Reconstruction in the US: Failures and Successes

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Table of Contents

Introduction
History
Conclusion
Works cited

Introduction

Reconstruction refers to the period 1863-1877 after the civil War when US focused on abolishing slavery, forming a new Constitution and destroying all confederacy state. The civil wars resulted in the defeat of the southern states. As a result of the war, southern states were totally destroyed and the Federal army deployed in all those areas. Cities were destroyed, plantations uprooted, destruction of transportation system and subsequently life became miserable to the southerners and this is what necessitated the reconstruction. The reconstruction began in the era of Abraham Lincoln when the Federal troops were deployed to controlled most of the states. Reconstruction aimed at addressing issues such as legal status of the freed slave, constitution, and how southern states were to regain their self governance.

History

The Reconstruction occurred in three phases. The first phase was the Presidential reconstruction (1863-1865) under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. This phase was aimed at reuniting the country and restoring peace and harmony hence it began with emancipation proclamation. Second phase operated from 1866 and was referred to as Radical reconstruction or Black Reconstruction due to the influence of radicals at that time and also black dominated voters in the South. The third phase was Redemption which saw the collapse of three southern states after President Rutheford Hayes withdrew troops from all southern states. This was as a result of the defeat of Republican that saw southern conservatives regain power in the southern states hence marking the end of reconstruction. However, the major constraint to reconstruction began in early 1870’s as a result of eruption in panics whole over America. The Northern states halted there move to help the slaves in the southern region and instead concentrated in building their economy and financial well being. This was a big blow to Reconstruction since democrats took advantage of it to control the House of Representatives thereby halt the whole process.

The reconstruction was seen as a success in the sense that, once more after many years United States of America was reborn. All the southern states that were under confederacy drafted a new constitution and pledged loyalty to the Union. Federalism debate and states debate were also settled. It is worthy noting that these debates existed since the Kentucky and Virginia resolution of the 1790’s and the Nullification crisis of the 1830’s. The constitution that was adopted laid down basic right of all Americans irrespective of color or state. This constitution saw the participation of Africa America in the US politics. Therefore, as a result of Reconstruction, democratic space was created in the southern states that provided black people with same civil and political rights as their counter part whites. It also saw the provision of education to all whites and blacks in the southern region hence creating enlightenment among the population. Finally, Reconstruction provided support to rebuild southern state. That is, building of factories, railroad and the vanquished cities (Barney, p. 54).

However, though reconstruction was meant to usher in a new nation, it failed on a number of angles. First, the congress failed to persevere in its quest to urge the white southerners to act equitably towards freedmen. If they had continued to compel the southerners, they would have finally accepted the new values. The compulsion did not continue since the North had ulterior motives and the death of good leaders such as Thaddeus Steven and Charles Summer robbed the country leaders who had a vision for change. Also, the 1873 panic and later depression down played all the efforts for reconstruction (Barney, p. 54). Secondly, Federal government failed to address the land issue hence the distribution of land that was intended to give land to the freed slaves failed to materialize. It was only South Carolina that set up agencies to address the land issue. The deprivation of land to the ex-slave made them vulnerable to the southerner’s capitalist markets and as result, they paid very high prices for goods. Absence of land made them tenants and therefore forced to pay very high interest rates on supplies. Thirdly, Reconstruction failed to address the issue of class differences in South Carolina and Louisiana. African American were unable to exercise political power due to the distinction of Caste and class. Harris (1997) study concluded that Lincoln’s reconstruction policies were similar to his conservative approach and failed to address the self reconstruction in the South. Therefore, Reconstruction did little to change the southern society. The above therefore concludes that the ex-slave came out of Reconstruction the same way they were in that is, poor, landless and dependent on landlords who once again became their masters (Barney, p. 54).

Conclusion

Although many historians have argued that reconstruction was a total failure due to its failure to grant African Americans their basic right that time, it success totally outweigh the failures. Without the Reconstruction, a united state of America would not have existed alt this moment and civil wars among the Americans could have continued to unforeseen future. As a matter of fact slaver ism would not have come to an end if it were not for the emancipation proclamation.

Works cited

Barney, William L. A Companion to 19th-century America. Blackwell Publishing, 2001, pp. 53-70

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Reconstruction in the US: Failures and Successes

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