American History

Slavery is an inseparable fact of the America history. Slavery is believed to be the trigger that inspired the civil war. Lincolns emancipation proclamation and the freedom achieved by the civil war leaders could be termed the unexpected fruit of the civil war. After the war, whereupon the perceptions of the north with regard to the definition of nationality that America was to embrace prevailed over the south, the union members proposed reconstruction to rebuild and remake America (Foner, 104). A part of the reconstruction process entailed the entrenchment of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments by the states that had seceded from the union to be readmitted. Despite the fact that big strides have been made on the path of slavery, namely, the reconstruction, racism continues to haunt America even today. Racism is derived from slavery as different races have had diminutive attitudes toward other races.  

Americas support for slavery was inextricably bound to an overpowering practicality (Zinn, Para 1). Towards the last decade of the 18th century, the south produced more that one thousand tons of cotton. By the time Lincoln became the president this rose to more than a million tons while the enslaved population also rose from half a million to four million. As some scholars observed, this system was enhanced by rebelling slaves as well as conspiracies that were wrought in the slave trade. Consequently, this formed a platform for the development of a controlling network in the states that lay to the south which were hijacked by the laws in addition to courts as well as the army and prejudicial mentality on the basis of race embraced by American leaders (Zinn, Para 1). It therefore follows that the resulting scenario was bound to derive a band of revolutionaries who would reel against the establishment in a bid to establish the environment that they defined as favorable to all bereft of the favoritism on the basis of race. In this endeavor, there were those personalities who were pioneers of this revolt. The establishment in the south, ideally, furthered slavery as they perceived it among the facets and principles of the founding fathers.  Despite the fact that when rallied against an array of industrialized nations of the world America is exceptional this implies both negative and positive aspects.

One fundamental failure of Americas founding fathers is their assenting to a constitution that promoted slavery (Foner, 68). The antislavery heroes were thus met with brutal force despite the fact that these individuals fought for a worthy course. It is thus critical that the United States reveres and immortalizes these national heroes. History, according to the prevailing laws that governed America then, condemned these individuals to a brutal end. Americas greatest mistake would be its failure to acknowledge the good cause that these individuals applied their efforts to achieve. One of these individual is John Brown.

Almost 150 years are gone since the demise of John Brown who was grimly punished for raiding Harpers Ferry in Virginia. In collusion with Brown was a band of abolitionists who helped him to seize the federal governments arsenal which he would then use to grant the enslaved Africans their freedom. Brown had initially planned to relocate the freed slaves into the mountains of Virginia where he could use them as an inspiration towards motivating the uprising in the south which was notorious for the use of slavery and the accompanying brutality. His mistake was stalling for long in the weaponry warehouse where the governmental forces found and apprehended him. His trial was in a court of law in Virginia where he was charged and convicted of treason as well as murder and incitement of an insurrection. Consequently he was hanged on the 2nd of December 1859. An array of opposition is justified in opposing Browns immortalization through remembrance or perhaps a statue. Yet amidst this opposition there also is a reason why Brown has a special place in American history.

Firstly, Browns plan was not absolutely absurd. His ultimate location of his guerrilla fighters against slavery was ideal. The Appalachians stretched way deep into the south and presented an ideal location for his plan. Brown had assessed the West Indies Maroon rebels, the colored fugitives that had made use of mountain camps in aggressing towards the colonial occupation of their islands. His plan was ideal as it would serve to trigger slave rebellion. The southerners as such, would perceive the concept of slavery as both impractical and dangerous.

Another prominent figure of that time in the American history is Ralph Waldo Emerson who drew analogies between Jesus and Brown. Brown, according to David Thoreau, ranked way above the American Revolutions freedom fighters. Moreover, Fredrick Douglas observed that John Brown had lived his life for black people and had given it up for their freedom.

Browns central place in the American history is also manifested in the events that accompanied his death. Upon his death, bells continued to toll in cities across the north to honor the spirit of the hero he was. In two years when the union troops marched in the south, they chanted his name decrying his brutal ending and praising his spirit. He remained a hero to the northerners throughout the reconstruction phase.

Browns fame withered in Jim Crows dark period. The peoples attitudes were driven by the mans progressive racial views effect to a few black people who were inconsequential. Despite this fact, the mans image was revitalized in Martin Luther Kings Junior., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks civil rights movement. In the present time, Brown continues to be perceived as a cultist that was deranged. This is injustice to a man who had progressive thoughts that condemned slavery while he furthered the ideal of the American dream and its fundamentals, including freedom.

