Reconstruction and the Compromise of 1877

Reconstruction and the Compromise of 1877

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The three (3) reconstruction plans had the same mission of readmitting the Southern States to the union, despite the differences in the approaches employed to reach the primary goal. The reconstruction process was initiated as one of the ways that America as a whole would address the problem of slavery, by committing to progressive change (Nokes, 2019). The differences between the three reconstruction processes include that the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (10% Plan) - by Lincoln guided that Southern states would be readmitted into the union, after 10 percent of the voters from the respective states swore an allegiance vote for the union. After that, the voters would elect the delegates that would participate in drafting new constitutions for the various states, towards starting new governments. In contrast, Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction Plan implemented a reconstruction plan that allowed Southern states the freedom to gradually transition from the era of slavery to freedom support (Smiley, 2019). However, unlike the former, the reconstruction plan did not allow blacks the opportunity to participate in the political processes of the South. The Congressional Reconstruction Plan by Congress also took a new shape but was more similar to Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction Plan because it limited the Southern State’s participation in politics. Firstly, Congress overrode a presidential veto to pass the act (Nokes, 2019). Bypassing the reconstruction Act of 1867, Congress gave freed male slaves from southern states to vote, a few years before ratifying the 15th amendment (Nokes, 2019). The reconstruction plan imposed severe standards, to participate in political, social, and economic programs. The conditions made included rewriting their constitutions and participation in the ratification of the Fourteenth amendment.

Based on the analysis and the comparisons of the “Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (10% Plan) – Lincoln, Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction Plan, and Congressional Reconstruction Plan (Congress),” it is evident that the reconstruction was a way of admitting the

previously rebellious Sothern states (Nokes, 2019). The North could easily treat as south as rebellious because they seceded from the Union, leading to years of violent struggle. Despite that, it was better to treat the south as a defeated nation, considering that its goals in fighting the union, and its economic and social life had crumbled, after the war. In particular, the Confederacy hoped to continue profiting from agricultural slave labor, but the struggle with the South ended the ambition. In such a state, the North needed to treat the South as defeated, so it would aid the recovery, without glorifying the losses that the south suffered. The treatment as a defeated people was justifiable, noting that the South had made mistakes that others had made, which warranted forgiveness (Nokes, 2019). For example, President Lincoln pardoned some Confederate generals. However, treating the south as a defeated people had its costs because it did not impose strict protections for former slaves.

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References

Smiley, D. L. (2019). Civil War and Reconstruction syllabi

Nokes, J.D. (2019). Teaching History, Learning Citizenship: Tools for Civic Engagement. New York: Teachers College Press.