Six Viewpoints on How to Rebuild
the South
White southerners began to use fraud, intimidation, and
violence to get back the control of their own state
governments. By the time the last U.S. Army troops were
withdrawn from the South in 1877, the Democratic party was
back in control. Historians paint this period of Reconstruction as
a time when terrible bitterness could be found on all sides. The
northern governments had some angry, conspiring people,
trying to punish the southerners, who likewise had some angry,
conspiring people in their midst.
What Went Wrong with Reconstruction?
One of the biggest reasons the Reconstruction Period failed was
that it didn't provide a way for southerners to earn and circulate
money. Earning and circulating money is called economic
recovery. If Congress had divided up the southern land among
the whites and newly freed blacks, everyone would have been
given a new starting place, a way to begin a farm, a dairy, a
shop, a trade. And with the return of economic health, the
South would have regained its footing more quickly without so
much lingering strife.
The Reconstruction Period also failed because it didn't change
the social structure of the South. Instead, deep wounds and
scars of bitterness were imbedded into the culture and history of
the South. Blacks could not be seen as friends and equals by
many people. And though they were to enjoy the same rights
as all Americans, a prejudice and hatred against blacks was
etched into the lives of generations to come. Today, some
racial problems still continue.
Reconstruction left blacks at a disadvantage socially and
economically. This is perhaps why the Reconstruction failed.
People of the Reconstruction Era
Radical Republicans
Radical Republicans were determined anti-slavery members of
the Republican Party. They didn't like how Lincoln was running
the Civil War. They tried to make slavery the main reason for the
war, while Lincoln's goal was simply to unify the country. When
the war was winding down, Lincoln issued his 10 percent rule.
This required only 10 percent of a state to take an oath of
allegiance (undying support and devotion) to the United States
before Lincoln would let the state rejoin the Union. The Radicals
thought that this was too weak and forced harder requirements
through Congress. When Lincoln died and Andrew Johnson
took over, he continued Lincoln's program. The Radicals hated
this and worked hard to control the whole Reconstruction
Period.
Carpetbaggers
Carpetbaggers were northern politicians or investors who
moved to the South to gain political office or financial profit.
The carpetbag became a symbol of fortune seekers who came
carrying all they could in a satchel or carpetbag, racing South
to exploit what they could for personal gain. But not all
carpetbaggers were selfish and greedy. Many of them were
genuinely concerned about helping the blacks gain their
freedoms and education, and they tried hard to rebuild the
social, economic, and political structure of the communities
they moved into. Some were teachers and members of the
clergy who felt a moral duty to help former slaves. Some
brought considerable wealth, which they invested in the South.
Scalawags
Scalawags were influential people in the South who supported
the radicals of the North and the carpetbaggers. "Scalawag"
meant "a worthless person" or "scoundrel." During
Reconstruction, the scalawags amounted to about 20 percent
of the white population in the South and could often sway
elections in their favor. Whatever their motives, scalawags were
considered traitors by most white southerners.
Abraham Lincoln's Viewpoint
"With malice toward none, with charity for all,
with firmness in the right as God gives us to see
the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are
in, to bind up the nation's wounds . . . to do all
which may achieve and cherish a just and a
lasting peace among ourselves and with all
nations."
—Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address.
. . . He clearly wanted to treat the South kindly
and with leniency.
President Andrew Johnson's Viewpoint
Andrew Johnson chose to follow Lincoln's
policy of leniency toward the South. His great
problem in administering it was his lack of
diplomacy and the wise leadership skills
Lincoln possessed.
"I intend to follow Lincoln's policy of leniency
toward the South. I believe that federal
protection of black civil rights at this time
would lead toward centralization of the
national government. Making blacks full citizens at this time will
inflame the South further during a time of reconstruction."
Radical Northern Republican Viewpoint
Thaddeus Stevens - The leader of the Radical
Republican movement that worked hard to control
the Reconstruction Period.
"The Reconstruction Act is necessary to give blacks
the right to vote and have a part in government. The
rebel leaders should be punished and military rule should be set
up in the South to enforce these policies."
Southern White Democratic Viewpoint
The governor of South Carolina refused to ratify
the 13th Amendment. White plantation owners
were anxious to get back to the way things were
before the war.
"This is a white man's government intended for
white men only. We must pass laws such as the
"Black Codes," aimed to return former slaves to plantation
labor. Let's get back to how things were intended to be before
the federal government ruined everything."
Carpetbaggers' & Scalawags' Viewpoint
Nearly a fourth of the Republican delegates
were white northerners who had moved South
after the war. White southerners called them
carpetbaggers.
"I brought money to invest in rebuilding the
South. I should be allowed to represent the South
in Congress even if I am a northerner. I have white friends from
the South who sympathize with the North because they blame
the plantation owners for the war. Southerners call them
scalawags."
Former Slave Viewpoint
Blanche Kelso Bruce - Born into slavery, Bruce
was the first black to serve a full term in the
Senate. He worked for better race relations.
"Black people are being denied the right to
vote. I back the Republican point of view
because I think it will give the true freedom we
are looking for and will allow us to help govern
our state."
USA Studies Weekly-1865 to the Present week 6