Essay - Reconstruction Period Reconstruction (1865-1877) Was the Period in American History...

RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD

Reconstruction (1865-1877) was the period in American history which can be called a failure because it was marked by extreme racial segregation and futility of all acts concern*****g equality. This was the time when civil war had just ended and ***** black community was beginning to gain more rights ***** an equal place in the society. But it is argued that dur*****g reconstruction when rights for each group were being *****mulated and slavery in the South was dying, race relations in the country were not any better than they had been before the civil *****. This was the time ***** Bill of Rights ********** shape ***** the radicals emerged in the country. Though reconstruction promised equal rights, "Be it enacted..., That all persons born ***** the United States and not subject to ***** foreign power, excluding Indians ***** taxed, are hereby decl*****d ***** be citizens ***** the United *****; and such citizens, of every race and color, without regard to any previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment f***** crime whereof the party sh***** have been duly convicted, *****all have the same right, in every State ***** Terri*****ry in the United **********..." (Civil Rights Act, 1866), the act w***** in words only, no ********** existed ***** spirit.

***** ***** people who were opposed to President Lincoln's ideals as some of them felt that the plans made by the government would give rise to aristocratic gvernment, which was totally unacceptable. Lincoln ***** started the process of reconstruction even ***** the war had actually ended. Seeing that slavery was ending in the South he decided to build a strong Republi***** presence in those states and declared general amnesty to those areas of the Confederacy, which had ***** occupied by Union armies. Slaves had also been declared free ***** ***** the Amnesty and Reconstruction proclamation of 1863 ***** it was clearly stated that any decision taken by "state government in relation to the freed people of such state, which shall recognize and declare *****ir permanent freedom, provide for their education... will not be objected to ***** the National Executive."

It was during this period that President ***** announced ***** any group ***** ***** given the government executive recognition if it ***** able ***** prove that it ***** in number equal to 10 percent of ***** *****tal votes of ***** state in the presidential election of 1860. ***** resulted in huge uproar from a certain group within the congress, ***** was after termed as Radicals as *****y were of the view that this type of law would lead to old planter aristocracy. An*****r Bill w***** passed in the Senate to counteract ***** pan but Wade-Davis Bill never became a ***** because of pocket veto ***** ***** President.

***** the time of President's death, it was clear ***** many of his plans for ***** were not approved by the Congress and therefore the need arose for someone who could end ***** stalemate. T***** end to deadlock came in the