ReconstructionReconstruction

By Sergio GonzalesBy Sergio Gonzales

“ “As a general rule, I abstain from As a general rule, I abstain from reading the reports of attacks upon reading the reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I can not properly offer that to which I can not properly offer an answer.” – Abraham Lincoln, an answer.” – Abraham Lincoln, (Washington, DC, April 11, 1865), his (Washington, DC, April 11, 1865), his last public speech.last public speech.

1865-1877

Well, before Reconstruction, there was the American Civil War. This Civil War was all about the North VS. the South. Once upon a time, though, the North and the South were once together called the Union. But then the South wanted to keep slavery, and the North did not like it. The south segregated away and became the confederate states in act to keep slavery. But the North could not stand by. They took action against the South and won. Post-war time, Reconstruction wants to bring the states together to form the Union again. During this, Lincoln is assassinated in 1865, and Andrew Johnson takes over, Congress and Johnson battle in 1866, Congress passes the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, and by the 1870’s, most states are redeemed back into the union, and the Reconstruction era finally comes to and end in 1877.

What is Reconstruction?

Reconstruction generally refers to the period of time that occurs immediately after the American Civil War. It was a time where the Confederate states, also known as the south, are to be be re-established back into the Union, under President Lincoln’s leniency. Eventually by the 1870’s, most southern states have been redeemed from Republican rule, and the Democratic Party controlled the south.

What what was the main condition for

re-admittance of the Confederates?

The main condition for re-admittance was that at least ten percent of the voting population in 1860 would take an oath of allegiance to the Union.

Why did the radicals criticize

President Lincoln’s leniency towards

the South? The radicals wanted to ensure that the freed blacks were fully protected of their given rights. They felt he did not seem to fufill that.

What did the Congress pass, and what did it

do? The Congress passed Reconstruction Acts of 1867. This divided the confederate states into five military districts. (This did not include Tennessee as the state had already been re-admitted to the Union)

What was each state then

required to do? After the Congress

passed the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, each state was then required to accept the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution.

What did the Congress fail to

secure, and what was its outcome? The Congress failed to

secure land for the blacks, which then allowed whites to economically have control over blacks.

But not only does Reconstruction affect how the southern states are being let back into the Union, Reconstruction also affects African-Americans in a positive way. Firstly, it helped abolish slavery, and tried to make it permanent. Then it was applied, the 13th and 14th Ammendments, that would grant blacks political rights and freedomthat would forever change perspective in the future."Ole missus used tu read

de good book tu us, black 'uns, on Sunday evenin's, but she mostly read dem places whar it says, 'Sarvints obey your masters,' an' didn't stop tu splane it like de teachers; an' now we is free, dar's heaps o' tings in dat ole book, we is jes' sufferin' tu larn."

A black man who is excited that he is able to read all the Bible with his freedman’s education.

"An Ordinance to dissolve the Union between the State of South Carolina and other States,"