Reconstruction 
During the era of reconstruction, the United States of America is viewed with reference to disfranchisement subsequent to the reconstruction. The major shift in the United States of America squarely falls on the voting rights issue.

After the events of the American civil war, the south was left to bring in order its state of affairs. It was left with a dilapidated infrastructure and a crumbling economy. The south also refused to grant voting rights to the freed men. In reaction to this, the congress was forced to constitute reconstruction governments. In this case, the congress established military divisions. In these divisions, governors were put in charge of the divisions pending the formation of new governments. A good number of the southerners who had been in support of the confederacy were disenfranchised though temporarily. The reconstruction was to carry out a difficult task as people were still grappling with the effects of the war. The new labor economy as dictated by the free market economy in the middle of rampant agricultural contraction presented another issue area. As these events reared their ugly face on the south, the north was on the upward move.

Several people in the south were also on the move. The African Americans that had been displaced by the war were on a reuniting mission. These were people that had been separated by slavery activities. Pother people were moving from plantations in a bid to secure better jobs. Later African Americans that chose to stay were made citizens and allowed voting rights. Public learning institutions were introduced in the south that would facilitate the schooling activity. Hospitals and orphanages were also put up.

In this line of reconstruction, the northerners came from their places to take part in politics and businesses in the south. The primary aim was to help the blacks. But as it is in the case of a volatile environment, others could have come with ill motives.

Some groups like the  HYPERLINK httpen.wikipedia.orgwikiKu_Klux_Klan o Ku Klux Klan Ku Klux Klan emerged, taking advantage of the situation to wreck havoc in the community. This group used all forms of intimidation to derail the political rights of the black. This group was however defeated by the prosecution in the mid 1870s. There were attempts to segregate the offering of public services. This was targeting the African and Mexican Americans. The poor whites were also trapped in this quagmire. To cite a segregation example, the transport system bears it all. The requirement that blacks give way to the whites in public transport is the clearest indicator of racial segregation (David and Katzman, 1985).

In the recent past, racial tendencies have been reported. A third of the US citizens still consider themselves to be racists. Half of the populations feel that there are racist instances in the country. The afros Americans on the other hand believe that racism is a serious issue in the country. This feeling is reflected by a sixth fraction of the sample (Richard, Current, et al. 1987).

As it emerged during the period leading to the last presidential elections, racism is still a big issue in the country. Paul Schlesselman and Daniel Cowart, the two Tennessee neo-Nazis were arrested for conspiring to kill a hundred and two African-American school kids. They were again accused of plotting to  HYPERLINK httpwww.guardian.co.ukworld2008oct28neo-nazis-barack-obama-assassination-plot assassinate Barack Obama. These people are believed to have drawn motivation from a brutal white nationalist group, the Order.  This group is also believed to have carried out severe crimes in the 1980s (Rayford, 1997). On the basis of the above realization, it is discernable that racism remains an issue of concern. This has its roots in colonialism and slavery.

Editorial essay
It is realized on the basis of this paper that racism has been a problem for a long time. It began with the European colonization in the pre independence time in the United States. As the Europeans left after the defeat in the American independence war, provisions to ensure the equality in the society remained lacking. As a result, the colonial system continued being perpetrated thus exacerbating the slavery tendencies. In effect, there were two societies, the poor slave community and the rich landowners community, which disrespected each other. This was thus a fertile ground for the continuation of racism. It is however not surprising that society has continued to follow in the same foot steps as set earlier.

Racism, just as it was a problem during the past centuries has in effect refused to die. This may be the fact due to the earlier predispositions to societal divisions. The measures that have been sought to rein on the vice are plausible. However, the establishment of rules to govern behavior may not be effective if the societal members are meant to buy the idea.

The use of the decree or rules can achieve the goals but, it is better to use campaigns to advance the idea of curtailing and eliminating racism. Ideally, one society cannot have two destinies. This holds because society as a system needs all its parts in good condition if the end is to be desirable. As when one aspect of the system fails, so does the whole system. In view of this, all efforts should be made towards addressing the concerns raised as a result of racism. It is visible to everybody that history has shaped societal relations in the US.