Why The Political Failure Of The Reconstruction Era
analytical Essay
653 words
The American civil war marks the beginning of a new era in United States history. The civil war helped preserve the union and free the slaves. After the end of civil war, between 1865-1877, the nation faced big challenges to reconstruct the country and transform the southern states. Abraham Lincoln created the reconstruction plan, but when he was assassinated, the successor’s, Andrew Johnson and the Congress, adopted Lincoln's plan. Reconstruction was the period when the federal government restored and brought states to the union. During reconstruction era many goals were accomplished and leaders abilities were uncovered. Sadly however, reconstruction era came to an end by political, economical, and social problems causing it to fail as a whole. …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the american civil war marked the beginning of a new era in united states history.
- Analyzes how the reconstruction plan was unachievable due to many political problems. the freedmen’s bureau was passed by congress to help former slaves and poor whites in the south.
- Explains that sharecropping dominated agriculture industry in the north and south, resulting in poor people owning more land due to unfair labor contracts. crop-lien system kept people in debt leading to decline in agriculture economy.
- Explains how social problems influenced the failure of the reconstruction plan. after being free of slavery, african american's goal was to achieve equality with the whites, but equal rights between races remained unsolved.
- Explains that the reconstruction plan failed due to political, economic, and social problems. better planning and construction could have prevented these problems and prevented them.
The largest political failure of reconstruction era was to provide rights to the former slaves. Even with the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments passed by congress, there always was a way to somehow violate the law. Even with these laws southern states continued to mistreat the former slaves and defy the constitution. Another political failure turned out the be the Freedmen’s Bureau, which was passed by congress to help former slaves and poor whites in the south. The government promised the families those received freedom that they would receive forty acres of land to farm. However, land redistribution did not live up to distribute land to former slaves, but returned to those who owned the land before the civil war. These injustice decisions made reconstruction era a disaster and other similar problems existed in the overall political
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- Successes and Failures of the Reconstruction Eraanalytical essayIn 1865, prior to Abraham Lincoln's assassination, Reconstruction commenced after the Confederacy's surrender at Appomattox. Post-Civil War, the South's economic, social, and political status lied in ruins. New constitutions had to be established and the country recreated to maintain peace, unity, and order in the United States.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how president lincoln aimed to crush the rebellion with armed might and get the south to give up its rebellion voluntarily and return to the union.
- Analyzes how andrew johnson, lincoln's vice-president, took the presidential office on april 15, 1865. he considered the confederate states as traitors, pardoned thousands of leaders, and argued against negroes having universal suffrage.
- Explains how corruption dominated the country after ulysses s. grant won the presidential election of 1869.
- Explains that reconstruction commenced after the confederacy's surrender at appomattox in 1865. some contemporaries considered it a waste of time and money.
- Explains how the 13th amendment, passed in 1865, officially freed all victims of slavery and involuntary servitude, but failed to define any rights or benefits given to them.
- Explains that the compromise of 1877 allowed rutherford b. hayes to be president, and called for a removal of all federal troops from the south, marking the end of reconstruction.
1465 wordsRead More - Was Reconstruction A Success Or Failure Essayanalytical essayAs a nation, America has faced some troublesome times through her life span. As history goes on, people never forget about the Reconstruction era. Reconstruction was refers to the efforts made in the United State between 1865 and 1877. As the saying goes, ¨All good things must come to an end¨ which is exactly the case. The reputation Reconstruction has is labeled both a success and a failure.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that america has faced some troublesome times through her life span. reconstruction was refers to the efforts made in the united states between 1865 and 1877.
- Explains that reconstruction succeeded because it gave the blacks the freedom they had been waiting for. the fourteenth amendment was ratified on july 9th, 1868.
- Explains that the fifteenth amendment gave the blacks the right to vote and allowed them the chance to be elected into office.
- Analyzes how reconstruction failed to protect former slaves and the ku klux klan, which was founded in the southern states after the civil war.
- Analyzes how the legacy of reconstruction changed the lives of the white southerns and the slaves who had been recently freed.
- Concludes that reconstruction was a step in the right direction, even though the laws were not entirely obeyed.
1149 wordsRead More - Breaking Point Of The Civil Waranalytical essayThe American civil war was one of the biggest hardships for a young country to endure, and yet it did not prepare them for the tension after. Slavery was the biggest conflict between the Northern states and the Southern states, this is what lead us to civil war. In the midst of all the national crisis was a breaking point for the young country. Reconstruction was needed, and the period following the civil war, the reconstruction period, fostered many significant results and achievements especially for Constitutional amendments. While mending a broken country, the reconstruction period still left many fresh wounds. Creating and passing laws wasn’t enough to make a change, it would take a leader strong enough to change the hearts and minds of
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the american civil war was one of the biggest hardships for a young country to endure, and yet it did not prepare them for the tension after.
