13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, Henry McNeal Turner, and Ku Klux Klan

The most important amendments pertaining to slavery are the 13th,14th, and 15th. Most importantly, the 13th forbids slavery forever in the United States. Next, the 14th grants citizenship and equal protection under law to all freedmen. Lastly, the 15th amendment grants the right to all men regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Therefore, with those laws blacks became free citizens that could vote. Additionally, black men legislators and politicians were elected. One of the most famous men, Henry McNeal Turner who was a minister was elected to theGeorgia General Assembly. However, shortly after he and other black legislators were removed from the assembly by the Democratic (white) legislature. The Federal government disagreed with the Democrats who stated that the right to vote did not mean blacks could hold office. After, the African Americans were given their spots back as legislatures. As blacks were gaining more rights and freedom many anti-blacks mobs formed. The most famous, the Ku Klux Klan or the KKK were considered America's first domestic terrorists. Using violence they tried to stop black people from voting and deprive them of any other rights. The first klan was started in 1866 in Pulaski,Tennessee by six Confederate veterans. These white terrorists mainly located in the South felt superior to African Americans and showed the discontent through unlawful ways. Lynching was one of their famous ways to kill blacks and they would even target white sympathizers. 4,743 people died (most of them black) between 1882 and 1968. Generally they were known to where white clothes to cover their faces and at night they would set off the kill, destroy, or hurt anybody they disagreed with. This group scared many Radical Republicans and other blacks who tried to start businesses. With groups like these it was very difficult for the African American population to thrive.

Pictures:
1.http://icplibrary.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/w-eugene-smiths-photographs-of-a-ku-klux-klan-kkk-meeting-in-south-carolina-in-1951/
2.http://theforgottenprophet.blogspot.com/
3.http://www.eddana.com/FAVORITES/US-constitution.htm
4.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KKK.svg

Freedman's bureau, Sharecropping\tenant farming, and Reconstruction plans

The Freedman's Bureau was a group formed by Radical Republicans. Radical Republicans were the men who advocated equal rights for blacks. The goal of the Freedman's bureau was to help protect the rights of freed blacks. The former Union general Oliver Howard lead the group that lasted from 1865-1872. As a result of this organization, many historically black colleges were formed. In fact, missionaries part of the bureau started myriad schools with the assistance of Northern school professors and teachers. Also, African Americans were capable of creating their own churches using resources provided by the Bureau. Most freed blacks had little money and few ways to earn it so many began by Sharecropping. They would farm land that was owned by someone else. By having to pay the rent and a portion of their crops to the landlord the rarely had times to save or spend excess money. On the contrary, tenant farmers were considered "better" than sharecroppers. Most of them typically owned equipment and sometimes even farm animals. The landowner would provide him with a house and the land. Then tenant farmers paid the owner money of a share of the crops at the end of the year. Now, the reconstruction plans for the United States after the civil war will be analyzed. Lincoln, who was shot only a few days after the end of the war left some of his ideas of how to create a new nation. First, he stated that the South would be pardoned after taking an oath of allegiance and it would quickly return to the nation. Additionally, after 10% of voters took the oath the Confederate state would rejoin and form a state government. The vice-president, Johnson agreed with Lincoln and also ratified the 13th amendment and required rebel states to nullify the ordinances of secession. The 13th amendment forbid slavery in America. Congress attempted to reconstruct the country by requiring the ratification of the 14th amendment, which granted citizenship and equal protection to freedmen and prevented Confederate officials to hold office. Most importantly, rebel states were placed under military rule.

