Abraham Lincoln's Impact On The Reconstruction Period Essay Example

In 1865, the civil war ended and with that, the Reconstruction era began. It was not easy “reconstructing the south. But with the help of President Abraham Lincoln and the Radical Republicans it was made possible. During the civil war, slaves in the southern states were freed due to the Emancipation proclamation. Though the former slaves faced many more challenges in the south. For example, the former slaves had to deal with white supremacy groups like the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) who lynched, raped, and pillaged the black people, unfair laws like the black codes and the Jim crow laws, and racism. 

After the civil war had ended, things only get worse for the colored people. They had to abide by laws that were unfair. As stated in Emory Shi, David.”The era of reconstruction America: a narrative history, edited by Jon Durbin, W. W. Norton & Company, INC, 1984, 747 “African Americans were active agents in affecting the course of the Reconstruction. It was not an easy process...” Life was not easy for the black people in early America. But as America got older and bigger, the life of slaves got steadily worse, especially after the civil war. 

It took southern Americans three amendments for them to recognized as people and even then, black people were still treated as if they were still slaves. In Emory Shi, David.”The era of reconstruction America: a narrative history, edited by Jon Durbin, W. W. Norton & Company, INC, 1984, 740-741. it states, “A former slave in Shreveport, Louisiana, testified that whites still bullwhipped blacks as if they were slaves.” “In May and July of 1866, white mobs murdered African Americans in Memphis and New Orleans.” They dealt with laws like Jim crow and Black code laws to prevent black people from getting a say in anything. But even after all those hardships, colored people still endure and thrive no matter where they are. 

President Andrew Johnson was not making matters any better. After the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, President Andrew Johnson took office. At first, he was productive but after a while he started to undo his work, losing his supporters along the way, and started to help the southern people by allowing former confederation officers to run for offices in states and congress. Another party called the Radical Republicans was openly opposing President Johnson in his decisions. The Radical Republicans were furious at Johnson for vetoing a bill that was supposed to help protect the black people in the south and for firing someone without congress’ consent. So, the Radical Republicans attempted to impeach President Andrew Johnson. Unfortunately, the Radical Republicans lost by one point and that one point came from a man named Edmund G. Ross. After the trial Edmund Ross was shunned, fired, and lived the rest of his days in near poverty.  

The colored society has faced many hardships and problems fighting for their freedom. But in the end, they succeeded in not only ending slavery but also in making a suitable life for themselves in America and that is great. They managed to support their families and make a living out of the opportunities given and earned by them. Even when they had to face the racism of the southern white people and terrorist groups like the KKK attacking the black community.