Emancipation and Reconstructio

The development of the Reconstruction period can be traced back to the history of Independence. In 1776 Britain's American colonies broke from its mother country and formed a new nation called the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris. Keeping such a vast country was not easy; the nation of over 40 states had diverse people and different cultures emerged as the nation grew. In the initial years of America, the country faced many diverse challenges, of establishing new colonies, resistance from native Indians, Mexico Spanish wars and inter-state conflicts.

The most traumatic event in nation's history after its independence was the Civil War (1861-65). The survival of United States as one nation

was at risk during the war and on the outcome of the war depended upon the ability of the nation to bring into reality the ideals of liberty, equality, human dignity and justice. The country was divided into two blocks, the Confederates and the Unionists and the country was led into a ferocious war, which saw the lost of many lives. The war left far reaching consequences, and although the Unionists won the war and the country remained intact, it left a mark that didn't wash for the years to come.

According to Perman the major difficulty for the North in reconstructing America was the resentment of the South towards the North and their uncooperative behavior in the Reconstruction policies. Further the South did not want to give the slaves any rights, though they were free now, the Southern states adopted a policy of segregation and also devised laws which made African Americans a second class citizen. The economy of the South had been crippled because of the War, in addition the loss of the slaves the labor force had huge effect on the economy. Emancipated slaves had quickly fled to the neighboring states, while others became wage labors to their former masters. Perman discusses the role of African American in Reconstruction and says that one of the biggest challenges for the North was to provide educational facilities to the black population. Prior to the war, slaves’ states had laws which prohibited any education for the slaves and the slaves after the emancipation with the exception of the few did not know how to read and wri

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