Reconstruction era
Following the bloody civil war that happened in American history in the year 1861- 1865. Attempts were made to redress the inequities of slavery and its political, social, and economic legacy and to solve problems arising from the readmission to the Union of the 11 states that had seceded at or before the outbreak of war. Reconstruction period 1865-77 began when Abraham Lincoln announced a plan to establish southern states government loyal to the union in an attempt to weaken the confederacy with a condition they must abolish slavery. In his speech he granted black suffrage in the postwar south singling out only the “very intelligent “and those that served our cause as most worthy. However, he did not live to preside over the reconstruction and his successor Andrew Johnson who pardoned southern whites except the confederates leaders and wealthy landowners thus restoring their political rights and they quickly enacted the black code’s rules. This infuriated the north who saw the southerners were keen on maintaining white supremacy eroding support for the presidential reconstruction and triumph of the more radical wing of the Republican Party. Lastly, even though the reconstruction faced opposition, it had an impact politically as it united the seceding states into the union, Therefore helped shaped modern America.
Political changes
Abolition of slavery
Social changes
The reunification of the seceding states into the union.
Reconstruction experienced the first experience of interracial democracy. Northern victory in the city decided the fate of the union and slavery, posing numerous questions such as which form of labor would replace slavery, how should the nation be divided and what status would the former slaves have. the then president of the united states started the process of unifying the confederate states as long as they accepted the abolishment of slavery. This unification was the major cause of development in America as resources were now used and shared nationally.
Voting right