Brown vs. Board Trial Reaction:

 The case of Brown V. The Board of Education stemmed from a situation that took place in Topeka, Kansas. Oliver Brown's daughter was denied from a school that was close by and was instead forced to attend a school that was much further away, specifically for African Americans. Brown and other parents gathered together to file a lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education which was taken to trial with the Supreme Court. 

We heard several arguments from different perspectives that covered a broad range of ideas regarding both sides of the case, but I want to focus on Brown's side. 

A moral argument was made in which it was argued that the separate but equal clause was morally unjust and taught children that segregation was a societal norm. It was also said that the entire idea of "separate but equal" was a complete contradiction to itself and that there was no such thing as equality when there is separation. It was also stated that this idea of separate but equal heavily violates the 14th Amendment. A religious argument was made in which it was said that treating people differently based on factors such as income and race is a direct insult to God himself. This being as Christianity was meant to bring people together, not push each other apart. From an economic standpoint, it was made clear that having separated schools was a major waste of taxpayer money and prevented all students from having a higher quality education. With a higher quantity of schools, the quality of them would be lesser than what it would if separated schools did not exist.

The side of Brown used a variety of arguments to sway the judge and the other members of the trial. Attacking the issue from all angles allowed for a thorough examination of the problem regarding the Topeka Board of Education and its separation of schools.

EOTO #2 Reaction:

The Reconstruction Era, which lasted from the later years of the American Civil War until the 1877 Compromise, was a period in American history that was dedicated to rebuilding after the war. This time frame was used to rebuild the nation on multiple fronts. The Confederate states were reintegrated and the social, political, and economic impacts of slavery were addressed. This was aided by three Constitutional amendments that were passed by Congress to permanently abolish slavery. These three amendments were birthright citizenship, guaranteed due process, and equal protection under the law. Thus granting all men of every race the ability to vote by prohibiting voter discrimination. 

Despite this steps that were taken to spring The Reconstruction Era forward, there were new problems that uprose. The entire economic world was changed and impacted the lives of everyone. In the South, a new system of labor needed to be devised to replace the broken system of slavery. So the new Southern governments that were formed addressed the violence of the Ku Klux Klan as well as similar white supremacist groups. 

As for the Northerners, their commitment to protecting the rights of former slaves concluded. The presence of the federal government in the economy increased and economic legislation led to newer opportunities for expansion. The Homestead Act and the Transcontinental Railroad both opened the West to crowds of new settlers. 

The time of the Reconstruction Era was cut short due to: a significant economic depression in the Southern states and white intimidation towards African Americans. The Reconstruction can be looked at as an overall success for the United States. African Americans had successfully made strides towards gaining independency in Southern societies and others became more open to these ideas.In addition, the 14th and 15th Amendments played a major role in helping African Americans achieve full civil rights in the 20th century. 

Reconstruction Video Reaction:

 This video begins by asserting that the Reconstruction Era served as the backbone for anti-black hate crimes. After the Civil War had ended, America was optimistic that it would be reconstructed better than ever before. In addition, African Americans were optimistic to the new ideals and laws being pushed forward. The Reconstruction amendments were passed and The Emancipation Proclamation helped support the abolition of slavery. The government's outlook on Reconstruction was divided once again between the North and the South. 

The newspapers started to highlight the separation of slave families and Abraham Lincoln continued to support his ideals. Lincoln tried his best to convince the people that African American men should have the right to vote, but due to his progressive views, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in 1865.

 After the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson rose to power as the new President of The United States. Unlike Lincoln, Johnson had very complex views. Johnson grew up as a poor white southerner who resented the planter class, whom he believed to be at fault for the country's issues. Johnson also displayed racial tendencies which was evident when he refused to shake the hand of Frederick Douglass.

 Many other southerners were determined to preserve their old way of life while most of the northerners were ready to move forward. Black Codes were created during this period to guarantee that there was as little change to slavery as possible. The Black Codes were more specifically designed to keep African Americans subordinate, indefinitely. 

Tensions rose among the states and riots broke out in Memphis and New Orleans. Despite this, the 1866 midterms provided a solution as Republicans took up the majority of Congress and pushed the new phase of Military Reconstruction. The decade of Reconstruction wasn't entirely easy for African Americans and the rest of America to endure, but it absolutely shed hope to the future that was yet to come.