- Analyzes the continuing issues of racism and discrimination in the south and the north, which started at america's birth and grew into a bloody conflict and continued throughout the reconstruction period.
- Explains that the thirteenth amendment abolished slavery but did not change the injustices being done to the now former slaves.
- Explains that the south denied the fourteenth amendment, which eventually led to the first reconstruction act in eighteen sixty-seven.
- Explains that while the reconstruction period was a time of healing, it still did not change the discrimination against slaves and blacks.
- Opines that the reconstruction period was a difficult task for america, but one in which they succeeded. laws were not enough to change the hearts and minds of the people.
1505 wordsRead More - The Reconstruction Era: The Planted Seedsanalytical essayThe first roar of the Civil War ended with a last gasp for air. Where in such a war more than six hundred twenty thousand men sacrificed their lives for their own belief in the abolishment of slavery (“Civil War Facts”). “We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom” (Baslor). These wise words of Abraham Lincoln cleared the way of a desolate trail of violence and pain, yet he was determined to accomplish his plans of abolishing slavery and creating equality. The Civil War, began in 1861 and ended in 1865, yet it was known as one of the bloodiest wars America has ever walked through compared to other American Wars (“Civil War Facts”). After the Civil War the Reconstruction Era rose up and flourished into a luminous path of freedom for slaves in America. The president’s impact on the Reconstruction Era lit a path to the rights of African Americans. Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and Ulysses S. Grant each had their own participation in the movement of the Reconstruction Era, for they planted a seed of faith believing that a beautiful rose would rise and become one of a kind teeming with equality and freedom.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how abraham lincoln's words cleared the way of violence and pain, yet he was determined to accomplish his plans of abolishing slavery and creating equality. lincoln, andrew johnson, and ulysses s. grant each planted a seed of faith
- Explains that abraham lincoln was an important man in the movement of the reconstruction era, yet he has a great legacy after having issued the emancipation proclamation, freedmen’s bureau, and the 13th amendment.
- Explains how andrew johnson, the seventeenth president, was elected after the assassination of abraham lincoln in pursuit of continuing lincoln's legacy of creating equality.
- Opines that ulysses s. grant would be recognized for his outstanding work as a commander of the union army during the civil war and as the 18th president.
- Explains that "10 things you may not know about abraham lincoln." history.com. a&e television networks, 16 nov. 2012.
- States that baslor, roy p., "the gettysburg address by abraham lincoln." abrahamlincolnonline.org.
- Analyzes the civil war and reconstruction (1850-1877). americanhistory.si.edu. national museum of american history.
- Analyzes how grant's ku klux klan act helped stop the racial violence against blacks in the south. grant was a leader of equality and freedom, yet he fulfilled the plans of abraham lincoln.
1226 wordsRead More - Reconstruction in America After the Civil Waranalytical essayThe Meaning of Reconstruction America has gone through many hardships and struggles since coming together as a nation involving war and changes in the political system. Many highly regarded leaders in America have come bestowing their own ideas and foundation to provide a better life for “Americans”, but no other war or political change is more infamous than the civil war and reconstruction. Reconstruction started in 1865 and ended in 1877 and still to date one of the most debated issues in American history on whether reconstruction was a failure or success as well as a contest over the memory, meaning, and ending of the war. According to, “Major Problems in American History” David W. Blight of Yale University and Steven Hahn of the University of Pennsylvania take different stances on the meaning of reconstruction, and what caused its demise. David W. Blight argues that reconstruction was a conflict between two solely significant, but incompatible objectives that “vied” for attention both reconciliation and emancipation.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that america has gone through many hardships and struggles since coming together as a nation involving war and changes in the political system.
- Analyzes how hahn evokes the two strong different beliefs even after the war leaves a bitter taste in people’s mouth evolving to animosity towards one another, ultimately making reconcile difficult.
- Explains that lincoln's passing awoke two highly regarded republican leaders that came together to start 'radicals'. the plan was to disenfranchise white southerners, protect black civil rights, and confiscate south property and grant them to newly freed slaves.
- Analyzes how lincoln's death opens doors for people like blight to propose powerful counter arguments about "meaning and memory" as significant factors to reconstruction.
879 wordsRead More - Was Reconstruction A Success Or Success Essayexplanatory essayAs a country, America has gone though many political changes throughout her lifetime. Leaders have come and gone, all of them having different objectives and plans for the future. As history takes its course, though, most all of these “revolutionary movements” come to an end. One such movement was Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a time period in America consisting of many leaders, goals and accomplishments. Though, like all things in life, it did come to an end, the resulting outcome has been labeled both a success and a failure.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that america has gone through many political changes throughout her lifetime. reconstruction was a time period in america consisting of many leaders, goals and accomplishments.
- Explains that reconstruction was a time period of "putting back the pieces" in america after the civil war, when four million former slaves were freed by the 13th amendment.
- Explains that honest abe was assassinated at fords theatre on april 14th, 1865, before he could put his plan to the test. the radical republicans were mad at the south, blaming them for the civil war.
