EOTO #2

    As the Civil War started to dwindle, President Lincoln gave his utmost effort to piecing the United States back together, and he saw Louisiana as a valuable stepping stone to bringing the nation together. The Louisiana government passed a law in 1864 to abolish slavery, however, it did not grant African American residents of the state the right to vote. Lincoln never saw the enactment of his plan for Louisiana, as just days after the surrender of the Confederacy to end the Civil War, he was infamously assassinated.

    After Lincoln’s death, the southern states continued pressure to make life a living hell for African Americans. There were riots across the South, with one in Memphis sparking tensions to an all-time high. In Memphis, police officers, who were joined by many other white citizens, rioted against the African Americans of the town, resulting in over forty deaths and the destruction of homes and churches of the African Americans. This destruction and death, known as the Memphis Riot of 1866, developed after the formation of the Ku Klux Klan in Tennessee that same year. 

    Prior to this deadly riot, down in New Orleans, there was a push in the 1864 Constitutional Convention to fight for freedmen and establish a set and protected life for them with rights. The freedmen believed they could gather to fight for their rights peacefully and respectfully. However, the ex-Confederates saw no peace in the ways of the freedmen, leading to all hell breaking loose a few years after. 

    On July 30th,1866 a gathering was taking place as freedmen, most of who were veterans of the Civil War, were together to try and eradicate the ex-Confederates and create a just life for the freed and colored residents of Louisiana. However, New Orleans Sheriff Harry T. Hays and his men started to fire into the crowd, mostly at the Black mob. The Confederates had a word to say and pushed back against the gathering, which escalated into fights and violence. New Orleans Sheriff Harry T. Hays and his men started to fire into the crowd, mostly at the Black mob. This resulted in the deaths of thirty-eight people, with thirty-four of them being black. This was an attack against the freedmen of New Orleans who fought for their freedom and rights by serving in the military or powering through the evilness of slavery.  

     In terms of Reconstruction, the riot in New Orleans played a pivotal role in displaying how far away the former Union and Confederacy were from coexisting in total peace. In terms of Reconstruction, the riot in New Orleans played a pivotal role in displaying how far away the former Union and Confederacy were from coexisting in total peace. The riots occurred just a year after the surrender of the Confederacy, and yet bloodshed and violence remained the go-to solutions for any conflict that arose. This event highlighted the deep-seated animosities that persisted even after the end of the Civil War. 

    Reconstruction was still a matter of key concern and was an extreme distance away from being resolved. The struggle for civil rights and the reintegration of Southern states into the Union further complicated the landscape, making it evident that significant social and political changes were still necessary to achieve true harmony.