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Was Reconstruction A Success Or Failure

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From 1865 to 1877, Reconstruction was on the forefront of challenges newly freed slaves and the federal government were facing in America. Reconstruction was both a success and a failure in many ways. During this period of time the federal government had two goals they focused on; reincorporating the Confederate States back into the Union and helping ex-slaves become equal citizens with their new ways of life. With Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan he issued a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, according to Chapter 15 the proclamation states “ any former Rebel state could form a Union government whenever a number equal to 10 percent of those who had voted in 1860 took an oath of allegiance to the Constitution and the Union and received a presidential pardon acquitting them from treason charges.” This in turn was supposed to help reconstruct the Union as it once was. …show more content…

The Radical Republican Party wanted all freed slaves and blacks to have equal rights, as well as the emergence of a new southern society based on small farmers. To help reincorporate freed slaves into society Congress created the Freedmen’s Bureau in which helped the ex-slaves and their families obtain jobs, an education, healthcare, and becoming a property owner. Not only did they help with these things but also the protection of the ex-slaves legal rights as citizens. The Freedmen’s Bureau was one of the few successes that Reconstruction had for African Americans. The 13th Amendment, the abolition of slavery, was also another success however even though it gave blacks freedom it did not give security or

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