American Reconstruction Era - Term Paper Example

American Reconstruction Era American reconstruction era falls under the period between the years 1865-1878. Historians would prefer to extend this range of years into 1861, prior to inception of reconstruction ideologies, and up to 1878, when strategies after reconstruction had taken effect within the American society. Reconstruction era fell under the leadership of Abraham Lincoln, and his successor Andrew Johnson. From the literal definition of reconstruction, this period involved re-structuring and re-formulation of state policies that would reflect prevailing interests of the society at that time. Americans wanted to overhaul former systems used in forming social frameworks in previous years prior to the Lincoln’s era. Changes after reconstruction had so much pronounced effects that the current US politician and social structures are attributed to efforts committed to ensure change at that period. As an illustration to changes derived from the reconstruction era, the US congress remains with a vested power of impeaching an incumbent president in office even today. Basically, assassination of Abraham Lincoln and attempts on impeachment of President Johnson remains as the chief historical landmarks in the reconstruction period. In the process of its development, the US reconstruction era took a multi-facet approach in addressing issues of the aggrieved parties at that time. One approach employed to achieve change during this period focus on general changes achieved immediately after the American civil war from 1861-8165. The civil war marked profound struggles between the south and the north regions of the country. Reconstruction majorly dwells on state of southern states, since consequences of the civil war became more practical within the region as compared to the northern states. Immediately after the war, numerous civil and military changes took place in restructuring inherent systems of governance1. In this case, reconstruction era entails detailed study of changes and developments within the 12-year period after the civil war. The second facet focuses on administrative and social transformations that took place within America’s southern states under the federal leadership of Lincoln and Johnson. Like any other historical struggle in American heritage, reconstruction period had its own motivating factors during planning and execution of its strategies. These motives derives its roots from ideological concepts adopted during the civil war are. The main cause of civil war traces its roots to political and social difference in opinions between republicans at the south and democrats at the northern states. As a result of the difference in philosophical inclinations, southern states forces under the name radical republicans stages a systematic attack on the northern states. In return, northern democrats counteracted southern efforts through appropriate military measures2. Upon termination of the war period, radical republican ideologies still remained dominant within the southern citizens. In this context, various democrat led institutions wanted to impose proper governance and social systems into the south. On the other hand, southern radicals were determined in frustrating efforts committed by their northern counterparts. Main objectives of the era included a desire to achieve an equal society with minimal effects of slavery philosophies. Prior to the civil war period, African Americans lived under harsh conditions as slaver for the white insurgents in southern states. After the civil war, white insurgency wanted to maintain this slave-master status quo in order to sustain economic and social classes in their societies. These ideologies were met by stiff opposition from northern states, who though the post civil war period was supposed to reconstruct social structures in a positive manner. In this regard, reconstruction ushered in adoption of civil rights ideologies and suppression of insurgence power in southern states. Countermeasure efforts committed by southern radicals met stiff suppression from military forces operating within the southern region. In the process, insurgency control was weakened by regular encounters with strong military opposition. As result, radical republicans changed their fighting tactics into political mechanism meant to control administrative institutions. At this juncture, the essay evaluates social, political and economic shifts that materialized from inception to the end of reconstruction era in 1877. As insinuated earlier, one aim of reconstruction would see overthrow of slavery and white insurgency dominance on the southern states. In this regard, one approach of appraising changes within this period entails acknowledgement of social shifts during the 12-year transition stages. Despite the fact that some historians holds contrary opinions to magnitude of social success achieved during this transformation, other would consider the possibility that lack of reconstruction efforts would have had a different effect on America’s societies, especially on the southern states. According to Lincoln, reconstruction had the general purpose of abolishing and terminating the rule of slavery on America. Lincoln had the desire that every American citizen had an equal share of freedom3. In this regard, efforts committed towards counteracting white insurgency in the south aimed at eliminating slavery and promoting the black population freedom. Prior to reconstruction, blacks were not entitled to voting rights and could not vie for any elective position. All African Americans were living under harsh working conditions in agricultural farms and industries within the southern state territories. In this case, Lincoln and those other Americans wanted to abolish slavery and accord every American equal rights and freedom under their land. In this context, it is inherent to consider the fact that the America Civil war ended in favor of the Union Army sponsored by the northern alliance’s of American states. Southern insurgency lost the war bitterly after being overpowered through military countermeasures from the northern forces. In the process, more than half a million white population in the southern army were killed. In addition, the black population in southern states had joined the northern alliances in fighting southern forces. After the war, south was in ruin and radical insurgents wanted to maintain their mastery status over the black population. On the other hand, Abraham