To What Extent Was the Reconstruction a Failure free essay sample

However, the other two goals lacked success. The most difficult transition for the South was after the Emancipation Proclamation and final abolishment the 13th amendment. During this time, the US neutralized about 3-4 million slaves. When the government wanted to provide and protect freedman’s rights, they failed. Just like in unifying the nation, they only completed half of this goal. They provided the rights for the African-Americans. For example, the fourteenth amendment stating that the states couldn’t deny the basic rights of citizens. It basically gave freedman the rights of a white, including voting. However, when the African Americans’ attempted to go and vote, many were denied that right by means of harassment, torture, kidnap, or even murder. They KKK, or Klu Klux Klan, was formed for that very reason. Other discriminations occurred as well towards blacks what Carl Shurz reports. He says that the white widows were extremely resentful towards the the black widows copied their fashion to were a veil to represent that your husband had died. We will write a custom essay sample on To What Extent Was the Reconstruction a Failure? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page There were several other attempts to provide for the ex-slaves like the Freedman’s Bureau which help the freedmen get adjusted to freedom and take their place in society. This, however, was shut down by president Johnson. This was because the people were getting angry that their high taxes were going towards the not ‘superior’ race. This pulled the carpet out from under the freedmen’s feet because they were left to fend for themselves in the new world of freedom. When black males were still being denied the right to vote, the federal government passed the fifteenth amendment clearly stating o one could be denied the right to vote based on race. Even after this law was passed terrorist groups still went around harming blacks. The provide rights part of the goal was completed but the protecting the right’s failed. They even had black codes for a while putting a limit on the freedom of blacks. People also went around and harmed the African-Americans for voting, a basic right of a citizen. The government tried to stop it but didn’t have the resources to enforce the law. Therefore this goal was also a failure. Readmitting the South into the Union was a tedious process. Reintegrating them started with Lincoln’s 10% plan and after Lincoln was assassinated, the Reconstruction went into the hands of Johnson creating Johnson’s Reconstruction plan. His plan involved swearing alliance to the United States to be pardoned, void secession, abolish slavery or accepting the 13th amendment, and repudiate the Confederates’s debt. other. At the time of the reconstruction, the southerners were extremely bitter towards the federal government and Republicans, which was most of the North, for taking away they’re way of life by abolishing slavery, killing loved ones in the war, and placing a huge debt on their shoulders. The South rebelled to a lot of what the North wanted them to do for those reasons. The federal government the placed soldiers in each town to try and control them. This even angered them more. In the end, the North and the South were together physically but were no where near being unified mentally. The government could not bring together the mental piece just like how they couldn’t unify themselves mentally in the government. They were only together physically. Unifying the nation was only half complete by the end of reconstruction. The last goal, rebuild the South, was a success considering the time and money they had to work on it. They made 3,000 more miles of train tracks through out the South. This allow the population to grow and in turn, towns to grow to cities. Also there were some early stages of manufacturing factories built down in the South. They weren’t very profitable compared to the North’s manufacturing but it was a step in the right direction. The cotton industry grew as well. The industry may not have grown much but there were many small steps, despite the budget. They also fixed up many farms and towns in the South that were ex-battle grounds, to erase the physical toll on the land scape. The South made big steps in the right direction in rebuilding even though it was moving them farther away from they’re previous form of life. This is why rebuilding the South was a success. In the end one third of the Reconstruction was a success. Over time, after the Reconstruction was over, the other two became closer and closer to achieving the goals, but wasn’t succeeded in during that time.