Pictures:
1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Freedman_bureau_harpers_cartoon.jpg
2.http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/brown/photos.
3.http://stfm.astate.edu/tenant.html
4.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_Era
5.http://whgbetc.com/mind/reconstruction1.html

Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and Sherman's March to the Sea

The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles in Northern Georgia that began on May 1864 when Union General Sherman attacked Confederate General Johnston. The Union wanted to capture Atlanta for two reasons: it was a major rail center and to guarantee Lincoln's reelection. Later Lee replaced Johnston with a more aggressive leader, General Hood. Once Sherman captured Atlanta he burned all the buildings and destroyed any supplies that could be used for the war. Additionally, he ruined the railroad tracks. The Atlanta Campaign mattered because the destruction was demoralizing, railroads were destroyed, Confederate military was weakened, and Lincoln gained support and was reelected. Then he began his march to Savannah. His march was risky because he would have no railroads for food supplies and no communication. On his way he stole crops and livestock from farmers to feed his soilders. Overall his army marched 650 miles in less than 100 marching days. His "total war" strategy was meant to make Georgians so weary of war that they would quit. During the march to sea he picked up some former slaves who were willing to fight.
Pictures:
1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Campaign
2.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman's_March_to_the_Sea

Andersonville

The Andersonville prison, used during the civil war is located in central Georgia. It served as one of the Confederates main prison bases designed for 10,000 but it held 30,000 inmates during the war. The site was chosen for the two reasons that it was a safe distance from coastal raids and because of its inland remoteness. It was one of the dirtiest prisons and the highest mortality rate of any civil war prison. The prisoners suffered from swarms of insects, filth, and disease caused by contaminated water. Additionally, 13,000 out of 45,000 men died of malnutrition. Some prisoners would substitute sand for soap to try to stay clean. Moreover, the prisoners only made the conditions more miserable. They would attack each other, bathe in their drinking water, dump trash into a marsh that would lead to the water stream, and they kept trying to escape out of water pipes so the pipes were destroyed. Without pipes they would have dirty and not fresh water. Also, they would live in "shebangs" that were crude dwellings made from various items. One of the main reasons the prison was poorly run was because the director, Henry Wirz was disliked by guards and prisoners. In 1864 the prison population declined because Sherman's March advanced closer. Once the infantry left the Georgia Militia took over and attempted to maintain control by a dead line. If the prisoners crossed this line they would be shot down by the militia men. Under these conditions it was very unlikely to escape. The prison lasted 14 months and today it is preserved as National Park. Henry Wirz was charged for war crimes and sentenced to death being the only person killed for war crimes during the entire Civil war.

Pictures:
1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonville_National_Historic_Site
2.http://spotsylvaniacw.blogspot.com/2010/10/related-lands-andersonville-prison.html

Gettysburg, Chickamauga, and Union blockade of GA's coast

General Lee in charge of the Confederates decided to give up his defensive strategy and attack the Union. The Battle of Gettysburg took place on July 1 - July 3, 1863 in Pennsylvania. The Confederates attacked with 75,000 soldiers, while the Union defended their land with 85,000 men under General Meade's direction. This was also considered then largest battle of the Civil war and the largest battle ever fought in North America. After three long days the South retreated having lost about one-third of their army or 28,000 men. However, the Union lost only 23,000 men and could have ended the war, but Meade decided not to pursue the fleeing Confederates. This vital win and the win at Vicksburg were considered the turning point of the civil war. Only a few months later the Union decided to attack the Confederate in North Georgia. From September 19-20, 1863 the Battle of Chickamauga had the second highest number of casualties. Rosecran, the Union general was not an aggressive leader and at one point misinformed that there was a gap between his men. He tried to fix the gap by only creating a larger gap where Confederate general Braxton Bragg attacked. The Union had to retire to Chattanooga and the South could consider this battle one their first victories in a while. In the aftermath the North had 16,170 casualties and the South had 18,454 casualties. This battle and the battle of Chattanooga later lead to Sherman's March to Sea. The Union blockade of Georgia's coast ruined the economy of the South. To transport goods they had to use the rickety railroads because ships were stopped if they tried to leave the South by Union ships. Moreover, cotton exports decreased 95% and there was famine in the South. Most importantly Lee's army had few supplies and this caused many riots to break out.
Pictures:
1.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Gettysburg.jpg
2.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chickamauga
3.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chickamauga
4.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scott-anaconda.jpg