Class Updates: 2/4/13 and 2/5/13

Yesterday in class (2/4/13) we took notes on the 15^th Amendment. By 1870 African Americans had all the legal freedom they could have possibly wanted. The 15^th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote, “regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Using these right African Americans attained an education; this was against the law in most southern states before the war.  Southern whites became surprised that African Americans could read and write but they did not like the fact that their children would have to sit next to black children in a classroom. This made whites angry that African Americans were getting so much; this resulted in the “Ku Klux Klan” or the KKK. This was the United States first true terrorist organization. The KKK plated burning crosses in front of African American homes, dragged them from their homes, tortured them and sometimes brutally killed them. Congress realized something needed to be done so they passed the Enforcement Act of 1870, which banned violence that prevented people from voting due to their race. In 1875 Congress guaranteed African American Civil Rights, from the Civil Rights Act of 1875.

Today in class (2/5/13 we had a deep discussion about what it means to be equal. Mr.Boyle had a day similar to Christmas and enjoyed playing devil’s advocate on us. In the end we decided being equal meant people had to be given the same opportunities no matter what condition. A good example we talked about was when if you went to the doctors complaining about a headache, after you were examined the doctor tells you that you have a brain tumor. She then advises you to take two aspirin and get some rest; you were shocked and expected an operation. The doctor states “No” because she prescribes aspirin to all of her headache patients. Doesn't she have to be equal to everyone? That is what our debate was based on in class today. We also received a reading on Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896). Plessy was 1/8 black, On June 7^th, 1892 he purchased a first-class ticket from New Orleans to Covington. Plessy sat in the railroad that was on meant for whites. He was arrested and put on trial for violating the Separate Car Act. In court Plessy argued that the Separate Car Act violated the 14^th Amendment, therefore he did nothing wrong, Plessy was still found guilty.