When the Civil War ended, leaders turned to the question of how to reconstruct the nation. In the 1860s Congress passed a series of acts designed to address the question of rights, as well as how the Southern states would be governed. These acts included the act creating the Freedmen's Bureau, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and several Reconstruction Acts. The Reconstruction Acts established military rule over Southern states until new governments could be formed, they also limited some former Confederate officials' and military officers' rights to vote and to run for public office. The Reconstruction acts gave former male slaves the right to vote and hold public office. Congress also passed two amendments to the Constitution - The Fourteenth Amendment made African-Americans citizens and protected citizens from discriminatory state laws. Southern states were required to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment before being readmitted to the union, the Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed African American men the right to vote.
Jarred, you're too much. I think we all need a LITTLE help =]
Reconstruction was the attempt to resolve the issues of the American Civil War. The Confederacy and slavery were both destroyed. Reconstruction wanted to help the Southern states that had seceded to return and help the status of ex-Confederate leaders. There is said to be three phases of Reconstruction. Presidential Reconstruction, Radical Reconstruction, and Redemption. During the Presidential Reconstruction, Lincoln and Johnson sought to reunite the country. Their programs and ideas were opposed by the Radical Republicans, who started the Radical Reconstruction. This time period focused on civil rights and voting rights. Redemption was when the white supremacist Southerners took control over the Republicans, ending Reconstruction. There were many policy issues such as the opposition of the Ten percent plan, Wade-Davis Bill, and the Fourteenth Amendment. There are also many other issues on Reconstruction, especially because it covers a very important part of history. These are just some of the simple facts. Wikipedia.org/reconstruction
