The Civil War

Civil War
During the Civil War, the southern states attempted to secede from the Union although they had the right to. Eleven southern states declared their secession from the U.S. and formed the Confederate States of America, they were known as the Confederates during the time of the war. Both the outgoing and incoming U.S. presidential administrations opposed secession of the southern states, considering it rebellion. The northern and southern states caused total destruction during the war and lost about 700,000 lives.
Post Civil War
The Reconstruction period had a couple of successful parts after the Civil War. The 13th amendment abolished slavery and officially became illegal in 1808. The 14th amendment protects the citizens in the states, so the rights of African-Americans were clear and legislation could not ignore their rights. The 15th amendment stretched out the right to vote to all citizens and could not discriminate by race or color. During Reconstruction the Union troops stayed there to keep everything in order and to reassure that blacks weren’t being oppressed. Reconstruction was also an incomplete, mission because once the Union left the south and Afro-Americans began to fear again with the dangers that awaited them. The KKK were of afraid of Union troops but once they headed out, things became grim. The Jim Crowe Laws were created and taken in effect.