CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION

To what extent did the Civil war and Reconstruction result in continuity and change in
Regional and national differences of the United States?

Between the years (1861-65), Americans experienced the Civil War. The period was among the
most threatening times that American society has ever experienced. The democracy of the whole
nation was at risk, and it was time for a change, depending on its people. Citizens were the ones
to determine if equality, human dignity, and fairness, among other ideas, were going to be
upheld, or if they were going to fall. Reconstruction was the period between (1867-77) when the
government tried to reintegrate the South into the Union but most importantly protect the rights
of African Americans. Although slavery was abolished Blackman rights were not completely
upheld; as they were reduced to a second-class status which was still inferior to Whites and it
was ruled with a lot of violence and intimidation. There was also great competition between the
federal government and state government on who to have more control.
The reconstruction period was considered the "Second American Revolution" because it
led to new laws and social changes in the country, however certain aspects still continued the
same despite all the efforts. It brought democracy and freedom to people of all races but former
slaves still held a subordinate position in society. African Americans still had to keep fighting
against racial discrimination, which was a significant thing. But the second Revolution did bring
positive changes that influenced people’s beliefs for the better. Some republicans and congress
meetings called for respect, freedom, and equality for black which proves how many individuals
did seek change and social improvement. Another point of evidence that demonstrates change is
whereby black people were called to go to war with others and join the military.

The results and efforts of Reconstruction did bring positive changes in America’s society and
pollical systems. During the period of Radical Reconstruction, black people’s voices were heard
for the first time in the United States of America. It was not until the year 1865 that Andrew
Johnson announced plans for Reconstruction; in his view, people from Southern State had no
right to govern themselves nor had their opinions during the voting process, time for liberation
had come. The federal legislatures passed during Ulysses Grant's leadership in 1871, took action
against the KKK and organizations oppressing black people. Another change that came from
Reconstruction was in 1861 when Lincoln supported the 13th amendment, which abolished
slavery and allowed the African Americans to enroll in the military. And also the 14th
amendment which promotes equality for all citizens before the law. President Johnson voted for
the Freedmen Bureau, which advocated for food to southern races, supervised labor systems,
public schools where former slaves went to school and courts to present their grievances. Other
things that changed include the improved transport and communication system with no
discrimination and improvement in a social role where Black could worship, marry and enjoy in
restaurants and accommodation like others.

Although there was much effort for the Reconstruction period to help African Americans equally
integrate society, there was still a significant sense of racial segregation. African Americans were
still seemed to be inferior and weren’t treated as equals. Even after African Americans were
being protected by the 13,14,15th constitution amendment and given the right to education, the
situation remained the same. There was oppression by Southerner whites who didn’t support the
implementation of requests for the African Americans in the region. They experienced a
continuation of living in fear of White resistance and violence. Southern whites were not happy
over their loss and defeat, and came up with Jim Crow Laws which legally supported racial
segregation. When Southern State legislatures were appointed, Andrew Johnson's leadership
(1865-1866) came up with "Black Codes”, codes to limit African Americans’ freedom and
guarantee that they would be available for cheap labor. Regulations denied them the right to buy
land, testify in courts, vote, and even attend schools. Towns such as Landry in the Southern
States posted laws that oppressed Africans and made them continue living in fear. The rules
stated that African Americans should live on a farm, a condition of slaves in the past. Lucy
McMillan, an African American woman during the joint congressional committee of 1871, gave
testimony on how they faced harassment and oppression from KKK, making them live as slaves.
This information manifests how White supremacy was still dominant.
Even after Reconstruction and with the change of laws, the culture remained the same
majorly in the Southern states. Oppression remained to the African Americans. Pressure
manifested through different ways such as corruption, sharecropping, and violence. For example,
in 1893, a pamphlet from Ida Bells state denied voting African Americans through violence from
the KKK, legislature enactments, and political massacres. Blacks witnessed violence such as
beating and lynching, where the whites, after all this, didn’t face the law. Ku Klux Klan and
other forces were against the changes brought about by Radical Reconstruction while white
supremacy was back to its dominance. Elected senators and congress members could not seat in
the same seats with people selected from the Southern States. Ku Klux Klan and these forces
targeted Republicans, African Americans, and leaders who opposed the white systems.
Reconstruction was a period to reform the Southern politically, socially, and economically but it
is evident that many of those aspects which were supposed to change still remained and
continued present during this time.

The Civil War relates to the American War of independence in the sense that the nation fought
for liberty and sought justice in both of these wars. The Civil War’s main goal was to abolish
slavery and to maintain the Union between the North and South states of America. The conflict
involved the confederate states fighting against the government, and each strived to achieve their
own ideals. Which relates to the American War of independence where Americans strived to
gain their autonomy and liberty from the British. In both of these conflicts, America aimed to
liberate their citizens from different forms of oppression and uphold important principles like
justice, liberty and freedom.

In conclusion, the purpose of the Civil War and the Reconstruction period intended to bring
many changes to America socially and politically. Whether or not it was a success can be
debated, as some aspects remained the same while others factors did change. After the end of the
war the constitution established the 13th,14th, and 15th amendments which abolished slavery and
grated citizenship and legal rights to former slaves. Although the ‘peculiar institution’ was
brought to its demise, society was not accustomed to having African Americans as their equals
and as a result violence and racial segregation still remained. The Second Revolution was meant
to bring an end to social inequalities but only succeeded to a certain extent. Southern legislatures
which appointed the Jim Crow Laws and the Black Codes were created to suppress blacks; as
well as the KKK which intimated and violently attacked them. Eventually action was taken to
stop these forms of oppression against the African American community, which proves how the
Reconstruction did bring changes and did in fact stand to protect Black’s rights and liberty even
after the War. The results of the War had both continuity and change in Regional and National
aspects of society.

References

Du Bois, W.E.B. "Reconstruction and its Benefits," American Historical Review, 15 d (July
1910), 781–99 JSTOR

Dunning, William Archibald. Reconstruction: Political & Economic, 1865–1877 (1905). Blames
Carpetbaggers for the failure of Reconstruction. Online edition

Foner, Eric. "Reconstruction Revisited" in Reviews in American History, Vol. 10, No. 4, The
promise of American History: Progress and Prospects (Dec. 1982), pp. 82–100, review of the
historiography, online in Project MUSE

Class resources:

Eric Foner, Give me Liberty Textbook, 2017 edition

McPherson Chapter 12-15