The Failure of the Post Civil War Reconstruction Period in America

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After the North won the civil war, it was time to rebuild this nation. This period of reconstruction was supposed to have a profound change on society. Unfortunately this was not the case. Reconstruction did not fundamentally alter this nation. Not to say that nothing happened, but nothing that really made a change or difference happened. First, the control of the south was given right back to the planter elite. Also, even though slavery was abolished; blacks were not free. Finally, Congress and President Johnson could not get along. Although the civil war reshaped this country profoundly. The reconstruction efforts did little but scratch a surface, before being quickly wiped away.

After the civil war the South was left torn apart. Houses and roads needed to be rebuilt, and the people needed assistance. The Freedman's Bureau was then enacted to give clothes and food to poor struggling southerners.1 They were also supposed to distribute the confiscated land in the south to newly freed blacks. After Johnson took over the presidency all of this land was given ...

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