Main Reconstruction Questions - Essay Example

Q1: Reconstruction Reconstruction entailed programs of political, social and economic restructuring in the South after the deadly civil war. According to Eric Foner, it was an “unfinished revolution” beginning from emancipation proclamation in 1863 to redemption with the 1877 compromise (60). It was not only a period that witnessed the rise of empowered activist nation-state whose aim was to protect the rights of all citizens but also a period that inspired counter movements advocating for local autonomy and less government involvement. However, to most historians Reconstruction was not limited to a particular period. The era witnessed the passing of 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments; The Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875; Reconstruction Acts of 1867 and the Enforcement Acts of 1871. The period was also characterized by political terrorism and violence from groups like Ku Klux Klan and the White League. In the end, black equality was not realized as the South and North united at the expense of Black rights. The main Reconstruction question was whether to punish the rebel states or forgive them and whether to grant the Blacks full equality (Foner 60-78). Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation proclamation in 1863 thus freeing the former slaves. A Freedman’s Bureau was established to oversee the welfare of the former slaves such as education. Lincoln’s plans were moderate thus not popular with Radical Republicans. Lincoln was assassinated and Andrew Johnson became president in 1864. Just like Lincoln, his Reconstruction plan was sympathetic to the rebel states. Although he believed in state rights, his hatred for blacks affected his plans (Foner 176-184). He made an amnesty proclamation which set simple terms for rebel states wishing to join union such as taking loyalty oath. The Radical Republicans were not pleased and took over the Reconstruction efforts using their congressional power to pass major legislations which granted legal equality to Blacks. The major legislations included the 1866 Civil Rights Act which granted rights to blacks as citizens of the U. S. They could testify in court, make labor contracts and hold property (Foner 239). The military reconstruction Acts of 1867 steered Reconstruction efforts and were used to police the Southern states. The Acts gave permission to these states to form new constitutions and set conditions for readmission to the union. The 14th Amendment of 1868 followed which stated “all persons born or naturalized in U.S and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of US and of state wherein they reside” (Foner 251). This Amendment ensured legal equality under the law and reversed black codes which had been passed in the South to deny black rights. The 15th Amendment ratified in 1870 gave black males suffrage. No one would be denied the right to vote on account of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude” (Foner 271-272). Blacks could thus vote and hold office just like the whites. Reconstruction also brought about social restructuring. A new group of people known as the Scalawags and Carpetbaggers emerged in the South. The Scalawags were white but cooperated with the Republicans while Carpetbaggers were from the North and went to south to help freed slaves and for their personal interest (Foner 228-271). The period also realized improvements in education with the freedman’s bureau establishing more than 4000 schools for whites and blacks. Free labor emerged although the emergence of sharecropping and labor contracting made the blacks work in slave-like conditions. Reconstruction had its successes and failures. As stated earlier, it led to black suffrage although the women were not enfranchised. Blacks could also enjoy other rights enjoyed by the whites such as equality under the law (Foner 228-271). However, these rights were reversed as terrorist groups such as the White league and Ku Klux Klan prevented the blacks and Republicans from voting through use of violence and intimidation (Foner 412-425). The disputed elections of 1876 and the 1877 compromise which saw Rutherford Hayes become president ended reconstruction. He removed troops from the south thus establishing “home rule” (Foner 575). Whites calling themselves redeemers ensured all South states gained freedom from the North through violence and intimidation. In the end, reconciliation between the North and South took center stage while blacks were neglected. This led to passing of Jim Crow laws which legalized segregation thus propagating white supremacy. Reconstruction impacted and still continues to impact on America in various ways. It has impacted on popular culture with films such as ‘The Birth of a Nation” which revolves around the civil war and reconstruction being very popular with citizens. Conclusion Reconstruction was a period of major programs aimed at political, social and economic restructuring mainly in the South. It first started with moderate presidential Reconstruction measures aimed at uniting the North and South. However, Radical Republicans were for severe punishment for the confederate states and required civil and political equality. As such, they passed the 14th and 15th Amendments and the Civil Rights Act to ensure black suffrage and legal