- Explains that congress stepped in with their own plan of reconstruction, which had two main points to it: troops were required to move in and take up residence in the confederate states of the south; any state that wanted back into the union was only allowed to do so if they changed their 14th amendment.
- Explains that the reconstruction act looked good on paper, but the shake-up took place in the 1876 presidential election. the military occupation of the southern states was put to an end.
- Opines that though reconstruction wasn't a total success, it was at least an step in the right direction.
1199 wordsRead More - Claude Bowers Reconstruction Era Summaryopinionated essayMajor concepts were presented in this article. For example, the mentioning of the Civil War, and how it impacted the United States afterwards. Interpretations of the Reconstruction Era were also present. Claude Bowers was a historian who published his book in 1929 titled, The Tragic Era. From his point of view, reconstruction was a time of corrupt politicians who dominated the Ulysses S. Grant administration, scheming carpetbaggers invading the south stealing political and economic power, and southern scalawags who betrayed their own people and collaborated with the enemy. And the negroes who were ignorant and wanted to Africanize the south. The Republican leaders during the Reconstruction Era were cruel and evil all the way through, and the
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the major concepts presented in the article, such as the civil war and the reconstruction era.
- Opines that the civil war and reconstruction bear an odd relationship, like cause and effect. without it, there would be hatred towards different races in society.
405 wordsRead More - How Was Reconstruction Successfulanalytical essayBefore reconstruction there was slavery. Thats a fact but afterwards there was segregation and terror. Where was the freedom. Reconstruction was a time after the civil war ended which was meant to help freed slaves fit into society and reunite the union. The thirteenth fourteenth and fifteenth amendments were added to the constitution during this time to help everyone be equal. Unfortunately the kkk also appeared and freedom was not brought to all so was reconstruction successful? By analyzing sharecropping, Ku Klux Klan activities and white superiority, one can surmise that reconstruction failed because republicans were being killed and african american voters were threatened.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that reconstruction failed because republicans were being killed and african american voters were threatened.
- Analyzes how sharecropping proves that reconstruction failed because the freedmen became enslaved in different ways.
- Explains that the ku klux klan is a group of democrats that want white supremacy and republicans wanted equality for all.
- Explains that reconstruction gave everyone citizenship and the right to vote, but some supremacists took matters into their own hands. the black man suffering in the hands of white democrats proves reconstruction failed because there was still white supremacy.
- Concludes that sharecropping ku klux klan activities and white supremacy prove reconstruction failed in america.
570 wordsRead More - Reconstructionexplanatory essayReconstruction was the time between 1863 and 1877 when the U.S. focused on abolishing slavery, destroying the Confederacy, and reconstructing the nation and the Constitution and is also the general history of the post-Civil War era in the U.S. between 1865 and 1877. Under Abraham Lincoln, presidential reconstruction began in each state as soon as federal troops controlled most of the state. The usual ending date is 1877, when the Compromise of 1877 saw the collapse of the last Republican state governments in the South
In this essay, the author
- Identifies over 1500 african-american officeholders during the reconstruction period, including hiram revels, joseph hayne rainey, and jonathan clarkson gibbs.
- Explains that hiram rhodes revels was the first african american to serve in the united states senate. he represented mississippi in 1870 and 1871 during reconstruction.
- Explains that joseph hayne rainey was born in georgetown, south carolina, on june 31, 1832. he was the first african american to serve in the united states house of representatives and the second black person to be directly elected to congress.
- Explains that reconstruction was the time between 1863 and 1877 when the u.s. focused on abolishing slavery, destroying the confederacy, and reconstructing the nation.
- Explains that jonathan clarkson gibbs was an active member of the abolitionist movement and established schools for newly freed slaves. he was elected to the state constitutional convention of 1868.
910 wordsRead More - How Did The South End Reconstructionexplanatory essayThe year is 1876 and Reconstruction is in process. Reconstruction is the rebuilding of the South. Now that the Civil War was over, the United States was creating enough opportunities that all Americans could pursue their hopes for happiness. This was an important era in American history. This showed how Americans were back then and how their decisions affected the United States of America. The South ended Reconstruction because of the KKK, racism, and lawless fear.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the south ended reconstruction because of the kkk, racism, and lawless fear.
- Explains that the civil war ended 11 years ago, and the south needed to rebuild.
- Explains that the kkk was a terrorist group that killed reconstruction. they were against the equal rights for freed slaves and killed african americans and government officials.
- Explains that racism was a big problem during the reconstruction. many thought they would be treated equally, but americans still treated african americans like slaves.
- Explains that the kkk had no fear of anyone or anything. abram colby was taken out of the house by the klansmen and was whipped for several hours.
- Argues that the north was also part of the fall of reconstruction. hayes won the election and removed federal soldiers from the south.
- Explains that the south killed reconstruction because of the kkk, racism, and lawless fear.
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