One thing that stood out for me is that it took so long for America to introduce the 14th amendment that allowed African American to have citizenship in 1868. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States . . . are citizens of the United States. . . . No State shall . . . deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”(Reconstructing Citizenship, 1865–1877) This is unbelievable for me as no matter the skin color no human should be denied the basic rights and protection under the law. 

Another thing that stood out to me was how America more specifically the south regressed as a society with Jim Crow under Robert Smalls. “Robert Smalls was later re-elected to the House. But his story illustrates the hazards black Americans faced as Reconstruction ended and its white opponents forced their way into power. Efforts in the name of democracy and citizenship were crushed. A forbidding new system of segregation and racial discrimination, known as “Jim Crow,” made it all but impossible for African Americans to exercise their new rights. Although named for a comic minstrel character, Jim Crow was deadly serious.” (Rise of Jim Crow)After such a progressive movement with a step in the right direction under the reconstruction followed by these disgraceful acts. What followed with the start of Jim Crow was murder and voter supression. Like a famous quote one step forward two steps backward. 

One thing that stood out for me the most was African Americans stepping into the army. They showed true patriotism at a time where they were looked down upon. Showed true character for a society that failed them. They were making a message to all of America that they are here to stay. “To the black veterans and all others who strove for equality, its attainment must have seemed impossibly far away. Indeed, bringing an end to legalized Jim Crow in the 1960s would take decades of effort and sacrifice. The ideals and achievements of Reconstruction fueled this long and still continuing struggle for equality, full citizenship, and interracial democracy.” (Challenging the Jim Crow Era)This was a strong message they were giving out and inspired America to end the Jim Crow era.