The country was in shambles and needed a plan to heal, so under Abraham Lincoln he began to do just that. He gave the hope of peace and prosperity to the entire nation, under which it would slowly rebuild. Though the Radical Republicans had to take over this project it clearly became a bright spot in American history for the changes made to help freedmen. Throughout the country the Lincoln’s idea of reconstruction had been signal of hope for many of its people, but because of his assassination the hope steadily diminished. Andrew Johnson despised the Irish, African-Americans, as well as the wealthy plantation owners, making their lives more of a struggle. When a bill came through to help the blacks -like the Freedmen’s bureau for example-
Reconstruction is during which the United States began to rebuild the Southern society after they lost to the civil war. It lasted from 1865 to 1877, and it was initiated by President Lincoln until his assassination in 1865. President Johnson continued Lincoln’s agenda to continue the Reconstruction. Throughout the process of Reconstruction, one of its main purpose was to guarantees for equal rights for all people, especially for the African Americans. Even though slavery was abolished after the civil war, many Southerners were still against the idea of equal rights for all black people, such as the Republicans.
DiLorenzo, Thomas J. The Real Lincoln A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003. The Real Lincoln
American will always go through great political changes as a country. In the history of the United states reconstruction refers to a period of time in 1865, when efforts were made after the civil war, to restore the relations between North and the South. Also to improve status of the blacks and, to restore "normalcy" in the country. The streets were fulled with the bodies of Confederate soldiers and the buildings smoldered right down to their foundations. President Lincoln’s 10% Plan was an approach towards reconstruction.
Lincoln and Republican Party Known as one of the greatest presidents of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, shaped the nation in his image, leaving benefits to people. Striking shifts occurred in the nation at Lincoln’s time: In 1809, when Lincoln was born, the nation was just starting to grow with one united body; during his participation in political issues, the nation was parted; but after Lincoln’s presidency, it not only became one again but also forever altered and strengthened. Once had been a self-educated lawyer, a Whig Party leader, and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and then of the United States House of Representatives, Lincoln led the building of the new Republican Party. During his presidency, the Civil War burst.
Lincoln saw reconstruction as a time of healing for the South while radical Republicans saw it as a time to punish the South and teach them a lesson. Lincoln thought that the country should maintain a unity with its states. He also believed in having a strong governed country. After the Civil War, the radical Republicans controlled congress and if Lincoln had lived he would have been able to control their actions. The Radical Republicans whipped up public anger and demanded that president Johnson allow reprisals against former rebels.
Lincoln just wanted the reconstruction to be fast, simple, and painless. Reconstruction was much needed after the Civil War, and they needed a good plan! Lincoln’s plan was a
Lincoln desired a lenient reconstruction plan that would allow Southern states more freedom to govern themselves as they re-pledged loyalty to the United States and abolished slavery. The Wade-Davis Bill was proposed by radicals and it called for the president to appoint leaders and allow only citizens who had not "who had never borne arms against the United State"(Brinkley pg. 347) to vote for officials in office. Lincoln 's leniency seemed to be a more peaceful approach that may have helped unite the states rather than cause further conflict. John Wilkes Booth, a radical Southern leader, ensured that the radical reconstruction plan, indeed was passed as Lincoln was the only one standing in the way of radical reconstruction. Andrew Johnson
After the Union won the Civil War, the United States went into seven year period, known as Reconstruction. The goal of Reconstruction was to rejoin all the states into the Union and to help rebuild the South. While the goal of Reconstruction was rightful, the final result of the period didn’t do much to put America into a better place than where it was before the Civil War. During Reconstruction, the radical northern abolitionists was pushing to make America a country where everyone was equal, and granting every citizen, regardless of their ancestry. The Northerns tried to make everyone equal members of society and give each and every one of them a voice in their own government.
He wanted quick restoration for the Union states and not so much the southern and confederate states. He was not a person who was in favor of the slaves. He didn't have any intention on giving equal rights to the slaves, like white people, and he came into conflict with the Republican-dominated Congress. Later this will lead up to his impeachment. Andrew Johnson was the first US president to ever be impeached.
In 1863, both President Lincoln and a group of legislators were working on plans for reconstruction. The President was working on his reconstruction policy, at the same time Congressman Davis and Senator Wade were presenting a bill to congress. Even though the desired outcome would have been the same, and there were similarities, there were a number of differences between the two. Some of these differences caused the President to veto Wade-Davis. President Lincoln was looking to get reconstruction going even before the war was officially won.
First of all, the problem with bringing the South and the North together is that they should’ve taken one issue at a time. They were juggling between the issue of slavery, economic problems, and state power. It was too much at the same time and was asking things to clash. They didn’t make sure that both of the issues weren’t addressed fairly either.
The reconstruction era began right after one of the most significant in the US history war was ended – the American Civil War. The most dramatic of all, Civil War was the war between the states who wanted to be a part of the United States and where the slavery was legal. Eleven southern states decided to secede from the Union after Abraham Lincoln became the first republican president, who in fact was strongly oppose to slavery. The results of Civil War were catastrophic, but also brought some peace. Many people died during this time, and South was almost completely destroyed, however the positive changes in terms of ending the slavery era and creating a new amendments gave people hope for a better future.
The Reconstruction Era of American history was plagued by many problems. One of the most important problems being the recently released from slavery Freedmen. Freedmen were in a tricky situation in which they had just been released from their owner and had nowhere to go, but the Federal Government made many successful attempts to help them out. The Government helped alleviate all the problems Freedmen had from their finances to basic needs and rights, and in doing so, made the period of reconstruction more helpful than harmful for Freedmen. The events of reconstruction were helpful to freedmen as they were not only freed from slavery, they were given rights directly from the federal government.
Reconstruction was a period of time dedicated to rebuilding the nation after the Civil War. The war ended with the South being defeated and their economy being devastated. Many Southerners struggled after the war with rebuilding their land and lives. The President and Congress had to decide the terms for which the former Confederate states would be permitted to join the Union. President Lincoln’s plan for reuniting the country was found in the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction.
The American civil war led to the reunion of the South and the North. But, its consequences led the Republicans to take the lead of reconstructing what the war had destroyed especially in the South because it contained larger numbers of newly freed slaves. Just after the civil war, America entered into what was called as the reconstruction era. Reconstruction refers to when “the federal government established the terms on which rebellious Southern states would be integrated back into the Union” (Watts 246). As a further matter, it also meant “the process of helping the 4 million freed slaves after the civil war [to] make the transition to freedom” (DeFord and Schwarz 96).