Racism and Reconstruction :: essays papers

Racism and ReconstructionAlthough capital of Nebraskas design of Reconstruction was not put into effect inthe South later the Civil War, if it had been racism would get to beenalmost completely avoided in the 20th century. Licolns proposed aimwas called the 10% Plan. It called for 10% of the people would votedin the 1860 Election to take a pledge of loyalty to the Union. Thisplan was met by harsh oppostion by the Radical Republicans in intercoursewho viewed the South as conquered territory. These Radicals said thatLincolns plan was much too soft. In return, Republicans in Congressthen moved to pass the Wade-Davis Bill in 1864. This bill requiredthat a majority of the South would have to take an iron clad scourge thatthe had never supported the Confederacy. The Wade-Davis bill waspocket-vetoed by Lincoln who was assassinated shortly after. Johnsontook over the presidency and his Plan of Reconstruction was passes.Instead of Lincolns 10% Plan, Johnsons Plan of Reconstuction wasput into effect. Johnsons plan was much more acrimonious towards theSouth. Johnsons plan demanded that the South nullify theirsecessions, hold stae conventions, adopt the 13th amendment, re-electCongressmen,The question of how to reconstruct the devistated South after the CivilWar was one of immense importance in many aspects. Most would arguethat the problems involving the South adjusting socially to the notionof liberated blacks was the msot heated exsert. It was an issue thatencompassed both a change in lifestyle as well as in longstanding moralvalues. Both Presdential and Congressional plans were developed in anattempt to ensure Reconstruction would be as smooth as a political,economic and social revolution as humanly possible.President Abraham Lincoln believed from the start of the War, andtherefore the start of Reconstruction, that the Southern states hadnever legally seceded from the Untion. Therefore his plan forreconstruction would be aimed at preserving the p eace of the Union andfairly build the South. Lincolns 10 % Plan was thePresidential attempt to see to it that the South would adhere to theideals surrounding emancipation. Lincoln claimed he would then work onre-developing the structure of severally state government.The difference of opinion between the President and Congress over thismatter not only revealed the differences between each sectorpolitically, but class the stage for heated emotions in regards toemancipation.This whole chain of events was much a part of the seperation nowexisting within political parties, as well as dividing views held by