Discussion Topic
President Lincoln's conciliatory Reconstruction plan aimed to heal the rift between the North and the South wrought by the Civil War. However, Reconstruction didn't proceed as Lincoln intended. Do you think Reconstruction was successful at reunifying the nation and addressing the conflicts that led to war?
In this discussion, you'll evaluate Reconstruction and consider the lingering effects of the Civil War.
For two of the areas listed below, post a response to the question, "In what ways did Reconstruction succeed and/or fail in this area?"
- Rebuilding the Southern economy
- Improving the economic status of former slaves
- Political reunification of North and South
- Restoring Southern loyalty to the Union
- Punishing former rebels
- Establishing civil liberties for African Americans, both in law and in practice
- Establishing political rights for African Americans, both in law and in practice
After you read other students' responses, think about the region of the country where you live. In your second posting, write about any lingering effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction you see in your state or region. Be sure to address one or more of the following questions:
- Are there still noticeable effects of the war in your state or region? If so, what are they? Are they economic, political, or social?
- If you don't live in a region that was directly involved in the war, can you observe lingering effects of the war and the period of Reconstruction in American society and politics today?
- Do you think different Reconstruction policies would have moderated these lingering effects?
- What is the legacy of Reconstruction for American society?
Required Reading
Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the pages on Reconstruction in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:
| 8th Edition | 7th Edition | 6th Edition | 5th Edition |
| Chapter 18, pages 702-739 | Chapter 18, pages 659-697 | Chapter 18, pages 713-756 | Chapter 18, pages 789-834 |
Scoring
This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.
Original:
ReplyDeleteReconstruction failed in lives for the slaves, they were still dependent on their masters for the basic needs; so once freed they were to do things on their own. Reconstruction also failed at political rights for Slaves were still not given the same political equality.The reconstruction succeeded in political reunification of North and South, the south were still able to elect political candidates and participate in government despite their defeat in the civil war.
Original:
ReplyDeleteThe South was completely destroyed after the Civil War, since most of the battles were fought on Southern lands. The national government decided to create a “reconstruction” plan in order to reunite the union and lessen the damages of the South. The success of reconstruction, however, is questionable. Reconstruction did not help the lives of the newly freed slaves, politically, economically or socially. Reconstruction also did not help the southern farmers, many who were out of jobs because the war destroyed much of their farmlands. Reconstruction, however, did help in the reunification of the North and South. Southerners were given amnesty as long as they pledged their loyalty to the union.
Original:
ReplyDeleteThere are no noticeable effects of the war in New York because it was not directly involved in the war, however, there are some lingering effects of the war and the period of Reconstruction in American society and politics today. In American society, battle fields and forts are memorialized in honor of the men who died during the Civil War. In politics, President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is also memorialized. Many politicians quote it in their speeches and it is in numerous history textbooks across the country. Also the business aspect still resides in the northeast. The North was mainly factories and businesses in the 1800s and when the Civil War broke out these business increased, in order to produce weapons and necessities for the North. The city/business-like economy still resides in the North and it is now what many of the northern cities, such as New York City and Boston, are famous for. I do not think different Reconstruction policies would have moderated these lingering effects because the address was extremely significant when it was first heard and its message is still read and understood with the same emotion today. The memorials also would have not changed because they were created out of respect for those who gave their lives to preserve the Union.
Original:
ReplyDeleteWhile the North was victorious, the South was devastated and in ruins. The cotton, tobacco, and rice industries suffered greatly as a result of the war. The idea behind Reconstruction was to rebuild the South and reunite the South with the Union. To this end, Southerners were granted amnesty and pardoned as long as they pledged allegiance to the Union. However, Reconstruction was not very helpful in the cases of freed black men and women. They were free but had no homes, clothes, or the means to get a job. As for the plantation owners, they did not get back on their feet until quite a few years after the Civil war considering the devastation in the fields.
Original:
ReplyDeleteThere are really no noticable effects of the war or reconstruction in New York, especially in the case of diversity where New York could be considered one of the most diverse cities in the nation, if not the world.
