Nature of Reconstruction Era - Research Paper Example

American Civil War: Nature of Reconstruction Era American Reconstruction Era remains one of the most significant moments of American history. Impacts created during the period exist even within modern American political and social structures. From a historical perspective, Reconstruction Era ensued immediately after the American civil war. It covered a period of 12 years from 1865-1877. Civil war took place in the Southern region, and emerged as an armed struggle between the Northern Union and the Southern states. Immediately after the war, Northern Union implemented strategies meant to ensure restructuring and integration of the Southern states into the larger confederacy. Historical facts from the war documents indicate that the Reconstruction attempts met stiff resistance from the southern insurgency movements (Jerry 34). The northern confederacy wanted to restructure governance structures within the south in order to end slavery. On the other hand, Southern states wanted to continue propagating and practicing slavery. In the middle of contentions was the black American population, who were enslaved and forced to work as farm laborers by white farmers in the south. In this case, the two parties strived to address their concerns, and this lead to a 12 year of Reconstruction efforts within the south. The entire civil war took place within southern states. Upon its completion, communities within the states witnessed substantial social, political and economic damages within their settings. The war ended after the northern Union defeated the Southern insurgency alliance. After the war, southern states, especially Louisiana became dysfunctional and riddled with social predicaments including poverty. Most white settlers in the south had lost their property like farm crops and processing factories to war destructions. In addition, most families in the south had their men killed as a result of heavy casualties from the fights (Smith 45). Others were maimed and disabled by the Northern Union forces. In this context southern families would experience the toughest times in their history attributed to casualty and property destruction after the war. Apart from poverty, there was a pronounced degree of mental illnesses witnessed among war veterans in the southern region. Thousands of soldiers became addicted to morphine; hence could not be productive to the society after the war. White settlers in the south lost the slave labor force; thus they could no longer engage in extensive agricultural services. Approximately 90% of Black Americans lived in the South during the war (Jerry 23). After the black liberation from slavery by Northern Union soldiers, Southern farmers felt the economic gap left by slave workers in their farms. At this juncture, we can acknowledge the fact that Southern states suffered substantial damages after the civil war. With respect to Reconstruction, Southern alliances saw the move as an insult from the north, given that the southern states had already suffered great loss after the war. On the other hand, Northern alliance wanted to further their ambitions aimed towards abolition of slavery in the south. In this regard, Southern states interpreted the reconstruction move as an attempt by north to further injure damages already inflicted to the south. Therefore, reconstruction efforts met stiff resistance, especially on the efforts directed towards abolition of slavery. Reconstruction started in the time when Abraham Lincoln was the US president. Lincoln sought support of the congress and executive arms of the cabinet in striving to formulate policies meant to oversee Reconstruction strategies. At the inception stages, Reconstruction started gaining momentum when black Americans moved from their slavery masters, into independent settlements. In addition, African Americans started receiving political recognition, which granted them freedom to participate in elective politics. Despite Lincoln’s efforts in implementing strategies, the president met stiff resistance from radical republicans within southern societies. Radical ideology was largely present in within congressional committees. In this case, legislative processes were sometimes thwarted by republican politicians who were not in agreement with Lincoln’s strategies. Other parties termed Reconstruction as a slow process aimed at developing a decelerated economic and social growth within the south. Resistance from Radical Republicans increased tremendously until the successful plan meant to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln died a year after congress passed Freedman’s Bureau, a documented plan aimed at meeting the basic needs of freed slaves after the civil war. President Lincoln acknowledged the fact that freed slaves faced numerous challenges in their new freed states (Smith 78). In this regard, the president initiated efforts meant to ensure those challenges remained at minimal levels. As a result, he sponsored Freedman’s Bureau bill, which passed successfully on March 1865. The bill aimed at settling African Americans within the first two years upon gaining their freedom. Based on the Bureau’s theoretical construct, federal government had a responsibility of overseeing employee-employer relationships between white farmers and blacks in the South (Smith 82). In this case, blacks and whites had to develop an employee-employer relationship, as opposed to the earlier structure of slave-master relationship. After Lincoln’s death, his deputy president Andrew Johnson took office as the new head of state. Johnson continued Lincoln’s efforts towards freedom and equality in the South. Johnson sponsored another legislative process meant to expand the mandate of Freedman’s Bureau into uniting black families. In addition, the bureau spanned its mandate into addressing educational and economic needs of the African American population. Despite these legislations by congress, Freedman’s Bureau remained ineffective even at the end of reconstruction period in 1877. Immediately after the civil war, Reconstruction ushered in a sense of pride to the African American population within Southern societies. On the other hand, the aftermath resulted in a corresponding hurt to the