Essay about The Reconstruction Era: The Planted Seeds

Reconstruction was the time period following the Civil War, which lasted from 1865 to 1877, in which the United States began to rebuild. The term can also refer to the process the federal government used to readmit the defeated Confederate states to the Union. While all aspects of Reconstruction were not successful, the main goal of the time period was carried out, making Reconstruction over all successful. During this time, the Confederate states were readmitted to the Union, the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments were ratified, and African Americans were freed from slavery and able to start new lives.

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).

In “Reconstruction Revisited”, Eric Foner reexamines the political, social, and economic experiences of black and white Americans in the aftermath of the Civil War. With the help of many historian works, Foner gives equal representation to both sides of the Reconstruction argument.

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.

The original purpose of Reconstruction was to restore the buildings and the economy of the south the best they could, but without the immoral element of slavery. But, reconstruction under the Johnson Presidency was a failure for a few reasons: 1) Convict Leasing, 2) Sharecropping, 3) the Ku Klux Klan, 4) Segregation in schools, even in the North, 5) Carpetbaggers/Scalawags, 6) misleading statistics, and 7) racism.

Due to the gradual elimination of African-American rights and the withdrawal of Federal troops from the South to enforce such rights, the end of Reconstruction surfaced in 1877. In the eyes of blacks, Reconstruction was a point in history where they could see their civil rights expanding before their very own eyes. On the contrary, whites were deeply disturbed at the way their once “white supremacy” government was dwindling in the rear-view mirror behind them. This fourteen year period known as Reconstruction houses the memories of temporary freedom, scandal, backdoor deals, and the unresolved social, political, and economical issues of our country.

America was in disarray following the events of the Civil War. Southern economy was in shambles while congress was struggling to find a middle ground between the radical republicans and Lincoln’s lenient policies. Many Southerners faced the aftermath of uprooting their society and their way of life while thousands of newly freed slaves struggled to find a way to support themselves. The country needed a strong leader, however on the 14th of April, 1865 President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in the Ford Theatre in Washington (Farmer). Without the man that had once held the nation together, the country now faced an enormous obstacle; reconstructing American economics, politics and social life.

America has gone though many political changes since its birth as a nation. Many presidents have come and gone, trying to bring about change, thus creating revolutionary moments in this country’s history. These “revolutionary movements” have created lasting impressions on the United States that helped mold the nation that it is today. One such movement was Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a time in America consisting of reuniting the country and pulling it from the economic catastrophe that stemmed from the Civil War. The reconstruction era had dealt with three separate plans: the Lincoln Plan, the Johnson Plan and the congressional Plan. These plans, each with their own unique way of unifying the country and integrating newly freed blacks into American society, came with their pros and cons.

“In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it is perhaps not surprising that historians turned renewed attention to home-grown American terrorism. Recent books on Reconstruction…have infused their subjects with drama by focusing on violent confrontations,” Eric Foner notes in the introduction of the updated edition to his 1988 publication Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877. Up until now, Foner’s revisionist historiography of Reconstruction was the only alternative offered to the Dunning School’s account of the important historical era. In recent years a neo-revisionist interpretation of Reconstruction has emerged in works by a younger generation of historians such as Gregory Downs, Carole Emberton, Hannah Rosen, Megan Kate Nelson and Jim downs. This new scholarship pays close attention to violence, the body, language, and gender—how these important themes directly relate to power, struggle, and political status of freedpeople in the postbellum nation—and either rethink or are completely uninterested in Foner’s revisionist narrative of Reconstruction.

As a country, America has gone though many political changes throughout its lifetime. Leaders have come and gone, and all of them have had their own objectives and plans for the future. As history has taken its course, though, almost all of these “revolutionary movements” have come to an end. One such movement was Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a violent period that defined the defeated South’s status in the Union and the meaning of freedom for ex-slaves. Though, like many things in life, it did come to an end, and the resulting outcome has been labeled both a success and a failure.

One of the most violent events in the American history, the Civil War claimed approximately 730,000 lives of solders and civilians both from the northern and southern sides. The war split the nation emotionally. As families had members fighting in opposite camps, including the great emancipating “Abraham Lincoln”. The issue of slavery had bitterly divided the north and the south. The war became necessary to resolve all these issues once and for all. The Union victory of the north settled many issues. Federal power prevailed over the state finally “Emancipation Proclamation of 1863” ended the debate on slavery as a world event, the civil war was significant because it proofs that democracy can avoid the collapse, and sustain itself. Lincoln

Throughout history, the United States has gone through many political changes and has evolved over the course of the years. Many great leaders were born during the course of our bloody, yet astonishing history; all consisting of different intentions and propositions for the future. Some of these leaders were Booker T. Washington, W.E.B DuBois, Marcus Garvey, Frederick Douglass, Hiram Revels, and Martin Luther King Jr. Those leaders have guided several individuals through many movements. One such movement was Reconstruction. Reconstruction was known as the rebuilding of the United States. Reconstruction lasted from 1865 to 1867. The Era can be described as a time period in which many citizens saw a growth in the number of leaders, both black and white, a growth in ambition, as well as goals and accomplishments. Directly after the Civil War in 1865, Reconstruction was launched to help reunite the North and the South and secure civil rights for African Americans.

The Civil War is America’s most memorable war that took place in 1861- 1865. This war was fought over that facts of which the United States would become a confederate with its own states, or all united under a government that promised that every person was created equally. Which meant that there wouldn’t be any more slavery allowed unless a serious crime was committed that person would become a slave to the government by law. When this law was passed the whole south of America went hysterical because that is where slavery was at its worst. This riot in the south caused a war between the northern states and the southern states. In this war many lives were lost as never before in the short period of time it took place. Not only in the battles were they lost but also some died from injuries, dehydration, lack of food and supplies needed, or diseases. In 1861, there were minor battles taking place between the two opposing sides; but the real battles started in 1862. The first major battle was in Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Georgia. By the time 1864 came around the North came up with a new plan to overcome the South. At first it was to give them a little bit of what they had, that the south would soon get over it and move on. But since that didn’t seem to happen and they only got angrier, the North decided to give them a full on war to destroy the South’s’ way of thinking that slavery should be allowed. Robert E. Lee was the general of the

While reading Eric Foner's book I came to appreciate the difficulties the freed black slaves encountered for example, how the previous slave owning class continued to manipulate the freed slaves. Also, I was impressed at the great sacrifice they made when attempting to become educated. Last of all I was surprised at the severity of persecution and abuse of blacks that was still considered legal after they were "freed". When the label of slave was removed from the black American, it was meant to clarify that they were human beings.