Before the Civil War African Americans were considered less than inferior when compared to their white counterparts and in general, slaves adapted to this form of life, not thinking about fighting much against it, with a few exceptions. However, after the War, and especially during the 1800´s, especially the late, 1800´s, the movement of African American leaders increased enormously, to the point that they not only managed to overturn many of the policies established by President Andrew Johnson, which continued segregation and refused the right to vote and be represented for African Americans, but they managed to become a force to be reconed with in the South. Aside from acomplishing the right to vote, several leagues that fought for the rights of African Americans were formed in the 1860´s and later on, African Americans also managed to influence the rise to power of the Republicans to Congress in 1866 and changed the face of Reconstruction, with a more active role for them. Between 1867 and 1877, a period known as the Radical Reconstruction, African Americans received from Congress the status of U.S citizens and acquired all the rights that came with that. They achieved so much that African Americans managed to be elected into different governmental positions and even became a moving force in states like South Carolina and Louisiana. Finally, and among many other achievements, African Americans managed, during Reconstruction, to have 16 members of Congress elected.
This topic relates to all of us because through the achievements of African Americans the balance between races was established. Also, the U.S Constitution was fully applied because now its rights were applied to all American citizens, not just a few. It also relates because it shows us all the importance of perseverance and teamwork when battling something that is unfair.
An essay topic that would be appropriate for this would be: the role played by white Americans in the support to the improvement of rights for African Americans as this kind of research shows that not all white people supported racism, slavery and segregation and it is interesting because few people have entered into that terrain.