former masters of freed slavesi. Consequently, there was a significant outburst of social tension and sometimes violence between the two opposing groups. The freed blacks started expressing their newly gained freedom through social and political contentions with their former masters. On the other hand, the white Southerners perceived behavioral response of the blacks as an insult, especially to their losses after the war. In this regard, the integrated Southern societies witnessed a renewed hatred between the two communities. In addition, Southern radicals understood that Northerners were actively involved in according blacks rights within Southern states. The next thing that ensued was a strong social tension between former saves and former masters. Insurgency groups like Ku Klux Klan started emerging and gained momentum in their insurgent activities. Ku Klux Klan is currently mentioned as the most dangerous group that participated heavily in causing terror and discomfort to the freed blacks after the civil war. In 1867, Ku Klux Klan held the first documented national meeting in Tennessee. Their influence in terror activities gained momentum immediately after the national meeting. Ku Klux was majorly Southern Democrats who were not comfortable with the new status quo created by northern invasion into their statesii. In this case, their terror activities aimed Unionist soldiers and black Americans in the South. In Alabama, Ku Klux staged a planned massacre comprising of deliberate killings of veteran unionist soldiers. In addition, Ku Klux participated in arsonist activities ranging from burning black households, schools and even churches. The Klan featured as the most disturbing group that hindered implementation of the freedman’s bureau in the US. At this juncture, we can acknowledge the fact that Reconstruction Era could prove effective in ensuring social and economic justice to former slaves after the war. However, efforts directed towards provision of the needed social justice met stiff resistance, both at federal and state levels. As a result, Reconstruction Era suffered a notable failure in implementing strategies aimed at ensuring less suffering and prevalence of political and social justice in Southern states. At the epitome of Reconstruction, congress passed additional amendments meant to accommodate new changes after the civil war. The first amendment passed by congress under Lincoln’s administration abolished slavery in US soil. The 13th amendment asserted that there will be no any master-slave relationship in Southern and parts of Northern states. As a result, Lincoln implemented the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which freed all black slaves held in servitude contrary to their will. In 1857, American supreme court vehemently ruled that blacks were not American citizens by either residence even birthiii. This decision ruled American social structures until after the civil war when new amendments came into place. President Johnson initiated the famous 14th amendment, which overturned the 1857 court ruling on citizenship clause. After its legislation in 1869, the 14th amendment stated that black population are automatically citizens of the US by birth or residence, and qualifies as citizens of states in which they reside. This decision facilitated enhanced hatred between blacks and whites in Southern states. Apart from citizenship bill, Johnson oversaw legislation and implementation of the 15th amendment by congress committeesiv. This amendment recognized the rights of blacks during elective politics across the United States. The theoretical construction of the 15th amendment accorded black men and women the right to vie for elective posts as well as participate in democratic polling processes. 14th amendment strived in ensuring all blacks and other minorities in US soil receive equal treatment from state and federal institutions. 13th amendment freed black slaves from their white masters, hence marking the historical abolition of slavery within American societies. Despite enactment of these constitutional amendments, blacks and other minority groups continued to suffer in their societies. As postulated by the 13th amendment, all slaves were freed and settled in their respective states. However, social systems could not adopt provisions of the 14th amendment, which accorded citizenship and equal rights to all blacks in the US. In addition, eligible black men and women could not fully participate in election processes, not until 100 years later after the end of Reconstruction Erav. Influence of Ku Klux Klan and traditional state systems on the US hindered effective implementation of these amendments. As a result, black population could not realize operational rights and freedom as required by the constitution. As an illustration, 15th amendment experienced problems in adoption after Ku Klux Klan killed and injured more than 1200 black Americans lined up for election voting in the Blount County of Alabamavi. Therefore, constitutional amendments during Reconstruction suffered a major setback in terms of implementation. From a general perspective, we can say that Reconstruction lead to restructuring of both state and federal systems in the US. The 13th amendment sponsored by Abraham Lincoln resulted in freedom from slavery to the blacks. At the federal level, other constitutional amendments lead to total reconstruction of federal governing systems, especially concerning the relationship between whites and blacks in US soil. At the state level, freed black men and women started mobilizing themselves by joining military and other social institutions. In this regard, blacks started joining radical republicans in their quest for hastened adoption of reconstruction strategies. Based on the Freedman’s Bureau records, Abraham Lincoln wanted to ensure adoption of the 13th amendment. However, the president also wanted to entice Southern states into rejoining the confederacy after the war. In this case, Lincoln and his successor Johnson decided to move slowly with reconstruction plans in order to avoid upsetting relations with Southern states. On the other hand, radical republicans and blacks wanted hast changes, especially on civil rights and political recognitionvii. In the process, the