Social and Constitutional DevelopmentsFrom 1860-1877
... He stated that the principle of states rights was an evil and was dividing the nation and overthrowing the power of the national government. Sherman pushed for a national bank and currency. He said that a national bank would bring the states together and create national unity. He knew that a national bank would bring a revolution in the Federal government by giving them more control over the states (Document B). The Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 was targeted at making lives safer for the blacks. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was a group of white supremacists who persecuted the blacks. They burned their property and killed blacks. The KKK is typically depicted as a man in white robes and a pointed white hood. The Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 was a break through for the federal government. It granted the Federal government power to control civil rights which they had never had control of before. The Federal government was now responsible for protecting the lives and property of the blacks. The Federal government placed restrictions and punishments on those who terrorized blacks and keep them from voting. It also allowed them to call upon military forces to push back rebellions. Blacks were not treated fairly, even after freedom. In 1866, blacks were given citizenship. The Union had called upon black men to fight for the country but would not allow them to vote for the leaders who made them fight. They did not understand why they had to fight against rebels but could not vote against rebels. They were not protected in the courts or allowed to help make decisions that affected their lives in their country. In 1869, blacks were finally given the right to vote (Document C). Many people still denied that blacks deserved the same rights as whites. Gideon Welles, Lincoln’s Secretary of the Navy, wrote in a diary entry that the Federal government could not dictate to a state about suffrage. He agreed that slavery should be banned constitutionally eventually. He disagreed on the fact of black civil rights. He said that the Federal government could not tell a state to allow blacks to vote. He knew that the old Confederate states would not agree or submit willingly to black suffrage ...