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Positive And Negative Effects Of Reconstruction

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The Reconstruction Era, sparked by the conclusion of the devastating Civil War, was a crucial period in American history that aimed to transition the divided nation to a more unified one. However, reformers and political figures faced significant political, social, and economic changes which they were unable to adapt to. President Lincoln’s role was replaced, after his assassination, by corrupted officers that didn’t prioritize Reconstruction. The United States government was faced with challenging dilemmas in this period that they only overcame with controversial policies. Lastly, white Southerners enforcing racist policies unforeseeably succeeded in preventing African Americans from gaining Civil Rights. Reconstruction, deeply characterized …show more content…

Andrew Johnson proved his leniency in Reconstruction through the passage of the Amnesty Act, which removed punishments and restrictions of ex-Confederate leaders to hold government positions. This only doomed the nation further because it put the nation in danger of the South’s ideas being resurfaced and causing more division. Johnson and Congress clearly didn’t put enough thought into the passage of this act, because if they did, they would have realized the lasting negative effects it had on the nation. The final plan for readmittance was extremely indulgent with very few far reaching effects. It had no punishments towards the rebellious South and could not prove the Union’s point. It didn’t show the general population that their ways were wrong and did not make sure that the new constitutions would be a definite end to discrimination in the South beyond slavery. There was no mental rehabilitation of southerners thoughts, and therefore no effective change. The North had an unpowerful plan for rebuilding the Union, and it caused more problems in the future that could have been prevented, had they taken more initiative and been more unforgiving by taking extra steps to prevent racism and …show more content…

States were readmitted after ratifying the 14th amendment which demonstrated progress to unification, but the nation was still very divided amongst ideals as Southerners were still resistant to Northern control. More action could have been taken by the government to fund the Freedmen’s Bureau, which provided great welfare to many newly free Blacks and poor whites. Reconstruction could have gone for longer, if not for the selfish decision to accept the Compromise of 1877 by Hayes in order to become president. Old confederates could have been permanently prevented from becoming officials, and therefore stopped racist requirements and policies that infringed on African American rights. Many actions could have been taken that the government didn’t take advantage of, meaning that a better outcome could have happened despite these

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