radicals successfully impeached President Johnson from office, and facilitated speedy legislation of 14th and 15th amendments in congressional assembly. This move led to upset of relations between Southern Republicans and the Southern Radical Republicans. As a result, strong contentions between the two groups led to hindrance in adoption of reconstruction strategies. At this juncture, we can acknowledge the fact that reconstruction failed to execute its objectives. The reason for its failure is because of the difference in opinions held by Radical Republicans and the conservative Republican Party in southern states. On the other hand, failure came from the social tension between the blacks and whites in Southern states. Southern states felt that Northern Union staged insulting plans even after their loss in the civil warviii. In efforts to stage a retaliatory influence, angry Southerners formed the infamous Ku Klux Klan. The Klan undeniably participated in hindering implementation of desired provisions by presidents during the reconstruction period. Despite presence of 13th, 14th and 15th amendments, blacks continued suffering from social oppression and discrimination from the white majority. Ku Klux Klan planned various attacks towards the Radical Republicans, Northern Unionists and the blacks at largeix. In this case, anger and social disagreement between Southern whites and their opposing Northern Unionist movement led to failure of Reconstruction. Based on the Freedman’s Bureau records, failure of reconstruction featured at social, political and economic aspects of the American societyx. Social Aspects Based on the story of Confederate administrators from Augusta County in the state of Virginia, one can spot numerous incidences, which accounts for failure in the social aspect of reconstruction. In January-April 1867, Frederick Tukey assumed office as the new leader of Freedman’s Bureau in Augusta Countyxi. His administration came at a time when black American’s and Radical Republicans in the South were in dire need of civil rights. Blacks wanted free access to basic education for their children and interested adults. With respect to the social aspect of education, Frederick wrote numerous letters detailing the nature and status of education within black societies in the South. In a letter, Frederick writes to Woodbury concerning the absence of teachers in Shenandoah district within Augusta County. Frederick expresses his concerns that, despite abolition of slavery and constitutional amendments, there were barely any schools in Shenandoah districtxii. The administrator categorically highlights that there were no functioning schools for the freed slaves within the mentioned region. Frederick pleads with top Bureau’s administration to consider constructing learning facilities. In addition, Frederick asks the bureau to send in teachers for the needed education in the region. Report from the joint select committees acknowledges the fact that social and legal justice within American Southern societies failed during and after the reconstruction era. The report from the testimony highlights instances where blacks encountered barbarous punishments. These punishments took place within federal prison systemsxiii. Blacks received severest punishments, unlike their white counterparts found with similar violation of rules. The testimony illustrates one instance where black prisoners lay down naked and whipped with belts by brutal guards. Despite the fact that confederacy authorities could not prove the existence of such acts at an evidence level, direct testimonies from subjects acknowledge that they received the most brutal treatments in their lives. Still based on the committee report, Libby prison features as the most brutal facility during the reconstruction periodxiv. Prison sentinels were regularly accused of arbitrarily shooting prisoners within the facility. On one occasion, the testimony highlights an instance where a sentinel shot and killed a lame and feeble prisoner. After the incident, the responsible sentinel received a promotion instead of legal charge and punishment by his actsxv. After the civil war, reconstruction led to slave freedom from their forced servitude under white rule. Prior to abolition, slavery period involved capturing and trading of black individuals from one region to anotherxvi. As a result, slave trade separated black children from their parents. In this case, Emancipation Proclamation aimed at uniting separated black families together again. In 1866, Storer How took office as the Bur eau’s representative in Augusta County. Based on his experience on family related issues, Strorer wrote numerous letters to top management on the actual state of affairs on the ground. On one instance, How wrote a letter to Bureau’s headquarters regarding arrangement to facilitate union of a black family mother and her five children in a different countyxvii. How reported that a woman named Catherine Johnson in Staunton had four children in Richmond. In his quest, the administrator asked the Bureau to pay for Johnson’s travelling fee in from Staunton to Richmondxviii. Johnson was Smith’s slave until her freedom during early stages of reconstruction. However, Smith did not take the responsibility of transporting Johnson back to Richmond. How received directions from the Bureau’s administration detailing that Smith should act on earlier court directions by paying for Johnson’s traveling. However, the magistrate court in Augusta was not accorded the jurisdiction by the Republican commissioner of Virginia to take any action in case Smith refused to honor the court’s directionxix. As a result, Johnson ended up dying as a casual laborer in Augusta after falling ill; hence not uniting with her children. Political Aspects Despite constitutional amendment under sponsored by Radical Republicans after Johnson’s impeachment, it remained evident that reconstruction failed in its political objectives. Within Southern states, crime and justice system fell under the control of political organizations. In this context, political struggles of blacks feature in the dysfunctional justice system employed by state commissioners and court magistratesxx. Roswell Waldo moved into Augusta County as the new Bureau