Define the problems faced by Radical Reconstruction governments. List the major accomplishments of these governments.
After the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, Andrew Johnson who was the vice president took over his position. He rejected the radical program of reconstruction and appointed his governors with the aim of finishing the reconstruction immediately. This idea was fiercely rejected by the Northern voters in the congressional elections. The Republicans in the Congress took a firm decision to hold for reconstruction in the south. The reconstruction acts of 1867 were put in place that guaranteed equal treatment of citizens irrespective of race. This caused a great division in the south into five military districts. This followed a civil war and several attempts to redress the inequalities of slavery and its social, economic and political legacy in America. The Republicans believed that blacks were entitled to equal political rights and opportunities. They also held a view that the Confederate leaders should be punished for their roles in civil war emergence (Perman & Taylor, 2010, p. 9) The Republicans wanted the government to help African Americans to achieve political equality by guaranteeing their rights to vote in the south. The movement was focused with an aim to prevent the leaders of the Confederacy from returning to power after the war and make the Republican Party remain sound and influential institution in the south.
Although the reconstruction revolution movement was successful, there was many violent opposition from the whites. They organized terrorist attacks like Ku Klux Klan targeting innocent and local Republicans. This subjected the party leaders and its followers into assassination acts and painful ordeals of beatings. The African Americans who had shown interest to assist the slaves were also targeted. Several of them were killed like the black militiamen in 1873 at Louisiana. Property that belonged to the Republicans and their followers was seized and destroyed. In 1869, the Republican Party had taken total control of the government. President Johnson was impeached, and Ulysses Grant rose to power (Richter, 2011, p. 45).
Following the win by the Republicans, there was expanded citizenry in America. The government approved laws that prohibited states from denying citizens their voting rights concerning race. The enforcement acts to suppress the terrorist groups were installed with a strong militia being sent to destroy the Klan. The government established state-funded public schools whose main aim was to curtail racism. Discrimination in accommodations and public transportation was also outlawed. The government was determined to close the gap between whites and black Americans. Taxation was made equitable and the rights of laborers in the plantations respected. Due to the government reforms, there was the creation of railroads and several government enterprises with an objective of creating a new southern community that would benefit both the whites and blacks. Respect of rights to the African Americans was a form of individual independence from the white rulers. They felt respected thus brought about family ties to create strong independent religious institutions. The community peace and unity lasted well among both races (Boyer, Clark, Halttunen, Kett, & Salisbury, 2016, p. 25). The freed slaves and blacks were provided with land to settle by the government in Georgia and the coastal region of southern California. This was a major boost for their economic independence as they could depend on themselves.
The freedman’s bureau act was formed that aimed to sell or rent land to the former slaves. The land that was in federal hands was returned to the owners. This greatly boosted the blacks as they could work on their farms rather than offering forced labor in white’s plantations.
References
Boyer, P. S., Clark, C. E., Halttunen, K., Kett, J. F., & Salisbury, N. (2016). The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People. Cengage Learning.
Perman, M., & Taylor, A. M. (2010). Major Problems in the Civil War and Reconstruction: Documents and Essays. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Richter, W. L. (2011). Historical Dictionary of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.