Civil War Reconstruction

Introduction

As a nation, America has undergone numerous political changes throughout her lifetime. Leaders have come and gone, each with distinctive goals and plans for the future. As history unfolds, however, most of these "progressive developments" reach an end. One such development was Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a period in America consisting of numerous leaders, goals, and achievements. However, like everything in life, it came to an end, and the subsequent result has been marked both as a victory and a failure. When Reconstruction began in 1865, a broken America had just concluded the Civil War. In all respects, Reconstruction was primarily just that—an era of "putting the pieces back together," as people say. It was a time when America endeavored to become a fully functioning nation once more. This, however, was not a simple task.

The Aftermath of the Civil War

The memory of massive death was still at the forefront of everyone’s mind, hardening into resentment and sometimes even hatred. The South was practically non-existent politically or economically and was desperately searching for a way back in. Along with these challenges, almost four million former slaves were now living among the population, who had no idea how to earn a living on their own. They had been liberated by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, and later became a significant concern for many political leaders. Nevertheless, it was no secret that something had to be done. Consequently, as often happens, political leaders appeared on the stage, each holding their own specific plan for Reconstruction, each convinced their ideas were the right ones. One of the first individuals to propose a blueprint for Reconstruction was the president at the time, Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln's Vision for Reconstruction

The "Lincoln Plan" was an exceptionally open one, stating that after certain criteria were met, a Confederate state could return to the Union. To rejoin, a state needed 10% of voters to both accept the liberation of slaves and swear loyalty to the Union. Additionally, high-ranking officers of the state could not hold office or have voting rights unless the president allowed it. Tragically, Honest Abe was assassinated at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865, before he could put his plan to the test. After his death, several other political leaders emerged with plans in hand. These men were of the Republican Party, and they called themselves Radicals. The Radical Republicans that came into play after Lincoln’s death had two main objectives to their cause. First, they were angry at the South, blaming them for the Civil War that had just ended. Therefore, they wanted to punish them and make them pay. Second, they wanted to assist the nearly four million slaves who were now free men after the war. They felt these "men" needed protection, and it was their duty to provide it. There were three main Radical Republican leaders: Thaddeus Stevens, Charles Sumner, and the newly inaugurated President Andrew Johnson.

Radical Republican Leaders and Their Agendas

Thaddeus Stevens was an extremely political man, holding a position in the House of Representatives. His main concern was economic opportunities for former slaves. He wanted them to be able to earn a living on their own and not depend on the "white man" as they had done all their lives. Thinking along similar lines was Charles Sumner. He was a senator who fought primarily for political rights for African Americans, as well as for their citizenship. He believed that the "all men are created equal" part of the Constitution should apply to everyone. Indeed, for men, that is. Finally, there was President Andrew Johnson. Probably due to the fact that he had been Lincoln’s Vice President, Johnson had in mind a Reconstruction plan that almost mirrored the former president’s. Many of the Radicals did not approve of Johnson’s plan, however. They felt he overstepped the limit with 13,000 pardons and that he wasn’t paying enough attention to the significant issue of slaves' rights. In 1868, Andrew Johnson was impeached. Although he was not removed from office at that time, he was essentially without authority. It was at this point that Congress truly stepped in with its own set of Reconstruction plans. The Reconstruction Act, finally passed by Congress, had two main points. First, troops were required to move into and occupy the Confederate states of the South.

The Reconstruction Act and Its Implications

Furthermore, any state that wanted to rejoin the Union was only allowed to do so if and when they changed their Fourteenth Amendment. They had to agree that all men born in the U.S. were citizens, and that because of that, they were guaranteed equal treatment by the law. Later, in 1870, black men were also granted the right to vote, but this would come later. Now, the Reconstruction Act looked good on paper, but as often occurs in politics, someone stirred the pot. The shake-up occurred in the 1876 presidential election. The two men running were Democrat Samuel Tilden and Republican Rutherford B. Hayes. Due to the closeness of the race, a group of men called a "commission" was set up to determine an outcome. Ultimately, the result was the Compromise of 1877. In this compromise, Hayes was declared the winner, and this was agreed upon by both parties. The real kicker was the other stipulation, though. The military control of the southern states was put to an end. No big deal, right? Wrong! Without military power to back them up, the freed slaves living down there were without protection. There was nothing to prevent the southerners from taking advantage of the freed men, and this is exactly what they did. Knowing they couldn’t directly disregard the law, many southerners established their own laws, or black codes, that imposed harsh restrictions on African Americans. Thus, although protection laws were in place, they did little good with no one to enforce them. At this point, Reconstruction ended. The laws were in place, and though they didn’t always work, some people felt that was enough—they had done their jobs. It’s difficult to say for sure whether Reconstruction was a success or a failure.

Conclusion

Since it began, people have been debating that question. Personally, I believe it is a toss-up. I think that though it wasn’t a complete success, it was at least a step in the right direction. In reality, laws that were in place weren’t strictly followed. Still, at least laws were being made to protect African American rights. That is to say, they were now officially recognized as citizens and were given the right to vote. Although not a huge leap, it was a significant step. If that doesn’t convince you, consider it this way: without Reconstruction and the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, another group might never have gained the courage to fight for their rights. This group is women. Many suffrage leaders would later look at this point in African American history as a hopeful sign that they, too, might someday be recognized. So, was Reconstruction a success? Yes. It was a success with exceptions.

References

• Foner, E. (1988). Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877. New York: Harper & Row.
• McPherson, J. M. (2003). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• Stampp, K. M. (1965). The Era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877. Knopf.