The Reconstruction Period from 1865 to 1877 Essay

To the Radical Republicans, Johnson's plan seemed no better than Lincoln's because it failed to address the needs of former slaves in three prominent areas: land, voting rights, and protection under the law. Confederates states, however, readily committed to the conditions put forth in the Presidential Reconstruction plan, and were readmitted to the Union. A few years later, the Reconstruction Act of 1867 was passed, which did not recognize the governments formed under Lincoln and Johnson's plans. Through the Reconstruction Act, Tennessee was the only former Confederate State recognized as having been readmitted to the Union because it had ratified the Fourteenth Amendment. In order for the rest of the former Confederate states to be readmitted to the Union through the Reconstruction Act, each state had to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, also. The Republicans introduced the Fifteenth Amendment after the election of 1868 because they feared that Pro-Confederate Southern whites might try to place limits on black suffrage. In order to prevent this, the Fifteenth Amendment states that no one can be kept from voting because of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Through the different plans that were proposed by the three different Presidents in office during the Reconstruction period, the Thirteenth,

The radical Republicans saw Reconstruction as a chance to bring change to southern society. Lincoln saw Reconstruction as an opportunity to abolish slavery and weaken the confederacy by establishing new state governments that could win support of southern whites. While the Republicans were divided on the issue of how to readmit the southern states into the Union, they enacted programs for emancipated slaves such as the Freedman’s Bureau. This Bureau provided food and clothing to former slaves and they were in charge with “supervising all the abandoned lands in the South and the control of subjects relating to refugees and freedman” (Buhle, 463).

Initially, came Abraham Lincoln’s presidential reconstruction plan. This plan was known as the Ten Percent Plan. It stated that a southern state could re-enter into the Union in which they succeeded from if they acquire 10 percent of voters who swear an oath of allegiance to the Union. This was from the election of 1860 during the voter rolls. Once these voters swore an oath to the Union, they could then elect and draft in chosen delegates to do things such as draft state constitutions as well as create new governments for states. All the southerners who weren’t official government or army officers were granted pardons, and also had been granted protection of their private property. This did not include their slaves. Overall, Lincoln’s plan

Johnson stated that the seven remaining states would be admitted if: they withdrew its secession, swore allegiance to Union, anul Confederate was debts, and ratify the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery. The only main difference being that Johnson did not want high-ranking Confederates and wealthy Southern landowners to take the oath needed to vote. The Radical Republicans were infuriated by Johnson’s Plan because it failed to effectively help former slaves. They wanted a plan stricter on the punishment of the Southerners, and one that addressed the land, voting, and protection under the law of slaves. This is why when Johnson pardoned all Southerners the Radicals refused to admit the Southern representatives back into Congress.

After the Civil War, America was still amidst great turmoil and economic instability. During this time period, the ultimate goal for Americans was to seize the “American Dream”. This was defined by most as being able to support their family and live a comfortable life. Although some did achieve this, many faced social, political and economic hardships. Beginning with the unjust treatment of African-Americans, then the struggles of immigrants, and followed by the rise of big businesses, the challenges faced during this time of rebuilding varied among the classes.

Reconstruction was a time period of major change in the United States of America for both African Americans and White citizens. After the Civil War, the reconstruction process started out as a failure, but over the years turned into a huge success because of how African Americans were able to live normal lives. Overall, Reconstruction was a success because freedom and growth of equality for African Americans was increased greatly.

In 1864, Lincoln’s plan was to issue a proclamation of amnesty and reconstruction for those areas of the Confederacy occupied by Union armies. Lincoln also planned and required the ten percent of the voting population of each state from the 1860 election. This requirement established that the

President Abraham Lincoln wanted to prevent a resurgence of resistance. He realized that time was of the essence, and a plan would need to be devised to clearly allow white southerners the ability to regain their status in the Union. His main objective from the beginning of the Civil War was to bring it to an end as quickly as possible. Thus, Lincoln issued the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction.

The process of rebuilding America after the Civil War from 1865 to 1877, known as the Reconstruction, fell very short of its expectations because of the negative effect it had on relationships within the country. President Lincoln came up with plans for reconstruction, however, Congress believed it was too lenient. After Lincoln’s death and events following regarding Johnson, Congress dominated the government and came up with their own plan that sets the nation up for further disagreement. The plan for Reconstruction as Congress made it, was a failure because of how it divided the government, turned the races against each other, and set up freed slaves for poverty.

1.Lincoln’s original plan was the Ten Percent Plan which would exclude the Confederates except for important officials. This is significant because this was the original idea that the United States wanted to follow in order to rebuild the country.

Reconstruction took placed in the South from 1865 to 1880. It impacted the United States’ history by holding the South back economically behind the

Before the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln began formulating a plan to restore the Confederate states to the Union. His Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction which was being planned in December of 1863, “Provided that if at least ten percent of a state's voters in the 1860 election accepted emancipation and took an oath of allegiance to the United States, then the state could form a new government and return to the Union.” Blacks, who were obviously ignored upon in the 1860 voting, as well as most Confederate officials and army officers of the confederacy. These officials and officers were disenfranchised unless they appealed for and received a presidential pardon from Abraham Lincoln himself. The Radical Republicans considered

Johnson planned to pardon the majority of the southern population, with the exception of high-ranking and government officials. In addition to Lincoln, Johnson tried to find a quick and efficient plan to help ceded states reenter the Union. Johnson also allowed seats in Congress to be filled by Southern leaders who had fought in the war. In addition, he added seats in Congress for Southern states because slaves’ transition to freedmen called for a recount in population. Johnson also included a statement arguing that under no circumstances would he pay for Southern debt. Radical Republicans still believed that the South was not receiving the punishment it deserved through Johnson’s lenient plan because, although they lacked the rights of receiving pardon that the lower-ranked citizens received, they were never truly prosecuted. Congress did not approve of either president’s plan for Reconstruction, so Republicans in search of an answer closed the door on Confederates and took over Reconstruction. Furthermore, it was evident that the three opposing groups would not reach a compromise, so Radical Republicans took charge as they created the Wade- Davis Bill in July of 1864. Congress believed that it had the power to overtake Reconstruction because Radicals believed that issues relevant to this specific subject matter should be handled by Congress, not the President. Republicans planned to receive what they wanted in this bill, revenge and harsh, but proper, prosecution of the South. Their Wade- Davis Bill required fifty percent of the white male population of a ceded state to swear loyalty and to take an oath to the Union before their state could be admitted into the Union. In an attempt to further the abolitionist movement, the bill also demanded that constitutional

Following the Civil War, the Reconstruction Era began. During this time, the southern part of the United States attempted a transformation directed by Congress from 1863 to 1877. Known for its successes and failures, the Reconstruction was a time of great pain and an infinite amount of questions. As well as many long term, short term, positive, negative, social, and political effects.

During this period President Johnson continued his pardons and the 10% plan continued to readmit states to the union. Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia were a few of the 10% states readmitted. In opposition to Johnson's readmission policies and his Reconstruction plan, Radicals began to refuse to allow Democrats to sit in Congress. Congress also passes the Tenure of Office Act inhibiting the power of the President.