The Extent That Policies Followed at the Beginning of Reconstruction in the US - Essay Example

?Reconstruction The United s’ 19th century Civil War constituted one of the most substantial and impactful periods in the nation’s history. While the Civil War had a monumental impact on the course of American history and progress, the period immediately following the Civil War also had a substantial impact on the United States. In the South, this period was referred to as the Reconstruction, as large-scale policies were instituted for rebuilding this region in face of the considerable destitution and wartime destruction. While the South ultimately recovered, the extent that these were the right policies is debatable. This essay examines the extent that the policies followed at the beginning of Reconstruction were the best possible courses of action for the United States. There were a variety of Reconstruction plans that emerged in the wake of the Civil War, each with varying degrees of stringency. The first and perhaps most influential reconstruction policy was Lincoln’s 10% Plan. This plan was lenient in that if a Confederate supporter took an oath to support the Union they received a pardon. In addition, if a state had 1/10 of their voting population support the Union, they were allowed back into it. Lincoln’s plan was generally effective in that it placed limited requirements on reentry into the Union. Still, other policies placed more restrictive measures. For instance, the Wade-Davis bill necessitated that if a majority of voters took an ‘iron clad’ oath to support the United States Constitution, then a new state convention would be held. Similarly, in this policy, anyone who had the rank of Colonel or high in the Confederacy could not become a United States citizen again. In large part these policies created a general state of discontentment and distrust in the South, as they believed that were being unfairly punished. After Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew John assumed the Presidency. While Johnson had previously favored restrictive reconstruction policies, upon assuming office his reconstruction plan pardoned all individuals unless they had over $20,000; he also indicated that Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana had fulfilled Lincoln’s 10% plan. Similar to Lincoln’s, these reconstruction policies were successful largely for their inclusive nature. Major debates emerged in terms of the extent that states should be readmitted into the Union and once again receive representation. It’s been noted that the overriding perspective on this matter was that “inasmuch as the lately insurgent States had no legal right to separate themselves from the Union, they still retain their positions as States, and consequently the people thereof have a right to immediate representation in Congress without the imposition of any conditions whatever” (‘odur’). A number of individuals voiced dissent to this perspective, arguing that as these states ceded from the Union with ease there should be substantial consideration in allowing them to rejoin the Union. Even as these are valid perspectives, it’s clear that encouraging an atmosphere of inclusivity was the most appropriate Reconstruction policy. In these regards, one considers that to a great degree the United States was experiencing a period of significant strife and division and it was necessary to create a period of goodwill and acceptance that would restore the Union. There are also a number of significant historical occurrences to the efficacy of this policy. Perhaps most notable is the understanding that the United States was founded on the right to representation and that withholding this from states would have run counter to core American values. One also considers the hardline stance that Europe and the United States took towards Germany in the period proceeding World War I, leading to much of the negative sentiment that fueled World War II. In addition to broad ranging policies that considered the nature of reintegration into the Union, some of the most prominent Reconstruction policies emerged in terms of civil rights. In the period following the Civil War many southern regions instituted ‘black codes’ that greatly restricted the rights of African Americans. Recognizing the oppressive nature of these policies individuals such as Fredrick Douglas noted that, “If with the negro was success in war, and without him failure, so in peace it will be found that the nation must fall or flourish with the negro” (Douglas). The United States issued policies that supported African Americans during the Reconstruction period; among these policies include the Congressional Reconstruction Act of 1867. Within this act the 14th Amendment was ratified to law that guaranteed citizenship to all African Americans born in the United States. Another prominent policy that was enacted was the establishment of the Freedmen Bureau. The Freedmen Bureau functioned to work against the oppressive black codes. Still, Andrew Johnson is recognizes as having vetoed many bills that would have granted increased rights to freed black slaves. There are a variety of perspectives on these Reconstruction policies. In many regards, they were successful in counter-acting much of the oppressive southern policies targeted at African Americans. Still, it’s clear that considerable racial prejudice and segregation was allowed to occur. While in retrospect it is easy to criticize President Johnson for not taking a more hardline stance on civil rights, the largely divided nation was not in a position for such overhanded policy changes. Ultimately, while President Johnson allowed oppressive racial practices to occur, his policies were effective, as they did not further divide a nation then held together by a precarious thread. In conclusion, this essay has examined the extent that policies followed at the beginning of Reconstruction were the best possible courses of action for the United States. In this context of understanding it’s demonstrated that the United States enacted varying degrees of policies that considered the reintegration of southern states into the Union, as well as civil rights policies that aided African Americans. While there are varying degrees of effectiveness in these policies, it’s clear that in large part the inclusive stance adopted by the American government was successful. In addition, while the government was lax in allowing for oppressive social policies, to a degree they had to adopt this stance because of the divided socio-cultural Reconstruction climate. References Douglas, Frederick. "Reconstruction." etext. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov 2011. . "Report of the Joint Comittee on Reconstruction ." Odur. N.p., 2010. Web. 23 Nov 2011. . Read More