The Reconstruction Era Dbq

The Reconstruction Era (1865 - 1877) was an attempt at enforcing social and economic equality, as well as rebuilding the United States after the attempted secession of the South. Although Slavery was abolished with the Thirteenth Amendment, and the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments further established the equality of the freed blacks, their enforcement was very weak and Southerners were finding ways to twist the liberties that the former slaves were given. The failure of reconstruction was brought by the struggle to rebuild and reunite the United States, the weak and short effect on racial integration that the newly founded civil liberties had, and the lack of enforcing these civil liberties.
Although the Union attempted to bring the South back into the United States, there were several different opinions on how to execute this plan. Lincoln wanted a fast and easy reunion under the Ten-Percent Plan, many radical …show more content…
Because of the forbearing nature of Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction Act, white Southerners were able to empower formerly freed blacks using the Black Codes. Black Codes were laws passed in the Southern States limited the black’s freedom and used to reintegrate the labor force that Southerners had lost after the Civil War. This showed that the Southerners were tolerant of reconstruction and stubborn in giving freed blacks equality.
Reconstruction became strained because of the divided Republican views and the opposing views of Andrew Johnson. Andrew Johnson held Southern views in regards to racial equality which is why enforcing the civil rights given to freed blacks was not enforced. The Reconstruction Era failed because it struggled to unite the nation and struggled in enforcing the civil rights that had been fought for during the Civil