Chapter 15: Reconstruction

Reconstruction

Introduction

Following the Civil War, the South faced widespread devastation, including destroyed infrastructure. The future was uncertain, particularly regarding readmission to the Union, rebuilding governments and economies, and the rights of formerly enslaved people. The concepts of citizenship and equality were central to Reconstruction, sparking debates and resistance. While African Americans and Radical Republicans aimed to fulfill the Declaration of Independence's promise of equality, white Democrats sought to limit Black freedom. Resistance persisted, leading to the eventual collapse of Reconstruction and continued restrictions on human freedom in the South.

Politics of Reconstruction

Reconstruction aimed to restore the southern states to the Union and redefine African Americans' role in society. President Lincoln initiated reunification plans in 1863, proposing that when 10% of a state's voting population swore allegiance, loyal Unionists could establish governments. These Lincoln governments emerged in areas with Union support, such as Louisiana, Tennessee, and Arkansas, which were notably exempt from the Emancipation Proclamation's liberating effects.

Emancipation Proclamation and Thirteenth Amendment

Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, initially a war aim, committed the U.S. to abolishing slavery. However, it only freed enslaved people in areas of rebellion, leaving over 700,000 in bondage in Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, and Union-occupied areas. The Thirteenth Amendment, passed on January 31, 1865, legally abolished slavery