Question

What were the political struggles, accomplishments, and failures of Reconstruction? Use evidence to support your answer.

Answer 1

The era of Reconstruction was supposed to reunite the Union and Confederacy after the Civil War. However, this time period was met with several issues.

Struggles

- The Union had to devise a plan on how to let the Confederate States rejoin the US. Along with this, they had to consider whether or nor they would punish these states for leaving. This fight over a Reconstruction plan increased after Andrew Johnson's plans for letting the South back in were seen as weak. Radical Republicans argued that the South should be punished harshly for their actions.

Accomplishments
- During Reconstruction, multiple amendments were passed that helped newly freed slaves gain rights. This includes the 14th amendment which states that if you are born in the US then you are a citizen. Along with this, the 14th amendment also includes the Equal Protection Clause that says a citizen, regardless of color, should be treated equally under the law. The 15th amendment is also passed at this time. This gives African-American men the right to vote.

Failures
- Despite passing new amendments, Southern politicians still find a way to limit African-American participation in the political process. These politicians create poll taxes and literacy tests as a means to keep former slaves from voting in local, state, and national elections.