the era of reconstruction can best be described as?

Question

1 - a period of vicious and tyrannical rule of the south by the north
2 - a time of drastic reform
3 - an era for the southern middle class
4- the physical rebuilding of the south
5- an imporatn first step toward civil rights

Answer 1

#4 is the correct answer because:
1. Lincoln was criticized for his reconstruction plan because some felt he was too lenient on those who rebeled against the Union. Johnson's plan was also considered lenient.
2. There was not the drastic reform that some thought would take place. Southern Democrats quickly rose to power and found ways to continue keeping the blacks suppressed with the "Black Codes."
3. It was not a time for the Southern middle class for the reason that I stated in 2 above.
5. The important first step towards civil rights was actually the enactment of the 14th Amendment (Civil Rights), ratified in 1868, but even though legally, blacks were now citizens, Southern Democrats kept most blacks away from the polls, and kept them from gaining any political power or social status.

Although the South was rebuilt rather quickly, the Reconstruction Era is considered a civil rights failure.

Answer 2

The period would aptly be described as the physical rebuilding of the South after the devastation of the Civil War....
But it was a small step towards civil rights until the "Jim Crow" laws which kept the southern blacks from obtaining their rights were passed. These laws were passed ironically by the Democrats which most African Americans now support! Abraham LIncoln was a Republican.