To What Extent Was Reconstruction Successful

Reconstruction came in many stages and was headed by many people, but was Reconstruction successful and did it reach all the goals that were originally set out to be achieved. There were many failures and many successes during the time of Reconstruction and even though Reconstruction was successful in the end throughout the time of Reconstruction there were many laws and societal standards that did not make Reconstruction successful.
America faced many problems after the civil war, including the political re-entry of the formerly rebellious states, how to revive the economy of the South, and how to support the 4 million freed slaves. In the beginning of reconstruction, Lincoln believed it was his responsibility to solve these problems. He came up with the 10% plan; this plan entitled amnesty to the Confederates by taking an oath and if 10% or more took the oath than statehood would be re-established. This

plan was carried out Lincoln’s assassination but eventually the Republicans in Congress opposed Lincoln’s plan and began to carry out their own plan. The Wade- Davis Bill was presented by the Republicans and stated that the newly re-established states would become military districts and would be placed under military governors. The Republican party took the attitude that the South should be treated as a conquered territory. Once the election of 1864 had passed, President Johnson instated a new plan, one where the military states had to pass the 13th amendment for them to re-enter the Union. All of these plans addressed part of the goals that needed to be achieved by Reconstruction but none of them addressed all of the issues.
Throughout Reconstruction the government and society had a negative view of African Americans.

The government even tested African American citizens on the U.S. Constitution and laws so that they could have the ability to vote. Blacks had to pass this test to vote. It was purposely made hard so they would fail and be unable to vote (H). This is an example where Reconstruction failed because African Americans had finally earned the right to vote only for it to be taken away. Another example of where Reconstruction failed was when African American just after the Civil War did not have any talents therefore they become sharecroppers. Although working under a Boss is very similar to working for a master. African Americans never really got that freedom that the 13th amendment granted them (I). Lastly, an example of Reconstruction failing is when a social divide was created after Henry Adams’ made a statement before the Senate in 1880. Through this Blacks gained legal freedom but a backlash occurred when Whites stated that Blacks won’t want to obey the new

laws.
Even though Reconstruction had many downfalls it also was very successful in many ways. The readmission of the military states allowed a sense of compromise between the former Confederate States and the Union. This compromise showed that Reconstruction was beginning to become successful and stigmas about Confederates began to disappear (B). Also, the passing of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments made thing legally equal between blacks and whites, and the government was recognizing the issues between blacks and whites and trying to change the issues and because the government was recognized Reconstruction was becoming successful.(A). Sharecropping, mentioned previously, was a way for whites to still have power over blacks but eventually black who were sharecroppers, they began to have their own plantations and black began to live independently. Therefore, this is where Reconstruction is successful because black sharecroppers were no longer dependent on whites (L).
Reconstruction in the end was successful but along the way there were many setbacks and these setbacks did not allow for the goals of Reconstruction were not completed. The goals were partially completed but none of them were completed in their entirety.