equality. The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 ensured the South states complied by ratifying the amendments and guaranteeing rights to blacks. However, these were overshadowed by the rising Southern resistance through the Ku Klux Klan and White league as well as passing of the Black Codes and Jim Crow laws. The unwillingness of the presidents to ensure Black rights also led to failure of Reconstruction. Indeed, Reconstruction was an “unfinished revolution’. Q2: American West in the 19th Century The 1872 painting by John Gast is a good representation of the West in the nineteenth century. The painting referred as “American progress” depicts the manifest destiny of United States comprising the ideas of expansion and national destiny. The painting shows a beautiful woman or an angel representing America leading civilization to the West with the pioneers, farmers, miners, wagons and railroads followed. Her forehead according to Mountjoy has the “star of the empire” (19). She shows where America is heading now and in the future. She represents the light that America was bringing to West supported by technological advancements such as railroads and telegraphs. She is carrying a book representing “learning and knowledge” (p 19). This shows national enlightenment or civilization through education. On the left hand, she tags along a wire of telegraph to flash intelligence all over the land. Telegraph is an improved means of communication which would be used in civilization efforts. The gown she is wearing is also a representation of the advancements to follow. Besides the beautiful woman, the painting also shows advancements in transportation. First in line are the Indian travois, then a covered wagon and railroad lines (Sandweiss). There are also groups of people moving to the West which include Indians, farmers, miners and settlers. These groups just like transportation advancements come in stages as civilization takes place and shows how expansion took place. The groups do not go into place all at once. First the pioneers explore, and then farmers and settlers follow (Mountjoy 19). The movement of these people and technology chases the Native Americans away (Indians) as well as the wild animals. In essence, the painting represents modernization of new west. Manifest destiny shown in this painting is “the religious belief that the fate of US is to expand across the American continent from the Atlantic ocean to Pacific Ocean” (Mountjoy 19). The idea was prevalent in the 19th century and was used to justify expansion. It is steered by the principles of virtue, mission and destiny. America has a mission to accomplish which is to mould the rest of the world in its own image and its destiny is divine. This mythic West depicted in painting represents the historical West as it was lived. America was a democratic republic and was bent on spreading its ideals and culture to the rest of the world. However, it was not supposed to force any nation to adopt its laws instead, the democratic states could join America willingly such as the case with Texas (Johannsen 15-20). America also strived to expand to whole of North America thus various wars such as the Mexican war in 1846. For John Quincy Adams, America would be united by language, religious beliefs, political principles and social customs. However, expansion meant spread of slavery thus some people (Whigs) were opposed to Manifest Destiny. The Southerners used this ideology to advocate for expansion so as to expand slavery. Though there was enlightenment, the natives were denied rights and remained uncivilized for long. The union was weakened through secession of confederates although the states were reunited after reconstruction. Manifest destiny ideas were used to structure later U.S expansion at the end of the century beyond North America and across seas. However, Roosevelt defined the new role of U.S as “international policing power” (Mountjoy 122-125). The American culture has spread wide across borders to the whole world especially through pop culture and Hollywood movies and also through language. Furthermore, America was able to acquire Puerto Rico, Guam and Cuba after the Spanish-American war in 1898. Conclusion The 1872 painting by John Gast was an appropriate representation of American West in the 19th century. The painting depicts a beautiful woman (Columbia) leading civilization to the west followed by pioneers, miners, farmers and settlers. This led to fleeing of the Native Indians from their land. Civilization was to be enhanced with technological advancements such as transport and communication or telegraph. The destiny of America was to spread its democratic ideals to uncivilized nations through expansion and this was prevalent in American history. The manifest destiny was also used to structure later U.S expansion across continental borders and seas such as the Spanish-America war that led to acquisition of Puerto Rico. Works Cited Foner, Eric. Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2002. Johannsen, Robert W. Manifest Destiny and Empire: American Antebellum Expansionism. Texas: A & M University Press, 1997. Mountjoy, Shane. Manifest Destiny: Westward Expansion. New York, NY: Infobase, 2009. Sandweiss, Martha A. “John Gast, American Progress, 1872”. Accessed Oct 29, 2013 http://picturinghistory.gc.cuny.edu/item.php?item-id=180 Read More