Phases Of The Reconstruction Era

Reconstruction Era The Reconstruction Era took place in 1865 to 1877, following the Civil War which lasted from April 1861 to 1865. The Civil War was fought between the North, then known as the Union, and the South, known as the Confederacy. The Reconstruction Era included three main phases: Wartime, Presidential, and Congressional or Radical Reconstruction- starting in 1861 and ending in 1877. The civil rights and liberties of the emancipated slaves were the main issue among the North and the South following the Unions victory in the Civil War. Four million slaves were freed, however their rights were still extremely unrepresented. The Reconstruction Era was a time period where the United States was determining what the status of the freed …show more content…
Johnson shocked most or the Northerns when he basically switched sides following Lincoln’s assassination. Johnson blocked most of the Norths legislation as he truly felt that African Americans were inferior to Whites. He supported Laissez-Faire, a document that stated states rights over-powered central authority. Thus implying slavery as a states rights and government couldn't abolish it. He believed slavery was essential to the economy and he shunned ending plantations or giving blacks equal rights. Persecuting very few Confederacy leaders and giving back most of the land to plantation owners, Johnson went again almost every detail in Lincoln's plan for reconstruction. Johnson passed “Black Codes” that controlled the freedom of black former slaves. It forced them to sign yearly labor contracts that if apposed endangered black to being arrested. This all resulted in freed African Americans having to depend on plantations for work, which brought the country back to 1861 and square …show more content…
Phase three is known as Congressional or Radical Reconstruction where congress began to implement Lincoln’s views in reconstruction. And though short lived, it was still the first steps to African Americans getting the rights that they deserved. As Congress became more and more republican swayed, Johnson’s vetoes, plans for reconstitution and the implement of southern legislators were rejected. Congress soon stated that they were now in control of Reconstruction. Congress’ ultimate goal was to uphold the 13th Amendment, they passed the 14th Amendment which guaranteed citizenship to all males born in the United States regardless of race. they also banished all “black