Reconstruction Government?

Question

What were the main issues in reconsruction government?

Answer 1

Main issues faced:

1) MONEY !! rebuilding the economy of Southern states -- shattered by the war, and hampered by the death of so many Southern men to the war

add to this the need for monies to pay for educating BOTH whites and (recently freed) blacks in the South, and the economic demands on the governments were considerable

2) LABOR SYSTEM? integrating freed blacks into the economy and life of the community -- many Southern states tried various means of limiting their economic freedoms, passing "black codes" that forced them into work arrangements often very similar to slavery

3) GOVERNMENT - the expansion of the vote, and office holding to blacks caused a major backlash from many white Southerners (expressed in groups like the KKK, terrorizing them, esp to prevent them from VOTING... unfortunately, with much success)

Answer 2

The main issues were who was going to decide the path of reconstruction and the brand new issue of race relations.

Northern Republicans who dominated the Congress after the Civil War were not going to show mercy in any way to the South, who was blamed entirely for the war. So, a great deal of restrictions were put on those who could hold public office in the south, especially in the federal government. The South in effect had no say in its own reconstruction, and there was a great deal of resentment about that.

The second major issue was race relations. Now that blacks were free citizens capable of voting, how were they going to affect politics and government. Sadly, Reconstruction government did little to enfranchise blacks, so they remained poor. What is more, ineffectual leadership on the racial issue led to the passage of Jim Crow laws throughout the South that severely limited the right to vote for blacks. Thus, blacks lost their voice and representation, leading to the unfortunate history of race relations that we have come to know all too well.

Answer 3

is this so important to you