Reconstruction was successfeul in some ways, and not in others. In the lives of slaves, Reconstruction was not very successful, although it freed slaves, it did not provide them with the proper political equality they had hoped. States passed "black codes" which were aimed at limiting black political equality. On the other hand the one thing that you could say was completley successful was punishing former rebels. No member of the Confederacy was ever allowed to run for political office or vote. The terms with regard to this were very harsh but successful.
ReplyDeleteThere are not many noticable effects in New York except a few memorials for the civil war. But I think the Reconstruction era backed up the economies of the north, and hurt the Southern agricultural economy.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Civil War, the economic status of former slaves remained relatively unchanged as a result of Reconstruction. There were charecropping opportunities, but these offerings weren't very fruitful. On top of this, Reconstruction failed to establish political rights for African Americans. Though Amendments 13-15 gave African Amercans political rights on paper, they were often kept down by the Jim Crow laws and the Ku Klux Klan.
ReplyDeleteThe Civil War had little effect on New York, since it wasn't directly involved in the war. However, the effects of Reconstruction plagued the Southern economy for years after it had ended.
ReplyDeleteI believe after the Civil War that the Reconstruction plan was successful in some aspects and unsuccessful in others. Reconstruction failed to attain various civil and political liberties for African Americans. Although we attempted to provide such liberties various elements made these intentions impossible based on Jim Crow laws, literacy tests and the KKK which all discouraged African American liberties. On the other hand the Reconstruction was successful at reunifying the North and South by giving amnesty to Southerners if the pleged to be loyal to the Union.
ReplyDeleteThe Civil War had barely any effect on New York directly because it was not involved in the War although evidence of the War is evident throughout the nation based on memorials that were created in honor of the Civil War. The South had the most devastatin effects after the War.
ReplyDeleteThe process of reconstruction was a complicated and complex progress, one that can even be argued is still continuing today. Reconstruction involved readmitting the Southern states, which had previously seceded from the union; the physical reconstruction and rebuilding of the towns, cities, and properties, all of which had been destroyed during the war; and integrating the newly freed blacks into American society.
ReplyDeleteLincoln's ten percent plan, his main focus of reestablishing the union,, nor the Wade-Davis Bill made any provisions for black suffrage. In fact, after they were freed very little assistance of any kind was even offered to them.
The legacy of reconstruction can still be seen today, predominately in the south, but also in the north. It is not at all uncommon for us to see a confederate flag, be it a bumper sticker, car detail, or physical flag. It can be said that there are still some who saw the rebuilding of the union has the north conquering the south, claiming the territory. All of which is still visible even today.
ReplyDeleteReconstruction was not successful at all. It was a failure at best where many freed African Americans were still dependent on their former owners. In addition many individuals did not want to be apart of the entire country and these feelings of resentment are possibly still thriving out there today.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't believe that new York was or still is effected by reconstruction. It was apart of the modern era back then and it still is now. New York continues to move forward and faster everyday leaving the past where it belongs.
ReplyDeleteOriginal (2nd Post)
ReplyDeleteThere are no effects in the state of New York that show the results of reconstruction. The reconstruction allowed for states like New York to become industrialized and thrive in big business.
To Shinece:
ReplyDeleteI agree with your original post, as stated earlier in my posts; it was somewhat positive although it freed the slaves which helped; it did not allow for slaves to become independent. Slaves were used to depending on their masters for political, economic and social standings.
Reconstruction failed in improving the lives of former slaves, they were still dependent on their masters for their basic necessities. Their economic status was menial and they did not have much to improve their condition. Reconstruction also failed in granting civil liberties to African Americans, hence the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.
ReplyDeleteLegacy of Reconstruction
ReplyDeleteAttitudes towards other races: If the Reconstruction had been effective, whites would look kindly upon blacks and there would be little to no racial prejudice today. There wouldn't have been segregation in the South in the 1950s-- everyone would have been blended. However Reconstruction was ended too soon as people became more concerned about the economy, although what they didn't finish left years worth of more damage.