The Reconstruction Period: The American Civil War

The Reconstruction period is the decade that followed the American Civil War. Following the death of President Abraham Lincoln, the remnants of the previously fractured United States were left no future plans for which to begin the long path of reconstruction. Lincoln’s successor, Andrew Johnson, as well as Congress and the Senate for rebuilding the once proud democratic state. Unfortunately, the lack of instructions and a road map allowed for much to be left open to interpretation, which vastly hindered the success of the time period. Originally intended to unify and integrate African Americans into American Society, the period of Reconstruction may have done almost everything except provide unity and peace. The start of Reconstruction period began with the adoption of the 13th Amendment and the abolition of slavery. By allowing all men and women who were considered slaves to now become “Freedmen”, the comfortable life of the southern whites became endangered. Some southern whites managed to hold on …show more content…
The economic crisis brought out a strong wave of racism. Many white northerners, who were originally in support of the abolition of slavery, blamed them for the depression and the fall of the Southern economy. The only similarity between the North and the South within the United States was the passion for racism and using the black Americans as a scapegoat. Many pro-abolition supports, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, traded in their beliefs and turned upon the race that they once supported and now found them to be “degraded, ignorant, and worthless”. With the fall of the Confederacy after the Civil War, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) came to power. Rape accusations and the number of reported lynches sky-rocked throughout the entire United States. Racist and hate-filled whites would search for any excuse to have society hunt and kill black Americans just for desiring equal