Reconstruction is an essential period in US history, beginning in 1865, which started after the finish of the Civil War and ended in 1877. During this period, the abolition of the slave system throughout the country and the reintegration of the southern states took place. It was influenced by many factors, among which were the result of the war, the death of President Lincoln, and the Radical Republican’s rise.
Although it contributed to the beginning of the implementation of Lincoln’s goals, the finish of the Civil War did not solve all the problems facing the country. However, they found their solution during the Reconstruction, which lasted until 1877. Liberation was one of the main goals of the Northern States during the war, thus, it influenced the course of Reconstruction aimed at the slaves’ freedom.
The impending surrender of the southern states was overshadowed by the death of Lincoln, who was killed in the play. Millions of Americans came to sorrow, and an image of a martyr was created around Lincoln, suffering for the sake of the black population (Locke & Wright, 2019). The death of Lincoln negatively affected the ordinance of complete freedom for the black population, which was the ultimate goal.
The rise of the Radical Republicans occurred during the Civil War, and their policies were radical Reconstruction. The Reconstruction was influenced by the presidency of Ulysses Grant, after which the compromise of 1877 was adopted. It was a verbal agreement between the Democratic and Republican parties of the United States, which led to a reconciliation of the South and North elite and marked the end of Reconstruction. Although slavery was officially abolished as a result of the Reconstruction, discriminatory laws were passed by the democratic governments of the southern states. It formulated the former reign of white supremacy racist sentiment.
Reference
Locke, J. L., & Wright, B. (2019). (Eds.). The American Yawp: A massively collaborative open U. S. History textbook. (Vol. 1.). Stanford University Press.