reconstruction

WRITING ASSIGNMENT Nr. I

North won the Civil War. Throughout the American Civil War, The North proved to be victorious to The South. The Union had a power and wealth, better economy and technology. There were many key factories: the money, the resources, the commanders, the manpower, the skill and determination and the most important the advanced weapons. Civil War was considered the first modern War in the World, because of new advanced weapons- rifled muskets, that cold reach 300 yards. Although, both sides had access to these weapons, North had the larger quantity. Union solders, were free people and some of Confederate solders were slaves, so the did not really care to fight. What were they defeating: slavery?

The period after The Civil War was a very difficult time in The United States history. This time was known as The Reconstruction period, it was very controvertible. There were many issues that had to be considered such as what to do with the freed blacks in the South, and how states would be readmitted to the Union. This era saw the rise and fall of the radical Republicans, the government was going through a lot of changes, Southerners had to go through major changes not just in governmental system, they had to change their way of life. Southern way of life was destroyed, slavery was abolished, and residents of the South needed help to rebuild the economy.

After the end of Civil War in1865, there was no definite plan for reconstructing the Union. This was a serious matter. In 1863 president Lincoln proposed his ten percent plan, it’s policy would allow seceding states return to the Union if 10% of their prewar voters took an oath of loyalty to the Union and abolished slavery. The plan did not force states to give equal rights to blacks. Ten percent plan was a good idea, but radical republicans felt, that it is not enough. They wanted equal rights for former slaves and a power of planter class destroyed. Congress formulated a stricter plan of Reconstruction, it proposed that Confederate states would be temporarily ruled by the military governor required half the white adult males to take an oath, and restricted political power to the hard core Unionists in each state. Lincoln vetoed the plan, but his own plan could not succeed without assistance of Congress either. Lincoln finally appeared ready to make concessions to the Radicals. At ...

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... legal and right. Plessy v. Ferguson upheld a Louisiana law requiring segregated railroad facilities. The Court claimed that segregation did not constitute discrimination, as long, as accommodations for both races were equal. “ Separate, but equal “ became embedded in the fabric of American law and stayed effective for more than half century. Black people, who crossed the color line risked violence, beating, lynching.

Birth of freedom “ was partially realized. Country was united and slavery was banished, that’s what Lincoln’s goal was. On the other hand, the acts of the government in late 1870’s and beyond shows that the freedom and equality was ignored and denied to black people. Those acts were totally against ‘new birth of the freedom “.

Booker T. Washington would probably think, that the Lincoln’s vision came true and now people of his race just have to be patien and wits will come to understanding. W.E.B. DuBois criticizes white supremacy and demand rights to his people. He understands that if you believe something you need to be heard and stand up for your rights. I don’t think, that DuBois thought, that “ new birth of freedom “ was realized in its full meaning.