Failure Of Reconstruction
Looking back on Reconstruction, there were many moments when we took a turn for the worst. However, I will discuss what I believe to be the root of our problems: the rise of Radical Republicans and their mission to slash the power of the Southern white population. As soon as the Radicals started to gain power, Reconstruction shifted from unification to reformation. Alongside others, I believe that the South had “nobility, Christian virtues, leadership, [and] loyalty to its men” (“Reconstruction”). In other words, we, the South, did not need reforming, but the North and the Radicals proceeded to do so anyways, instituting higher taxes and subduing the whites’ political voice by allowing the blacks to vote. Instead, the South should have been
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Before the Civil War, there was a political equilibrium between the North and South, ensuring equal representation of Northern and Southern ideals. Many compromises like the Missouri Compromise included clauses with the goal of entertaining the views of both sides (Brinkley 192-193). While they were settlements in which each side had to make sacrifices, they weren’t egregiously unfair. Unfortunately, the passing of the 14th and 15th amendments--which, among other things, ensured and protected black voting rights--disrupted this balance. (Brinkley 358-359). The passing of these two amendments introduced an entire new voting group in favor of the Radicals. Thaddeus Stevens, a leading Radical, even acknowledged this advantage by saying “it [black voting rights] would insure the ascendency of the Union party” (Stevens). Although Stevens did not mention Radical Republicans, he mentioned the rise of the Union party, implying that black voting rights lessened the power of the South. Consequently, after the passage of both amendments, the Radicals secured their ascension to power, shifting the trajectory of Reconstruction.
The tax and civil rights policies enacted by the Radical Republicans diminished our wealth and weakened our political power. Without either, we, the Southern whites, became less influential in South’s future as exhibited by the election of numerous blacks and Radicals throughout Reconstruction (“Reconstruction”). Because the rise of the Radicals resulted in the demise of our control over the South, I point to it as the critical turning point when Reconstruction started to fail
Before the Civil War, there was a political equilibrium between the North and South, ensuring equal representation of Northern and Southern ideals. Many compromises like the Missouri Compromise included clauses with the goal of entertaining the views of both sides (Brinkley 192-193). While they were settlements in which each side had to make sacrifices, they weren’t egregiously unfair. Unfortunately, the passing of the 14th and 15th amendments--which, among other things, ensured and protected black voting rights--disrupted this balance. (Brinkley 358-359). The passing of these two amendments introduced an entire new voting group in favor of the Radicals. Thaddeus Stevens, a leading Radical, even acknowledged this advantage by saying “it [black voting rights] would insure the ascendency of the Union party” (Stevens). Although Stevens did not mention Radical Republicans, he mentioned the rise of the Union party, implying that black voting rights lessened the power of the South. Consequently, after the passage of both amendments, the Radicals secured their ascension to power, shifting the trajectory of Reconstruction.
The tax and civil rights policies enacted by the Radical Republicans diminished our wealth and weakened our political power. Without either, we, the Southern whites, became less influential in South’s future as exhibited by the election of numerous blacks and Radicals throughout Reconstruction (“Reconstruction”). Because the rise of the Radicals resulted in the demise of our control over the South, I point to it as the critical turning point when Reconstruction started to fail