege, there seemed to be little definitive evidence as to what freedom really meant for the masses. Surely, the historical development of liberty at this time period was not very progressive. As such, there was an issue with liberty and freedom, as not everyone was experiencing the same benefits from legislation. As Garfield stated, not being chained is not necessarily what freedom means, especially when white men never experienced it; moreover, other underprivileged groups did not experience the same.

Exploitation of Minorities During Reconstruction and After

When taking a look at the misfortune of Modernism on the underprivileged, one may look towards the treatment of Native Americans when expanding westward. Since the original settlers first arrived in America, they believed that God had given them power to own the land in the newly discovered land. So, even though the Native Americans were there on their own land, the white government had decided the land belonged to them. As the American democracy was founded, the Native Americans had less political autonomy than ever before; they were forced from their land, or even killed at the expense of expansion. Obviously, the murder and seizing of land from the people who established it is immoral and unethical; yet, the country wanted to do anything in its power to push nationalism and superiority. Further, when taking a look at African Americans, the abolition of slavery still did not mean freedom nor liberty. During the Post-Reconstruction Era, African Americans still suffered from racism as a result of society and the government. Segregation and racist groups like the Ku Klux Klan made it hard for African Americans to truly reach liberty. While being released from slavery is technically considered to be liberating, it’s obvious that the reparations of slavery were horrible and continue to be felt today. In addition, slavery was abolished during the Civil War as a war tactic; it didn’t necessarily mean that the government supported African Americans. As a result, they were mistreated by white Americans and lacked the same institutions, such as school/government, as the whites. To follow, immigrant groups from multiple countries were barred from immigration and mistreated during this time period. Specifically, Chinese immigrants were blocked from immigration to America, thus ‘protecting’ American citizens’ jobs and livelihood. Evidently, this is not representative of freedom or liberty for people, thus showing the gap between hope and democracy relative to the government and general masses.

Hypocrisy of Freedom and Liberty for the Privileged

Moreover, the American government was quite hypocritical when relating freedom and liberty to these groups; while white men were surely benefiting off of the new democracy they had built and succeeded in, it’s still clear that expansion and modernization did not benefit the underprivileged. On one hand, “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus was representative of Lady Liberty; she represents the nation as a woman, which was different than that of other nations. In a world where men are typically seen as leaders, she went against the status quo by representing the United States as “A mighty woman with a torch.” While the nation was portrayed as a woman by Lazarus, it’s clear that at this time period, women were not given the same rights as men. Women were denied suffrage through this time period, and they were essentially seen as property to men. As such, they were devoid of any power up until the women’s rights movementSo while it represented a woman, in a way, it also represents the dichotomy between the free man and the underprivileged woman. Further, she states, “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,” representing the masses of immigrants that were trying to enter the country. This is likely to represent the Chinese Exclusion Act, where Chinese and other Asian immigrants were barred from immigrating to the country to protect the economy of the white man. This Exclusion Act was originally put into place to allow certain workers: teachers, merchant, or government officials, to name a few. However, as time went on, the country blocked immigration from Asian countries in an effort to uphold white superiority in the economic playing field. Obviously, the historical development during this time period was close to none; while America was supposedly viewed as the ‘land of the free,’ the government was also simultaneously halting immigrants from coming to it. As previously mentioned, it obviously becomes an issue as to what freedom really means. “The New Colossus” mentions a woman’s leadership and the acceptance of immigrants, however, it’s clear that the United States was not wholly representing those notions.

Then, taking a look at Untold History, by Stone and Kuznick, they tell the story of America’s innate need for war to boost the economy. They then go on to explain the various wars that the country had been through during the time of expanding, such as the Spanish-American war. Stone and Kuznick also compare the economic system to the Cuban Revolution, where the “volume of trade between the United States and Cuba, which in 1889 amounted to about $64,000,000, rose in 1893 to about $103,000,000.” So, it then boils down to the economy and the stronghold they wanted as a global power. This storytelling is then relevant to the United States’ innate need to be a global power in the face of immigration and a male-dominated society. While the country was considered to be free, white men stepped over the underprivileged to remain powerful. So, Stone and Kuznick frame the story of economic growth in comparison to the lack of liberty and freedom seen by women, Native Americans, African Americans, and other immigrant groups.

Conclusion

To conclude, the concepts of freedom and liberty are what pride the United States of America. However, the Post-Reconstruction Era meant continued trouble for the underprivileged. Though the United States had freed the slaves, they still faced racism and discrimination everyday. The Native Americans had their land seized from them at the expense of Manifest Destiny. Women were not given rights as men did, including suffrage or social independence. Immigrant groups were barred from entering the country. There was an obvious gap in the rhetoric of hope and democracy, as only white men could benefit from these concepts; the underprivileged still suffered from a lack of it. In terms of Untold History, Stone and Kuznick’s storyline of America’s need for war to uphold economic power was representative of the country’s doings, such as seizing land or barring immigration. Ultimately, freedom and liberty during the Post-Reconstruction Era was only made available for white men, and not for the underprivileged at all.

Works Cited

1. Lazarus, Emma. 'The New Colossus.' Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46550/the-new-colossus.
2. Stone, Oliver, and Peter Kuznick. Untold History: The United States from the Progressive Era to the Cold War. Gallery Books, 2012.