Radical Reconstruction, History_Other, College Term Papers.com


		Data Bases
		• Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism?

		Links
		• Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com

		Free Essays
		• Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers

Search Lots of Essays

Back to Subjects - History Other

Radical Reconstruction

Radical Reconstruction Following the Civil War came a period of regrowth and rebuilding known as Reconstruction. Reconstruction can be broken into different sections and types, one of which is Congressional, or Radical, Reconstruction. There are many scholarly debates about Congressional Reconstruction and its failures, successes, and its overall logistics. Another common debate concerning the Reconstruction period is its purpose and what the intentions of its instigators were. This paper will be discussing an article written by Frederick Douglass entitled Reconstruction. In this article Douglass discusses the Congressional session taking place in 1866. He calls upon the Congressmen to undo the “blunders” of the previous session of Congress. Black suffrage was an issue of great importance at this particular time. The right of the black man to vote had to be established in order for him to be truly free, as well as for the benefit and unity of the nation. With the end of the Civil War came an end to the established way of life in the South. President Johnson tried to shift the political and economic power from the plantation owner to small farmers through a process of disfranchisement. His goals for Reconstruction were somewhat selfish. He was enacting these Reconstruction policies to get reelected, to keep power away from the elite and give it to the yeomen, for some form of reunification of the nation, and to keep blacks from power. During this time of Presidential Reconstruction, Southern states were brought back into the union and ratification of the 13th Amendment took place. This Amendment guaranteed the freedom of African Americans. However, several laws were also put into place limiting the civil rights of African Americans, known as black codes. It was these black codes the Radical Republicans fought to revoke during Congressional Reconstruction. At this point in history the nation must face a massive reworking of government and redefining of society. It was “to this grand work of national regeneration and entire purification Congress must… address Itself, with full purpose”. During this period President Johnson continued his pardons and the 10% plan continued to readmit states to the union. Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia were a few of the 10% states readmitted. In opposition to Johnson’s readmission policies and his Reconstruction plan, Radicals began to refuse to allow Democrats to sit in Congress. Congress also passes the Tenure of Office Act inhibiting the power of the President. Congress had to overcome the obstacles previously faced in order to see its goals fulfilled. The previous session left some large holes in the policies established. President Johnson had previously inhibited the acts of Congress and the Congressmen were reluctant to make such bold moves against him. One of the ultimate goals of Radical Reconstruction was to achieve equality for all citizens, and to give a just definition of citizen as well. A first step toward this was the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment became law in June of 1866. This new law declared any person born in the Unites States a citizen, with rights undeniable by any state. It is this type of action Douglass desired in Congress and discusses in his article as only the beginning to the solution. “The Civil Rights Bill and the Freedman’s Bureau Bill and the proposed constitutional amendments…do not reach the difficulty, and cannot, unless the whole structure of the government is changed from a government by States to something like a despotic government”. In this time of crisis, the Radicals seemed to be the only unified group of men with a common ideal and purpose. “They knew exactly what the wanted to do, and were determined to do it”. The major concern of the Radicals was the condition of the freedmen. Most of them had no homes, no income, and were uneducated. Congress established the Freedmen’s Bureau in 1865 to help the newly freed blacks. Douglass too felt that the “true solution” to the troubles faced by the nation was “the right of the Negro”. The enfranchisement of the blacks after the war was a controversial issue. Most Southerners did not want the African Americans to have the vote, nor did they want to forfeit their land to be divided among the former slaves. Many also felt the Reconstruction governments were not capable of handling the issues put before them. Blacks were seen as ignorant barbarians who could not run an official position properly. However, it was necessary to have one form of government in the South that held “one condition to the exercise of elective franchise, for all men of all races and colors alike”. Radical Republicans, and therefore Reconstruction, held the ideal of a nation with citizens sharing equality of both civil and political rights. This meant blacks not only needed to have their civil rights protected but also the right to vote. Suffrage was an issue of great importance and controversy during this time and for many years following. The right to vote has always been seen as one of the most important aspects of freedom. Although the former slaves were now freedmen, black suffrage was still hotly debated. Many felt that until blacks were given suffrage, freedom was only a taunt to them, while others maintained the opinion that blacks were too ignorant to deserve the vote. Douglass felt the easiest way of making the new government consistent and effective was to “give every loyal citizen the elective franchise”. Congress again stepped in to ensure the right of all citizens to vote and passed the 15th Amendment. In the previous amendment, a citizen had been defined as any person born in the U.S. According to this definition the freedmen were now legal citizens. This was a huge defeat for the South. Southern political offices began to be filled with black officials. The old South began to crumple. The need for emancipation and the drive to fight for it was something many Americans felt strongly about. It was what needed to be done for the betterment of the nation. Douglass felt that the policy of emancipation and giving freedom to the blacks was in no way more important than granting them suffrage. During the war the black was an integral part and without him the war would have been futile. The nation also depended upon the African American during the peace that followed. Douglass felt it should be realized the “nation must fall or flourish with the negro”. The previous session of Congress failed to recognize this and allowed for States to disfranchise their freedmen as they saw fit. The call made by Douglass to the current Congress was to give the freedmen their vote and make it an undeniable right by either state or federal governments. The Constitution of the United States recognizes no distinction between one citizen and another and therefore race and color of skin should not be a factor in civil rights. The Constitution “declares that the citizens of each State shall enjoy all the rights and immunities of citizens of the several State,--so that a legal voter in any State shall be a legal voter in all the States”. The Constitution is our most powerful document and has been the foundation of our country. As Americans we pride ourselves on our democracy and always have. The South was a very proud group of Democrats. Had they stopped and thought about where that political party gained its name they might have realized how wrong they were in desiring to withhold the democratic rights of a citizen of these United States. Bibliography:

Word Count: 1253