Successes Of Reconstruction

The Union Victory in the Civil War gave freedom towards slaves, however, the process of rebuilding the south introduced significant challenges. Attempts were made to rectify the inequities of slavery and to solve the problems that arose from the readmission to the union of the 11 states that have seceded. Reconstruction has been viewed more as a commendable experiment in interracial democracy, being the era of “repair” after he Civil War. Reconstruction was an era of total failure in the government’s attempt to create and reconstruct a society that was truly democratic. Although there were political and social changes during the Reconstruction Era that granted passages of freedom for the African Americans, policies such as the Black Codes and the actions of the white southerners restricted their rights and opportunities.

This was working alright until President Johnson, who had preceded Lincoln, order all the land under federal control to be given back to whom they were taken from (Foner). This is a big setback for reconstruction and freed slaves.

After the ending of the Civil War in 1865, slavery was, at last, formally abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment. Due to the freedom of these African Americans and the South’s ever-growing hatred towards this group, African Americans were left to suffer harsh discrimination and horrible conditions. Africans Americans were left without homes, education, jobs, or money. Reconstruction was the Radical Republicans’ attempt to try and bring the Confederate states back to normal and unite both the South and the North into a whole country once again. Reconstruction was also set to protect and help the newly freed African Americans assimilate to the new society and the foreign economy they were placed in. Conditions of the African Americans in

There are several ways the Civil War affected the United States. One way is that it created tensions between the North and the South. Slavery was effectively ended, while slavery was not officially outlawed until the passage of the 13th amendment, the slaves were set free upon the end of the war. Next reconstruction, the plan to be re-build America after the war, began. Many people would say that Reconstruction was a success because of the ways it gave more rights to blacks.

The Union’s victory in the Civil War in 1865 granted millions of slaves their freedom. Reconstruction is the period directly following the Civil War when the nation took strides to rebuild the country, specifically the South. After the war, there were endless questions. They wanted to know on what terms should the Confederacy be let back into the Union, and what to do with the Confederate leaders who were viewed as traitors by many in the North. Then, there was the question of what would happen to freed blacks in the South, would they now be considered equal to whites? Despite the military conflict being over, Reconstruction was in many ways still considered a war. Radical Republicans, who held sufficient power in Congress, wanted to punish the South and

In Appomattox Court House, 1865, the Civil War concluded, ushering in the Reconstruction Era. Approximately one week after, John Wilkes Booth, a radical southerner, assassinated President Lincoln. The Reconstruction Era, which ended when Rutherford B Hayes ceased its enforcement to keep the peace, was a time for the country to consolidate and forgive the wrongs of the past. This Reconstruction period included many lasting effects on the governing of America. However, it shattered the welfare of southerners, Freedmen, and the general public. Additionally, discrimination ran rampant in the newly reunited country. Reconstruction was successful in the government, but not fiscally nor with public unity.

The failure of the North to effectively rebuild the South and bring it back into the Union during Reconstruction is evident after the time period. First, the unsuccessful nature of Reconstruction can be seen in 1880 when the "contrast between the South and the Northeast was similar to that between Russia (one of the poorest nations in Europe) and Germany (one of the wealthiest)." Also, "long into the 20th century, the South remained a one-party region under the control of a reactionary ruling elite" that harbored hatred against the North. In fact, until the 1940's, Tennessee was the only state of the former Confederacy to observe Lincoln's birthday as a legal holiday. Reconstruction after the Civil War was a failure. The North was at odds and

The reconstruction era was a difficult time for the African American slaves from 1865 to 1877 because the slaves were freed and there were no jobs for them, had very little or no education, and had very limited opportunity in the south. Reconstruction was one of the most critical periods in American History. The Civil War changed the nation tremendously, and most importantly by bringing an end to slavery. Reconstruction was a period of great promise, hope, and progress for African Americans, and a period of resentment and resistance for many white

In my opinion one of the biggest inadequacies of Reconstruction was that fact that slaves were not really “free”. That even though they were classified as free, they really weren’t because of all the restrictions that were placed on them by the laws. “Black Codes” is what they laws were called. These laws restricted free blacks activity and forced them into labor contracts and blacks saw little improvement in their economic and social status. If they did not abide these laws they were beaten, arrested and even forced into non paid labor contracts. Ultimately after they were freed blacks had nowhere to go that was safe. As former slaves they owned nothing, had no money, and had no shelter or food. The slaves had no protection from people who

The Jim Crow law made the government “blind”. The government did not address the problem, he did not put the KKK to an end and he didn’t take action to the Jim Crow law which later on effected the future. Overall the reconstruction had more negatives than positives. Such as the KKK, LIncoln's assassination, and the Jim Crow law. The reconstruction could’ve been more effective if the government was active and helpful throughout the whole process and actually standing behind the 13th,14th,and15th

Reconstruction and whether it was a success or a failure is a much debated topic with varying viewpoints. While Reconstruction does have some successes to boast, I believe that the failures far outweigh the successes. During Reconstruction, the 13th Amendment which banned slavery was passed but that only prompted white southerners to find a “legal” method for blacks to work for them. This method is known as sharecropping, which is essentially slavery with a different name. When African Americans were freed from their slave owners, they were desperate for work and white plantation owners took advantage of these unemployed and uneducated former slaves. The sharecropping system was formed in a way that tenants would become so indebted to the

The main objective of the reconstruction was to unite the southern states with north and to help settle the millions of free slaves and get them the equal rights. There was a lot of opposition from the start and it didn’t happen smoothly as it could have been but these two objectives were met as closely as possible. Hence, reconstruction would be considered as success. Although reconstruction was affected by the political differences of the people trying to create it, but it was still a success. Some wanted to punish the rebel states; others wanted no punishment for them. Some wanted freed slaves to be a part of the society others didn’t give much importance to their existence. The political difference between the congress, the president and

It was an achievement in that it placed Blacks in positions of leadership, and gave them educational opportunities for the 1st time. It was a huge missed opportunity because the North was very vindictive toward a financially and morally crushed South. If they had had more mercy (As Lincoln had) the bitterness and Corruption(CarpetBaggers) that Reconstruction bred would have been greatly

Victoria Hubble February 8, 2000 Reconstruction The Reconstruction, a time most people would call a rebirth, succeeded in few of the goals that it had set out to achieve within the 12 years it was in progress. It was the reconstruction’s failure in its objectives, that brought forth the inevitable success in changing the South, as well as the countless African Americans living in it as well as the countless African Americans living in it at the time. There were three goals the reconstruction set, and failed to achieve, as well as emphasizing the profound effect it had on the south, and an entire race. In the South the Reconstruction period was a time of readjustment accompanied by disorder. Southern whites wished to keep blacks in a

in the north. They started asking why freed slaves could vote but women still could not.