How Has Reconstruction Affected After The Civil War

In the early to mid 1860s, America faced a destructive Civil War that tore the country apart. It separated the North from the South and resulted in northern victory. The northern victory angered the South and tensions were further enraged by the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. This pushed Vice President Andrew Johnson into the presidency and ushered in a period known as Reconstruction, which sought to repair the country. Meanwhile, the issue of freedmen’s rights became a major political issue that fiercely divided Democrats and Republicans alike. Reconstruction was the best that could have been expected under the circumstances due to the damage from the Civil War, a politically inept president, and the issue over freedmen’s rights.
To begin, the Civil War left the country destroyed, both physically and emotionally. Physically, the Civil War left the South destroyed after the Civil War. Farms and plantations were destroyed, harming the economy, and many southerners were dead, which impacted families who no longer had a source of income. Families faced starvation and death, making many southerners bitter at the North. Southerners, who were mainly Democrats, also disagreed with the northern Republicans over government, harmfully impacting the Reconstruction process. Southerners wanted less interference
After the assassination of President Lincoln, Andrew Johnson took the presidency, which was originally well received. However, his lack of preparation made many see him as unfit and unprepared to handle the tasks that would befall him. Johnson held more democratic and racist beliefs, which angered the mainly Republican Congress. This can be seen in his vetoing of various Republican bills, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which responded to the harsh black codes. However, Congress overrode his veto, causing a further rift between Johnson and