The Era of Reconstruction still an essential learning tool for American History.
Reconstruction represents the often forgotten conclusion to the Civil War, an attempt to address the social injustices that resulted from over two centuries of slavery. Reconstruction basis of hardship, that still disease the US. Civil rights freed of racial and gender limitations, race relations, states rights versus federal laws, the rise of financial and business trusts, the foundations for all the "up-to-date" issues are succinctly excavated. In reality, very little progress in restoring rights to freed men during the first year or two after the civil war under Johnson's "moderate" approach. It was only after the "Radicals" forced federal intervention that blacks made significant progress. Democrats began to make headway in the south, often by the use of intimidation and violence, and what remained of the Republican Party began to change its agenda. After the war a north and south, black and white, political party feud, among rich whites, the poor white southerners, and the emancipated slaves. Changing the lives of many of the nations groups forever, not necessarily for the better.
A time of social, political, and economic rebuilding of the south .
In the many areas of the south had been destroyed after the war, cotton fields destroyed. The reconstruction of the destroyed regions had to be done. Now the people had to rebuild. President Lincoln felt things must be restored back to normal immediately preceding the war. The "Ten Percent Plan," had been created for the restoration of the south. Abolishing the slavery among the old confederate state, ten percent of the voters agree to the oath of alliance and produce a form of government in which is in peace with the north. Slaves were a very expensive investment among the plantation owners. After the slaves were freed, the money then had no value. With their duties at the convention completed, most delegates saw no reason why they should not look forward to gradual rehabilitation.
