Name
Course
Institution Affiliation
- What was the Reconstruction Period, and what were the overall goals and objectives?
The reconstruction period lasted from 1865 to 1877, which entailed history that followed the American civil war (Clarke & Harding, 1970). The overall goals and objects included southern society transformation, restoration of the Union, and enacting of progressive legislation resulting from slaves’ freedom.
- What is the difference between Presidential Reconstruction and Radical Reconstruction? Why do you think there was a disagreement on how the North was going to handle the South after the war?
The degree of leniency was the main difference between presidential and congressional reconstruction. In this aspect, presidential reconstruction offered more leniency. It would be comparatively easier to readmit the confederates states to the Union, unlike the congress that wanted stricter demand to be met by the former confederate as Fourteenth Amendment ratification.
- What were the gains that African Americans made during reconstruction? Do you consider this progress? Explain why or why not?
The African American men gained the right and status of citizenship during the reconstruction period. These rights included those to voted and also formed the background of political activism by the black people. The blacks were able to stand side by side with the white Americans in political life for the first time. This I consider it major progress as they were a high number of African American former slaves who were elected to the government for the first time to represent the need of the black community.
- What was the white South’s response to African American integration into society?
The white southern in 1865 and 1866 tried to pass restrictive legislatures that would control the behavior and labor of the freed slaves in what was known as the black code as their first response. Regardless, this elated the establishment of radical reconstruction, which gave the black people some voice in the government to counter restrictive acts of the southern whites.
- What caused the end of reconstruction? What did the end of reconstruction mean for the African American population?
The 1876 compromise caused the end of reconstruction. There was the end of federal interference during this time, and more so, the southern democrats did not keep their promise of protecting the political and civil rights of African America. The end of reconstruction meant the start of disenfranchisement of African American voters and the passage of Jim Crow Laws later in that decade, extending up to the 20th century.
Reference
Clarke, J., & Harding, V. (1970). Slave trade and slavery. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.