page_title: African-American socialism
section_title: How Black People Were Viewed After the Abolition of Slavery
hierarchical_section_title: African-American socialism / History of African-American Socialism / How Black People Were Viewed After the Abolition of Slavery
caption_attribution_description: English: 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution. Español: Decimotercera enmienda de la Constitución de los Estados Unidos.
context_page_description: African-American socialism is a political current that emerged in the nineteenth century. However, it became influential before coming to the forefront nationally. This is an economic and political theory of social organization that means the production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community. Black liberation is important when seeking socialism. Liberation refers to an individual being frees from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression. African-Americans have not received total liberation as American citizens. The comparison of socialism among African-American individuals have had changes, but is in need of much more since the time of the Civil War and Great Depression eras. The role that media and education has played in the American society has caused social problems, along with constant confusion.
context_section_description: On December 6, 1865, it was ratified that the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States of America. Because slavery had ended, there was a newfound freedom for African-Americans. However, life after slavery was different for Blacks in the North versus Blacks in the South. Because slavery was inexistent in the northern states, Blacks in the north were not affected much by the new amendment. The Southerners were finally free from brutalities and indignities of the slave life. However, the post-slavery lifestyle was difficult. Although slavery was over, racism maintained. A hatred for Black people was stirred. Government throughout the South installed laws known as Black Codes. These were created to forbid freed blacks' activity and assure them the opportunity as a labor force now that slavery had ended. History.com also presents information that many states forced African-Americans to sign a labor contract. If they refused, they would be arrested as vagrants. This was how the Southern whites tried to suppress the newly freed African-Americans of their freedom. Because the newly freed individuals did not have anything, they had to rent a portion of land from the former slave owners. This started the process of sharecropping. Essentially, the former slave owners still profited from the Black population of that region. The Reconstruction period, which took place from 1865 to 1877, along with the abolishment of slavery, Congress passed two more amendments. The Fourteenth Amendment was to grant African-Americans the rights of American citizenship. The Fifteenth Amendment afforded Black men the right to vote. Despite the accomplishments that allows Black people in America more rights, White people gained an even stronger sense of hatred toward the people of color. Blacks were already segregated due to the Jim Crow Laws, and were unable to attend the schools and churches as their counterparts. However, the mid-nineteenth century brought about violent groups to torment the Blacks. Most popular was the infamous Ku Klux Klan (KKK). This was a White supremacist group that brutally beat and murdered Blacks and other Whites who sympathized, or helped, Black people.
caption: Photo of the 13th Amendment
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