Failure of Reconstruction
Anthony Kerkula JrJoseph Myers
HIS 120
October 2, 2014
Failure of Reconstruction
Reconstruction was the period from 1865-1877 where the government of the United States tried to put the country together again after the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln lived briefly during this period (assassinated) and set the template for reconstruction. The Vice President Andrew Johnson who is described as lacking Lincoln’s moral sense and political judgment, became President and followed the template while adding his own ideas to it. During Johnson’s presidency reconstruction proved to be a hardship that was difficult to establish in a way where everyone could be happy. Although reconstruction succeeded in achieving things that wasn’t before, ultimately it was a failure and a monumental disaster. In general, many consider it an ineffective attempt for a number of reasons.
First were the conflicting goals of the lawmakers where Johnson’s contradictory actions and disagreement with Republicans unleashed chaos. Second was the integration and treatment of the freed people. Third was the depression and corrupt republicans that led to the relentless hostility of the ex-Confederates.
In the period of reconstruction the examination the Republicans succession of passing laws and conflicting goals with Andrew Johnson, the integration and treatment of the freed people, and the depression along with corrupt Republicans that led to the relentless hostility of the ex-Confederates will determine that these three things were the main factors in causing the failure of reconstruction, which suggests reconstruction actually failed at what it achieved to do such as restoring the South to the Union, giving full equality to freed people, and breakthrough economically.
President Johnson’s disagreement with the Republicans only brought about major damages. First was the failure to bring the defeated South to rejoin the Union hoping that they would accept postwar reforms. Then new southern
HIS 120
October 2, 2014
Failure of Reconstruction
Reconstruction was the period from 1865-1877 where the government of the United States tried to put the country together again after the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln lived briefly during this period (assassinated) and set the template for reconstruction. The Vice President Andrew Johnson who is described as lacking Lincoln’s moral sense and political judgment, became President and followed the template while adding his own ideas to it. During Johnson’s presidency reconstruction proved to be a hardship that was difficult to establish in a way where everyone could be happy. Although reconstruction succeeded in achieving things that wasn’t before, ultimately it was a failure and a monumental disaster. In general, many consider it an ineffective attempt for a number of reasons.
First were the conflicting goals of the lawmakers where Johnson’s contradictory actions and disagreement with Republicans unleashed chaos. Second was the integration and treatment of the freed people. Third was the depression and corrupt republicans that led to the relentless hostility of the ex-Confederates.
In the period of reconstruction the examination the Republicans succession of passing laws and conflicting goals with Andrew Johnson, the integration and treatment of the freed people, and the depression along with corrupt Republicans that led to the relentless hostility of the ex-Confederates will determine that these three things were the main factors in causing the failure of reconstruction, which suggests reconstruction actually failed at what it achieved to do such as restoring the South to the Union, giving full equality to freed people, and breakthrough economically.
President Johnson’s disagreement with the Republicans only brought about major damages. First was the failure to bring the defeated South to rejoin the Union hoping that they would accept postwar reforms. Then new southern