Who Gets to Let States Back into the Union - Assignment Example

Topic: Who gets to let s Back Into the Union To lead the s back into the Union, Confederacy was doomed in April 1865. Tennessee became thefirst member to reenter the Union by reclaiming its seat in the United States Congress on 24 July 1866. Reconstruction of Tennessee started soon after as the state saw conflicts and fights to the extent of reaching civil war among the eastern unionists and slaveholders, showing least concern for the larger issue at stake of merging the state with the union. With the merging of Fort Donelson and Nashville into the Union in February 1862, Gen.

Ulysses S. Grant declared martial law over western Tennessee. Later, Andrew Johnson, a ‘paragon’ of the Southern Unionism, was appointed the military governor of Tennessee by the President, Abraham Lincoln (Para 3). Johnson after being granted control of Tennessee started working for the assimilation of Tennessee with the Union by organizing a civil government based on the principles laid down in the constitution of the United States of America. He stunned his constituents by siding with the Republicans who favored oppressive Reconstruction for the South.

Johnson took aggressive and stern action against those not willing to show allegiance to the Union by going to the extent of declaring execution of mutineers. He was very hard with the secessionist powers, and declared, “Treason must be made odious, and traitors must be punished.” (Para 4) He was firm in his belief that loyal Tennesseans would become role-models for Confederates to embrace the Union but he lacked the diplomacy of Abraham Lincoln.President Lincoln presented in December 1863 the “Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction” plan, popularly named the 10 percent plan (Para 6).

As per the plan 10 percent of the population would take the oath of allegiance to the Union and government could be organized. Johnson wanted the “tall poppies” to fall down; he was least worried of the threats from cavalry leaders and citizens (Para 6). Johnson was severe in dealing with the Confederates and Unionists to swear that they “desire[d] the suppression of the present insurrection” (Para 6).After Johnson becoming the Vice-President, William Brownlow became the Governor but as the things turned out with the assassination of Lincoln, Johnson became the President.

His partial attitude towards white men became the reason of starting an ideological struggle in the White House for Reconstruction. In the following years, Johnson used his veto power right against the black members in the name of not allowing more powers to the center. The issue of black suffrage, closest to the radicals’ heart, was ignored, as he said, “Damn the Negroes,” “white men alone must manage the South.”12Later, Johnson passed “black codes”, and declared Reconstruction complete half way.

The 60 newly elected delegates from Tennessee, Louisiana, and Virginia were maltreated in the United States Congress (Para13).Johnson misused his right to veto power so that blacks couldn’t be granted citizenship. The Fourteenth Amendment became the reason of confederate states admission into the United States. Taking the lead, the Joint Committee on Reconstruction pressed for the recognition of the Tennessee government. Johnson approved the related bill with conditions like his non-commitment to the statements made in the preamble.

With just four days left for the House to adjourn, the Tennessean credentials to the Committee on Elections gave a favorable report and Tennessee became a state.Things were not easy for the rest of the South states including Tennessee, facing race based riots. Black suffrage was yet to be realized. The underlying theme throughout this article shows the adamant nature of President Johnson and all-pervading racial bias of that time. The article shows the struggle of the people of South states to become a member of the Union.

Works CitedGibson, Christine. (2006). “Who Gets to Let States Back Into the Union. American Heritage Today.” Time July 24 July, 2006 07:00 AM ED .