Reconstruction’s Failure Reconstruction and its argument of weather it was a success or failure can be supported and refuted both ways. One of the main goals of reconstruction was to make freed slaves become equal, have their rights be protected and for them to become a part of society. Reconstruction was a failure because congress failed to create equality for blacks and they were victimized by the KKK and other angered groups. In beginning, Reconstruction was going well because there were efforts made to help African Americans. The help of Abraham Lincoln led to the ratification of the 13th, which abolished slavery (D1). The ratification of this amendment exhibited the beginning of a great reconstruction plan. The 14th and 15th amendment were later passed which protected the rights of all people and promoted the right to vote no matter what race you were, but you had to be a male (D2). The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was a huge downfall to reconstruction because Lincoln was a man who would listen to all sides of issues and conflict. Lincoln’s blueprint for Reconstruction included the Ten-Percent Plan, which specified that a southern state could be readmitted into the Union once 10 percent of its voters swore an oath of allegiance to the Union. Voters could then elect delegates to create revised state constitutions and establish new state governments. Lincoln guaranteed southerners that he would protect their private property. Most Republicans in Congress supported the president’s proposal for Reconstruction because they wanted to bring a quick end to the war.
As a result of Lincoln’s death, the country had no more sense of direction or leadership and they were headed straight for failure. Following Lincolns plan the plan for Radical Reconstruction was put into action. The Radical Republicans believed blacks were entitled to the same political rights and opportunities as whites. Another effort that was made after slaves were freed was the creation of the Freedmen’s Bureau. This establishment a federal government agency and it aided freed slaves that needed: food, shelter, education, etc. (D4) Just as the lives of former slaves began to appear like they were heading in the right direction, everything began to change as they were headed right back to where they began when slavery still was not abolished. People were angered with the congressional decisions to create African Americans equal and give them to the rights to vote and participate in government. The angry whites that did not support these decisions acted out in violence by torturing African Americans with beatings, deaths, and destructions. This was the creation of the KKK (Klu Klux Klan) (D6). It did not end there because southern redemption occurred and the government did their best to limit the rights of African Americans by creating voting rules and by separating education privileges between Black and Whites. Redemption was the term used by Southerners when the Democratic Party regained control of their local state governments. Now that the Democrats had control again, the doors opened for the introduction of the Jim Crow Era, which included segregation, poll taxes, etc. These series of laws was first created in Alabama as they prevented African Americans from receiving fair and equal treatment. The Grandfather clause was created and a poll tax was added to those who wanted to vote. The reason why these rules limited the rights of blacks is because