African-Americans in Major Historical Events Although African-Americans

¶ … African-Americans in Major Historical Events

Although African-Americans have been seen as being the catalysts of major historical conflicts such as the Sectional Crisis, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, they actually impacted these events. For example during the Sectional Crisis, African-American presence in the U.S. Courts, as they sued for their freedom, brought the injustice that African-Americans faced to the national spotlight. In addition, during the Civil War, African-Americans' presence was widespread as they fought on the field and worked behind the scenes. Finally, African-Americans shaped the period of Reconstruction as they continued their fight for equality through their presence in government politics. This essay will discuss these specific contributions of African-Americans during each of these eras.

The Dred Scott Decision

The Sectional Crisis was the period preceding the Civil War that began in the 1840s and peaked during the 1850s. During the period of the Sectional divide contributions of African-Americans shaped the face of national history and had a significant impact on the justice system. These contributions and impact were headed by Dred Scott, a slave.

Mr. Scott's "citizenship" case was heard before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1856. The Court would ultimately hold that, "Dred Scott, is not a citizen of the State of Missouri…because he is a negro of African descent (U.S. v. Scott, 1856). The essence of the case was that at that time an African-American was not a citizen of the U.S. It follows that during the period of the Sectional Crisis, African-Americans, even if they were free, were not citizens of the United States as a result of slavery or African ancestry. The Court examined whether "a negro can become a member of the political system and as such become entitled to all the rights, and privileges, and immunities, guaranteed by the Constitution to a citizen…One of which rights is the privilege of suing in a court of the United States in the cases specified in the Constitution" (Id.).

The Supreme Court ruled against Mr. Scott and found that he was not a citizen. However, his presence in Court along with challenges by hundreds of other African-Americans of their lack of citizenship began a movement against racial oppression that would last for over 100 years. In each of the periods that followed, including the Civil War era, and the Reconstruction Period, African-Americans inched closer to what they knew they were entitled to -- liberation and equal rights.

2. African-American Presence in the Civil War

The Civil War occurred between the years of 1861 and 1865. Although the fact is not often recognized, African-Americans maintained a constant presence in, and had a significant impact on, the Civil War (Murphy, 532). African-Americans not only served as soldiers on the battle field, but also offered service as laborers, cooks, and craftsmen for the Union (Id.). Still, there were a number of African-Americans that fought on the side of the Confederacy (Id.).

Those who fought on the side of the Union believed that winning the War was literally their freedom and they did not want it handed to them -- like Dred Scott and others that challenged their lack of citizenship -- they wanted to take an active role in securing their rights for themselves (Id.). Even though they had been involuntarily enslaved, they felt responsible for securing their freedom. Prior to enlistment, however, African-Americans suffered discrimination in that they were considered "contraband" and a form of property (Id. At 533). They could be looted like the other supplies and material, but in spite of this they contributed by constructing roads, ports, harvest crops, and performed other camp chores (Id.)

Their roles were not limited to support for the War; they held more active roles in the War. African-Americans served as laborers for the Army and the Navy, as well as crewmembers for the Navy (Id.). For African-Americans, the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation provided the opportunity to enlist in the Union military (Id.) Although African-Americans were considered a form of property in the War, this did not dissuade them from fighting for what they knew they were entitled to and making positive contributions in the process.

3. African-Americans in Politics During Reconstruction

During the period of Reconstruction, African-Americans continued their contributions in the areas of politics and the government. During the Sectional Crisis, they had begun their fight in challenging their lack of citizenship while their presence in the Civil War resulted in their emancipation; their fight for equality inevitably continued in politics during the period of Reconstruction in the South. For example, African-Americans held a noted presence in South Carolina's legislature in 1870 -- the first Reconstruction legislature for South Carolina (Worth and Schwartz, 45). Their fight at this time for full recognition of African-Americans males' voting rights