Reasons+for+reconstructions+demise

Reasons why Reconstruction Ended.

Reconstruction, a time when the civil war was over and a feeling of indecisive thoughts about the economy and the new amendments buzzed though the minds of almost every American. So Reconstruction... the word means to rebuild and that’s exactly what America needed, to rebuild, during and after the civil war. Several different groups in the government went about solving Reconstruction in their own way, but this only made a time period of disorder and chaos. In this time period it seemed like everyone had something to object with every idea of Reconstruction. In particular southern whites were especially reluctant with any form of equality, and African Americans were against anything but absolute full freedom. Two extremes and many more uncompromising opinions. Reconstruction lasted from 1865 to 1877 and is still today considered one of the most controversial periods in America’s history. So what exactly caused it to fail? There are many thoughts on how Reconstruction failed. Here are some of the top reasons.

One of the main reasons for the failure of Reconstruction was the dropping prices of crops. After the war was over, the war torn south was left to pick up the pieces. Many farmers and sharecroppers could not live off what they earned. This depression caused the price of cotton to nearly drop 50%, as well as tobacco, rice, and sugar with similar grim numbers. Many say Reconstructions failure reflects on the people of America, and did it ever with bankrupting merchants, artisans, and unskilled laborers of both races. Presidential Reconstruction under Lincoln and Johnson demonstrates the difficulties inherent in reshaping the after the civil war. The lack of concern from the north for the south in this economic depression, war ravished, and bitter time caused several disputes between congress and the presidency over lines of authority.Over all the pure unwillingness of the southern whites to allow blacks and significant power or equality in southern society was the main reason that Reconstruction failed. The civil war was over freedom, and that’s what the union achieved at the end. As soon as blacks gained the right to vote and started to take an equal standing in society, secret societies began to develop in the south. These societies were hell-bent on restoring white supremacy in politics and social life. The most notorious of sell the groups was the KKK or Ku Klux Klan, an organization of violent criminals that established a reign of terror in parts of the south, assaulting every former abolitionist, republican leader, and black with horrifying slaughters. This group did not have a positive outlook towards Reconstruction, and wanted to revert the south back to the way it was. In conclusion yes Reconstruction failed, but with out this time after the civil war, the war's purpose would not have been relevant though out all America. Even after the civil war there was bitterness in the south and if it wasn’t for Reconstruction that bitterness would go on. Reconstruction changed the way of life for not only blacks but for everyone. Some changes were good and some made life very difficult. For the Reconstruction to have been successful everyone would have to be willing and go though with change, and that’s why reconstruction failed, not everyone was willing to change. Although Reconstruction failed the goal for America was achieved, African-Americans had freedom.