Reconstruction :: essays research papers

     At the end of the Civil War there was a period of time in the coupled States known as the reconstruction period, that lasted for about a decade. During this period the country was in a articulate of rebuilding. Money, bonds, and stocks were worth nothing. Forty thousand United State citizens were dead or gone, and cities lay in ruin. The dream of an independent nation was just that, an unreal dream. The south had lost entire cities to destruction of war and needed to not only rebuild them but also revive its cotton industry. During some(prenominal) the civil war and civil war reconstruction time periods, there were many changes going on in the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation, as strong as legislation such as the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, was undertake a new awakening of democracy while the renouncing of secession by the South marked a definite triumph for Nationalism. As well, the political relation was involved in alte rcations of its own. During reconstruction, the legislative and executive branches eventu tout ensembley came to blows over the affair of power. The nation was being altered by forces which caused, and later repaired, a busted Union.      President Lincoln wanted everything to return to normal as speedily as possible after the war. Therefore, Lincoln announced the reconcileing of all slaves in areas not in Union control. Although the proclamation did not free all slaves everywhere, it was the action that would push Congress to pass the thirteenth amendment in 1865. The amendment, ratified later in 1865, stated that "Neither slavery nor unconscious servitude . . . shall exist within the United States, or any place undefendable to their jurisdiction." Lincoln also established a plan for reconstruction, which was deemed the Ten percentage Plan. Even before the war ended, Lincoln knew there would be a need of a plan of reconstruction. Lincoln issued a proclamation of mercy and reconstruction for the people in the south. The proclamation basically forgave and Confederate for essay to secede from the Union if he would swear to support the Constitution of the United States and the Union. Politically, Lincoln would recognize the state executively if one tenth of the conquered states total vote in the presidential election f 1860 took an curse of allegiance to the union and organized a government that got rid of slavery. The chemical group Republicans wanted a slower readmission process so they trued to pass the Wade-Davis Bill, which would make one half of eligible voters to take the oath of allegiance and accept emancipation.