When the war ended, people still suffered from the destruction it had left. The war had destroyed the south’s shipping industry and most of its railroads. It had devoured farms
and farm machinery. It had ruined factories, cities and ports. Basically, it had destroyed most of the southern income. The southerners were left with nothing. Most of the plantation owners had worthless confederate money and could not afford to hire workers. Some even had to sell their lands to be able to pay their debts. However poor white smoothers didn’t have land to sell, plus they couldn’t find jobs because of the competition from freedmen. Most had to resort to move to frontier lands.
Lincoln had made a plan called the reconstruction plan to help the south acquire the north’s pardon and to have a say in the union’s government again. This plan stated that any confederate could take an oath of allegiance to the Union and gain the south’s pardon, except if this southerner had killed African American war prisoners. It also permitted each state to write its constitution if it had 10 percent of the voters who had taken the oath. Finally, the plan stated that southern states would resume full participation in the union and its government. However Lincoln’s plan was vetoed and never put into practice. Yet, after his death, his democrat vice president, Andrew Johnson took the presidency and made a new reconstruction plan based on Lincoln’s. Except this construction plan was more forgiving toward the south. Also it required all states to abolish slavery and all slaves to be free.
Although the African American population was free, life was very hard for them. Some African American’s went to search for their families which had been torn apart by white slave sellers, but most could not find them. Others choose to continue working for their former masters. Still, most ventured out to try and find jobs. This task was very hard because most of the slaves were illiterate and the job competition was very hard. Many freemen found themselves homeless, jobless and hungry. Most slaves could not afford to buy land and President Johnson refused to redistribute the land many of the slaves’ ancestors had worked on (the southern lands). Nevertheless, those who could afford land sold it to other freemen to try and help them. Prior to Lincoln’s death the freedmen bureau helped black southerners adjust to freedom by giving them clothing, medical supplies and meals. Also they gave more than 250,000 blacks a formal education. Unfortunately, this agency lacked a strong support in the congress especially after Lincoln’s death. Therefore the agency was dismantled.
The period of reconstruction is very hard on white southerners and especially hard on black freemen because even though they are free they still don’t have the same rights as the white men. The civil war had destroyed so many resources that it was hard for a man to make a living in the south after the war. However, the government tried to aid the south by accepting their forgiveness and not punishing them for their crimes. Still it was hard for many people to gain money in this terrible period of reconstruction.
and farm machinery. It had ruined factories, cities and ports. Basically, it had destroyed most of the southern income. The southerners were left with nothing. Most of the plantation owners had worthless confederate money and could not afford to hire workers. Some even had to sell their lands to be able to pay their debts. However poor white smoothers didn’t have land to sell, plus they couldn’t find jobs because of the competition from freedmen. Most had to resort to move to frontier lands.Lincoln had made a plan called the reconstruction plan to help the south acquire the north’s pardon and to have a say in the union’s government again. This plan stated that any confederate could take an oath of allegiance to the Union and gain the south’s pardon, except if this southerner had killed African American war prisoners. It also permitted each state to write its constitution if it had 10 percent of the voters who had taken the oath. Finally, the plan stated that southern states would resume full participation in the union and its government. However Lincoln’s plan was vetoed and never put into practice. Yet, after his death, his democrat vice president, Andrew Johnson took the presidency and made a new reconstruction plan based on Lincoln’s. Except this construction plan was more forgiving toward the south. Also it required all states to abolish slavery and all slaves to be free.
Although the African American population was free, life was very hard for them. Some African American’s went to search for their families which had been torn apart by white slave sellers, but most could not find them. Others choose to continue working for their former masters. Still, most ventured out to try and find jobs. This task was very hard because most of the slaves were illiterate and the job competition was very hard. Many freemen found themselves homeless, jobless and hungry. Most slaves could not afford to buy land and President Johnson refused to redistribute the land many of the slaves’ ancestors had worked on (the southern lands). Nevertheless, those who could afford land sold it to other freemen to try and help them. Prior to Lincoln’s death the freedmen bureau helped black southerners adjust to freedom by giving them clothing, medical supplies and meals. Also they gave more than 250,000 blacks a formal education. Unfortunately, this agency lacked a strong support in the congress especially after Lincoln’s death. Therefore the agency was dismantled.
The period of reconstruction is very hard on white southerners and especially hard on black freemen because even though they are free they still don’t have the same rights as the white men. The civil war had destroyed so many resources that it was hard for a man to make a living in the south after the war. However, the government tried to aid the south by accepting their forgiveness and not punishing them for their crimes. Still it was hard for many people to gain money in this terrible period of reconstruction.
Excellent use of facts to support your article. Your conclusion is very insightful.
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