administrator in the region. In his tenure, Waldo wrote a letter to a military general named Schofield concerning the prejudice and political harassment of blacks within his county. Waldo talks about a case where two black men are facing a court case on theft. Waldo is afraid that the court will exercise its mandate in a manner deviant of truth and legal justice. Waldo acknowledges that in the past, court systems had acted on the least available incrimination of black men in ensuring imprisonment and disproportional punishmentsxxi. In his letter, Waldo appeals to the general about perpetual terror faced by blacks in court proceedings and the general justice system, especially in courts. In this case, injustice and racial prejudice within Southern states is largely as a result of anger from the former white masters towards the former black slaves. In April 1867, Thomas Jackson took office as the new leader of Augusta County in Virginia. Jackson’s tenure within the local Bureau administration came during the time when congress had passed the 14th and 15th amendmentsxxii. Based on the amendments’ provisions, blacks qualified as citizens and had a right to vote in elective politics. Jackson wrote to McDonnell asking for permission to postpone other civil registration of families until all voters eligible voters registered for an imminent election. Despite his plea, Jackson noted that black men were not available for political registration. Most of their white employers could not allow their black employees for a day off in order to register as voters. Based on a response from Captain McDonnell, the Bureau requested employers in the South to allow for a two-day holiday in order to facilitate registration exercisesxxiii. However, white employers used the prejudiced legal system and termed the Captain’s direction illegal. As a result, blacks were not given any holiday for voters’ registration. Consequently, the number of voters fell under the expected number of eligible black population in Augusta County. This incident insinuates that there was a significant failure of Reconstruction in its political aspects, especially on voting rights and freedomxxiv. Economic Aspect In June 1866, George Cook displaced Frederick Tukey and assumed the position of the superintendent of Freedmen’s Bureau in Augusta County. In his tenure, Cook looked into the economic aspect of Reconstruction era. Based on his testimony, Cook highlights that poll taxes directed towards the poor blacks could not result to desired economic objectives contained in the Freedmen’s Bureauxxv. Cook noted that blacks were already struggling to pay for their children school fees and other family needs. On one of his letter dated July 2nd, 1866, Cook wrote to Howard Dews about a case of a black employee working for Augusta’s court systemxxvi. According to the letter, Cook mentions that Reuben, the court employee, receives barely enough to support his family. Reuben has five children under the age of fifteen. Poll taxes take approximately half of his salary from the jobxxvii. In this regard, Cook appeals to Howard, who acts as Virginia’s tax commissioner, to pardon Rueben of his poll tax burden. Howard responds that tax policies are federal legislation and cannot apply exceptionally in certain circumstances. In 1868, John Jordan assumed Augusta’s Bureau office. His main aim was to ensure economic and social justice to freed black population in the county. Jordan would tackle his mandate through employment contracts between former slaves and former masters in agricultural production sites. Based on his testimony, Jordan says that whites in Southern farms were hesitant in treating the freed blacks as citizensxxviii. Jordan confirms that the Ku Klux Klan were largely hostile towards black laborers within their farms and construction industries. Jordan insinuates that white employers were not willing to honor employment contracts with black employees. As a result, Jordan requests Augusta’s justice system to rule on a case involving an employer named Tate, and his black employee named Williamxxix. William was a former slave to his master Tate. After Emancipation Proclamation, Williams returned to his former master, but this time as a free employee. In the process of their employer-employee relationship, Tate failed to pay William cumulative salary for five consecutive months. Tate claimed that William lived in his premises as a slave for the same period without paying rent. Therefore, William would honor their new relationship by paying rent accrued during his servitude at Tate’s residencexxx. This incidence indicates an unwillingness of whites the new status of freed blacks in their societies. In conclusion, it is evident that Reconstruction act had an excellent theoretical framework towards civil freedom and equality in the US. However, the program failed during its implementations as testified by the six Bureau administrators in Augusta County. In succeeding years after 1872, new governments came into power and eliminated some of Lincoln’s and Johnson’s provisions within the act. At the end of 1877, President Hayes and his new government took office. As a result, the new government abandoned most reconstruction objectives. Africans continued experiencing terror from the Ku Klux Klan. In addition, the blacks enjoyed minimal voting rights in elective politics. Poverty became evident in black societies. At this juncture, history indicates that Reconstruction in American history failed and died until the Civil Rights era in the 20th Century courtesy of efforts by activists like Martin Luther King Jr. Works Cited The Valley of the Shadow. “The Freedmen’s Bureau Records: Browse by Topic”. Accessed on April 27, 2013. http://vshadow.vcdh.virginia.edu/fbureau/bureau_topics.html Jerry, Kennedy. “The Reconstruction Amendments: The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments”. Educational Portal. April 27, 2013. Retrieved from http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-reconstruction-amendments-the-13th-14th-and-15th-amendments.html Smith Nicole. Dec 7, 2011. “Overview of the Reconstruction Era in American History”. ArticleMyraid.com. Accessed on April 27. 2013. http://www.articlemyriad.com/overview-reconstruction-era-american/ Read More