Was Reconstruction a failure or success?

Question

Civil War

Answer 1

As others have stated, it depends on your perspective. However, I believe that the difference in perspective was not one of North verses South, but rather one of State verses Federal and the continued degradation of the Constitution. What began under President Lincoln in terms of extra-Constitutional acts was carried further with reconstruction. While Lincoln initiated acts declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (initiating an income tax, removing Habeas Corpus, jailing Northern politicians for simply speaking out against the war), during reconstruction increasingly blatant acts occurred such as applying the 14th Amendment which never meant Constitutional requirements for ratification and the forceful removal of duly elected legislatures and replacing them with new hand picked (unelected) members.

Reconstruction was a continuation of weakening of the Founders’ Constitution which we live with today with such things as the Bill of Rights being applied to the States rather than just the federal government as the Founders intended.

Answer 2

The actual Reconstruction period following the Civil War was considered a failure in achieving its main goals. Political, social and economic issues during the Reconstruction divided the races, especially in the South. Although there were many political, economic and social attempts to attain equality among the races.
Political attempts by Reconstructionsist's, such as the Wade-Davis Bill (exhibited Radical Reconstruction's views on equality) and congress' passing of the 14th Amendment. Most political attempts failed because of the South's decision to not act upon any laws. A two party system was also founded creating more of a rift between Southerners and the rest of the US. Also, the KKK presented a threat to political revolution in the South combined with the extremely underrepresented African American community in constitutional conventions.
Sharecropping emerged in the South, which called for dividing the crop into three shares - one for the landowner, one for the worker, and one for the provider of goods and equipment - however; this system did not appeal to freed people because most African Americans could never be economically independent.
African Americans never achieved social equality either because of white Southerners deep racial hatred of them. The Civil Rights Act of 1875, outlawing discrimination in public places, only served to segregate people of different races through schools, churches and many other means.
With the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that influenced equality greatly among the races.
Although the Reconstruction was not a finished revolution, it helped pave the way for the Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 60's. Now, living in the South, I see just as much racial prejudice in other areas of the US, mainly in smaller towns and hopefully one day the US will truly create EVERYONE equal, not just politically.

Answer 3

It all depends with whom you speak. Those from the North who benefited as carpetbaggers will say reconstruction was a success. The southerners will disagree strongly because reconstruction was slow in coming and so much of the effort was stifled through pilferage. They would state reconstruction was a failure. Some of the rebels are still resisting today.

Answer 4

Nom the reconstruction was in fact far more harsh than originally intended. This resulted in a high level of hate and antipathy. Only during the first worldwar were both sides reunited by joining the both federations of veterans.

Answer 5

That depends on where you live. Most people know that the North won the war, but, the South has the better cities, roads, buildings, etc...so, I guess it was a success.