Was Reconstruction Successful

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.