Lincoln held contrary beliefs on the subject of mastery and slave relationships. Among notable changes within the social aspect of southern America included incorporation of blacks into military units4. Immediately at the end of civil war, the northern Union Army comprised of approximately 200,000 black American soldiers. Empowerment of blacks saw new developments, especially within the southern states of Carolina. Slaves, under the leadership of military influence started moving away from white-owned plantations. In this case, massive movement of black slaves from white farms marked the inception of social freedom from slavery. In January 1863, administrative institutions under stewardship of the national congress passed legislations contained within the Emancipation Proclamation bill rights. This bill of rights accorded black Americans equal rights and freedom from their white masters. Upon commencement of the reconstruction era, Lincoln’s administration solidified provisions of the proclamation through massive public education and enlightenment. In the year 1866, northern reformers started arriving in black societies in the southern states. The main aim of these reformers was to educate the freed black people on their rights as members of American society (Gibson 45). In essence, these efforts were meant to facilitate ideological transition from slavery to freedom. Under Johnson’s administration, educational efforts continued, which say construction of schools within black societies in the south. African Americans could attend conventional education systems just like the white masters in the same states. In the process of administering reconstruction strategies, there was massive empowerment of black men and women within the war torn region in the south. Apart from slavery freedom in the south, Abraham Lincoln also instructed white masters in the North to release any persons held contrary to their will in white farms. Years that followed Emancipation Proclamation led to further positive recognition of black population both in the north and the southern states. In 1872, African Americans started receiving attention from the established social reform systems operating within the white societies. Thousands of African Americans affected by war started receiving public assistance from charitable organizations operated by white majorities. Former black soldiers of the civil war received compensations for their efforts. In addition, the elderly population within black societies received consideration for welfare benefits from federal organizations. By the end of 1876, most black population in the south had received elementary education. In order to step up efforts, incumbent administrations staged up efforts of enhancing education of the black and other minorities. Therefore, colleges were widely built in the south, which say significant enrolment of black students from poor backgrounds (Gibson 76). Despite the fact that southern states remained segregated along racial lines, reconstruction had played significant role in enhancing social recognition of the black and minority population within American societies. With respect to political aspects during the reconstruction period, radical republicans were at first determined of implementing their selfish interests in public governance. After the civil war, northern forces and political institutions adopted moderate approaches of reforming political institutions. As the president, Abraham Lincoln remained at the forefront of fighting radical republicans from taking over governing bodies (Foner 39). With maintenance of the recently awarded slavery freedom, Lincoln was determined in restructuring institutions within southern states, especially Louisiana. On the other hand, republicans in these southern stated resisted influence from Union federation. In 1863, immediately after the civil war, reconstruction efforts on political structures had started taking effect5. Lincoln personally sponsored the congress into passing moderate legislations on the fate of southern states captured during the war. However, his efforts were thwarted by selfish army commanders in the Union Military system. At one instance, an army general named Fremont staged declaration of martial law in the southern state of Missouri. The general forcefully confiscated land and property from the wealthy whites, and redistributed the land to poor minorities and black population in the south. This move gave Lincoln administration a negative reputation; hence led intensity of efforts by the radical insurgents. In the congress, radical numbers exceeded that of union members within the house. This situation presented challenges to Lincoln’s efforts in restructuring southern states. In 1863, President Lincoln sponsored a legislative proposal that would see restoration of the southern state of Louisiana into senate and congress houses. However, his efforts met stiff disapproval from the radical controlled House of Representatives. In their response, radical congresspersons termed Lincoln’s move as a deliberate effort meant to ensure Union’s victory after the war. In Louisiana’s plan, the electorate body was required to pass a decision on the confederate state by a simple minority of 10% in all votes casted. Upon thorough deliberation, the congress asserted that a 10% vote count would not represent majority’s wishes6. In this regard, Lincoln’s move was labeled undemocratic. At that time, it became apparent that Lincoln was determined in fighting radical ideologies and instilling democrat’s positions all over the southern region. In the process of his struggles, Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865, upon which his vice president, Andrew Johnson took over the office as the new president. Under Johnson’s administration, numerous political changes and constitutional amendments ensued. After his assassination, Lincoln had left Freedman’s Bureau in the middle of its implementation stages. This bureau would see transformation of political rights vested on the freed American minorities. In the past, black population was not allowed to take part in election processes. They could neither vote for candidate nor even vie for any elective position. Under Lincoln’s reconstruction strategy, blacks earned their voting rights, and in January 1865, more that 700,000 black Americans voted overwhelmingly in a Grant election process. Within the Freedman’s bureau, Lincoln sponsored the Thirteenth constitutional amendment, which mandated all