Life after the 13th/14th Amendments With the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1865, slavery was officially abolished in the United States. The Reconstruction era was under way in the South and African Americans desperately needed an advocate. They looked to Fredrick Douglass to help and guide them. Douglas gladly took the role and did all he could to get ex-slaves on their way to a new life. In many …showed first 75 words of 506 total…

…showed last 75 words of 506 total…organization of governments in all former Confederate states except Tennessee. (Outline of Civil War, Internet source) We can see that because of the persistence of abolitionists like Fredrick Douglas and his persistent effort that African Americans were given new life. Because of the efforts of Douglas and other anti-slavery people, blacks were finally considered citizens and had the same rights as whites. The 13th and 14th Amendments played principle roles in the southern reconstruction era.