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DISCUSSION TOPIC
The Civil War was fought because of slavery and the breakup of the Union. The Southern slave owners would argue that they were fighting to keep states’ rights, meaning they were dependent on a slave economy, and believed they had the right to keep their livelihood, as they knew it. Northerners and President Lincoln entered the war initially to keep the Union intact. However, war aims would evolve and, with that, northern soldiers would fight to emancipate slaves. By 1862, the war turned into a hard war and only the destruction of the enemy’s forces and unconditional surrender would end it. Agreeing to the unconditional surrender, though, did not mean reconstructing the Union would be simple.
Keeping these factors in mind, compare and contrast wartime Reconstruction, presidential Reconstruction, and congressional (radical) Reconstruction. What were the key differences among the three phases? Were there any similarities in the phases? Explain your answer with specific examples from your assigned reading and media.
RESOURCES
E-Text Ch14 & Ch15
McGerr, M., Townsend, C., Dunak, K. M., Summers, M., & Lewis, J. E. (2021). Of the People: A History of the United States, Volume I: To 1877 with Sources (5th ed.). Oxford University Press Academic US. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9780197585986
https://www.pbs.org/video/slavery-another-name-system-sharecropping/
DISCUSSION POST 1
There are few similarities and differences in the reconstruction time. They all viewed the south differently but in the end wanted change to abolish slavery. The presidential reconstruction was more lenient on the south during that time but the radical reconstruction wanted to punish the south for the issues.
McGerr, Michael, et al. Of the People: A History of the United States, Volume I: To 1877 with Sources. Available from: Columbia College, (5th Edition). Oxford University Press Academic US, 2021.
DISCUSSION POST 2
Wartime Reconstruction was initiated by President Lincoln and aimed at quickly reincorporating the seceded states back into the Union. Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan was an example of this approach, requiring only 10% of a state’s voters to pledge allegiance to the Union for the state to be readmitted. while Presidential Reconstruction, led by President Andrew Johnson following Lincoln’s assassination, continued the lenient approach. Johnson’s policies allowed the southern states significant freedom to manage their affairs, which led to the creation of Black Codes and a resistance to integrating African Americans into society with full rights. I think the Congressional Reconstruction was marked by more stringent measures, including the Military Reconstruction Act, which placed the South under military rule and required stricter conditions for readmission to the Union. slavery. The key differences among these phases were primarily in their approach to civil rights for African Americans and the control of how southern states were governed post-war. Wartime and Presidential Reconstructions were more lenient and allowed southern states greater autonomy, which they used to resist meaningful changes. In contrast, Congressional Reconstruction imposed harsher conditions and federal oversight to enforce civil rights. Despite these differences, a common thread in all three phases was the aim to restore the Union. However, the means and conditions under which the Union was to be restored—and particularly the status and rights of African Americans within that restored Union—varied significantly, reflecting the changing political dynamics and pressures of the time.