masters to free their slaves. Under Johnson’s government, congress passed the 14th and 15th amendments. These subsequent legislations aimed and providing protection and social support to the freed slaves7. This means that during the reconstruction period, specifically as early as 1866, Black Americans had a right to food, shelter and medical attention from federal and state institutions. However, strong opposition from radical republicans hindered integration of these amendments until a century later. Despite this shortcoming in implementation, the amendments marked official recognition of African Americans as fully fledged citizens in the US. In this context, federal legislations failed to take effect because of the political and governance status within the affected southern states. Immediately after the war, white insurgency lost their ambitions of taking offices as governors of most states in the south. The generals organized socio-political groups meant to disregard efforts of the Union government in slavery freedom. As a result, a strong white Americans group dubbed Ku Klux Klan surfaced in the year 1867. In addition, other affiliate groups took distinct regions within the southern state territories. The groups’ main aim was to terrorize black citizens; hence hindering smooth implementation of the reconstruction’s amendments. In the process, Black Americans suffered for years after the end of reconstruction period from terrorist actions of the Ku Klux Klan. In one illustrative incident, the state of South Carolina fell under the governorship of a former radical insurgence officer. In this case, the governor gave employment opportunities to unsuitable and dishonesty whites at the expense of educated black Americans (Foner 50). In the process, southern states became riddled with undesirable governance practices constituting to violations of democratic principles. This period marked inception of the worst American governing systems that would only be overthrown after a hundred years by efforts of freedom fighters like Martin Luther King Jr. Apart from social and political aspects, reconstruction period ushered in both positive and negative economic changes in American history. Prior to the civil war, white farmers had established vast crop farms and plantations in their territories. In addition, industrial revolution had sparked construction of factory plants across America. However, the fate of these economic developments changed during the civil war. In the years 1861-1863, there was profound destruction of property and deaths, both in the north and south territories (Foner 78). As a result, numerous economic developments prior to the war were thrown to ruins. Actually, reconstruction period led to loss of wealth and property held by the white majority, especially farm assets and production industries. At the end, white farmers in the south could feel the economic pinch for lost farm workers who used to perform their duties for free. Emancipation Proclamation facilitated movement of thousands of slaves from their master farms. In addition, the workforce in industrial settings was affected since it comprised largely of black slaves. Consequently, there was reduced productivity immediately after the war. Reconstruction did not have any significant impact in improving this economic status in the south. In fact, empowerment of black population led to shortage of labor force needed to work in farms. In this context, we can acknowledge that reconstruction period affected white farmers in a negative way. On the contrary, reconstruction period witnessed economic empowerment of the black population both in the north and south. Emancipation Proclamation paved way for infrastructural development within the African American societies. As a result, many roads and bridges were built from damages left after the war. In addition, federal authorities under administration of Lincoln and later Johnson implemented social transformation that saw construction of hospitals and schools in the affected regions (Foner 87). Social programs accorded blacks the right to receive compensations and to access loans from financial institutions. Most slaves lacked land and proper housing for their families. In the reconstruction period, a program termed share-cropping enabled blacks to hold land for the first time in their lives after slavery. They could engage in agricultural practices; hence making a fair living from their newly awarded freedom. In this regard, it is evident that this period in subject led to significant empowerment of the black population in southern states. In conclusion, this essay has highlighted several aspects of social, economic and political developments in the post war period in America. The essay reflects on the efforts committed by Lincoln and his successor in striving to restructure status of social and political systems in the radical-filled southern states. In the process, struggles of Lincoln led to the first successful assassination of a sitting president in the US. With respect to social developments, we can appreciate that reconstruction era marked the first significant efforts directed towards abolition of slavery in US soil. In addition, Freedman Bureau accorded black population the right to participate in democratic elections, just like their white counterparts. In addition, reconstruction ushered in another period that would witness development of poverty stricken southern society in American history. Abolition of slavery and advancement of the Ku Klux Klan hindered efforts meant to empower blacks. This remained the reason as to why African Americans in the US remained poor until in the mid 20th century. Despite these failures in objectives of reconstruction era, one can appreciate the fact that this period serves as turning point on the fate of blacks and other minorities in the US. Works Cited Fitzgerald, Michael. Reconstruction Era Links. Library Systems. Web April 21, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.howard.edu/library/reference/guides/reconstructionera/default.htm Foner, Eric. America’s Reconstruction: People and Politics after the Civil War. Pittsburgh: LSU Press, 2007. Print Franklin, Hope. Reconstruction Era: Acts, Military Rule and Union Readmission. ThomasLegion.net. Web April 21, 2013. Retrieved from http://thomaslegion.net/reconstruction.html Gibson, Florence. Belle: A Reconstruction of the Reconstruction era of the United states, 1865-1877. Vancouver: Playwrights Canada Press, 2010. Print. Read More