Analysis Of Presidential Triumphs And Failures During The Reconstruction Era

Page

1 of 8

Running head: PRESIDENTIAL TRIUMPHS AND FAILURES1 Presidential Triumphs and Failures During Reconstruction EraTrent M. AndersonDaymar CollegeAuthor NoteTrent M. Anderson, Associate’s Degree Business Program, Daymar CollegeTrent M. Anderson, is now in Bachelor’s Degree Business Program, Daymar College

PRESIDENTIAL TRIUMPHS AND FAILURES2AbstractThere were two Presidents who had the difficult issues to be dealt with during the Reconstruction Era. During the Reconstruction Era there were three main plans. Abraham Lincoln offered his plan for reunification of the United States with his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. The citizens of the South had to take an oath of loyalty, and once 10% of the state had taken the oath

Then finally, the Southern states had to enact plans that dealt with freeing the slaves if their freedom was not going to become compromised. The terms of Lincoln’s plans were easy for most of the South to handle, but some Confederates had a hard time with the emancipation of their slaves. With the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, Lincoln got the initiative for reconstruction from Congress. The Radical Republicans, however, thought that the South had gotten away easy due to the plan. Most accepted it due to Lincoln’s prestige and leadership style. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865, this caused friction over the post war reconstruction policy and led to a disagreement between the next President Andrew Johnson and Congress. Reconstruction Era led by Andrew JohnsonIn 1864, Abraham Lincoln selected Andrew Johnson as his Vice-President. Andrew Johnson was a Democratic senator from Tennessee. Lincoln was looking for Southern support and hoped that by making Johnson the Vice-President, it would have some appeal to Southerners who did not want to leave the Union. After Lincoln’s assassination, Johnson’s plans raised questions. Would he follow Lincoln’s approach to reconstruction? Would he support the black suffrage as Lincoln? Or would he follow the Radical Republicans and become extremely harsh towards the South?

There were mobs of people who took over the streets in communities all throughout the South. Riots started in Memphis and New Orleans which ended up leaving many innocent black people dead. These violent acts angered the Northerners and made them say that President Johnson turned a blind eye. Johnson, of course, then blamed the Radical Republicans in Congress during his infamous “Swing Around the Circle.” This was when President Johnson traveled all around the country and gave speeches that criticized Republicans, as well as, pro-war Democrats and African Americans. This ended up hurting Johnson’s approach and the Democratic Party, rather than help them. Due to his vulgar comments, Northerners were persuaded to vote Republican in the congressional elections of 1866. After the elections of 1866, the Radical Republicans gained complete control over any policymaking in Congress. The due to all of the republican allies, they were able to gain control over the House of Representatives and the Senate. This gave them the power to override any potential vetoes that President Johnson made. All of the occurred in 1867 and created the beginning of Radical Reconstruction, or also known as Congressional Reconstruction. First and Second Reconstruction Acts.In March of 1867, Congress passed the First Reconstruction Act which was also known as the Military Reconstruction Act. This allowed the reduction of certain state’s conquered territories,