The reconstruction period was linked to various issues as the country readjusted its operations to incorporate the freed black Americans as members of society. Such an aspect increased the rivalry between the Northerners and the Southerners due to their various opinions over slavery and the rights of the Negroes. The Republicans, led by Abraham Lincoln, had plans to ensure that the reconstruction process was made effective through the incorporation of government interventions. Such solutions were implemented to ensure that the Southerners complied with the law and gave freedom to the enslaved people they had in their custody. The conflict’s perceptions toward the abolition of slavery increased the tension in the country and the likelihood of the looming war. The process led to the development of a radical group of Republicans who believed that the South should be punished before they were incorporated into the American Union. In my opinion, the radical Republicans were incorrect in their assumptions regarding the Southerners since their plan effectively enhanced the gains that blacks would gain during the reconstruction.
The application of the plan for the southern states is perceived as violent. The scheme would lead to more tension and violence, which was against the good of the African Americans, which had been achieved during the construction. According to the radical Republicans, the southern states would be better if placed under military control where universal manhood suffrage would be applied. A conflict was anticipated in response to the push for the adaptation of the anti-slavery laws that would make it illegal for American citizens to buy an enslaved person. In reality, such assumptions were overrated and would lead to more challenges than solutions (Dunning, 1907). Applying military control would lead to more resistance in the land, making the tension intense. Such a mechanism would lead to more destruction concerning the political, economic, and social gains that were experienced in the land.
Although Lincoln was already in control of the South and the anti-slavery laws were already implemented, his plan was unpopular, making it ineffective. The African Americans were actively engaged in social programs while others enlisted in the army, meaning that they had no power to influence the reconstruction (Bateman et al., 2018). Due to this reason, the assumptions were right, and their impacts had more benefits on the land, especially for the formerly enslaved people.
In addition, the assumptions of the radical Republicans were aimed at enhancing the peace of the South and punishing them for their stand on slavery. Such plans were focused on using excessive force to make the Southerners confer to their plan without any peacekeeping mechanisms (Bateman et al., 2018). The radicals opposed Lincoln’s ten percent plan as they believed it was lenient to the southern states. According to the radicals, Lincoln’s leniency plan and complacency did not insist on more civil rights and protections for formerly enslaved people (Gerber, 2018). In reality, the radicals were under-informed as Lincoln’s plan had more civil rights plans, like the voting rights for the freed African Americans. The development of the Wade-Davis bill showed the real intentions of the radicals were to implement harsh conditions towards the southerners. This was done to punish the Southerners because they were believed to be guilty of the ills of slavery and were not supposed to be subjected to leniency measures (Dunning, 1907). Such assumptions are highly critical as the president was soft on them, although they had seceded from being part of the union.
Another reason the radical Republican assumptions were true is that they enhanced the freedom of African Americans, granting them equal rights and treatment as whites. The radicals believed that African Americans were humans and that it was right to give them equal rights (Dunning, 1907). Lincoln’s plan for reconstruction was not popular, making it unsuccessful in enhancing the reconstruction process. From this perspective, the radicals have a great plan to end slavery completely and make blacks part of American society. Through their plan, they could make universal education free for all formerly enslaved people making them gain the necessary education that would be useful for the country’s economy (Suryanarayan & White, 2021). Although some formerly enslaved people lived to depend on the support of their masters, the overall argument of the radical Republicans was true and transformative to the country.
In conclusion, the radical Republicans’ plan to hasten the reconstruction process was successful and effective. Using the military to control the southern states enabled them to maintain order and hasten the process of setting enslaved people free in the southern states. The argument that the southern states were guilty of the crimes against the formerly enslaved people was true, as the way they treated the Negroes was against human rights. In addition, it was true that black Americans had equal rights to live and to be free, just like whites. Due to this, the radicals needed to develop their plan to implement the reconstruction process, as Lincoln’s plan was lenient towards the southern states. Through the development of equal opportunities, blacks could make good leaders just like white administrators.
References
Bateman, D. A., Katznelson, I., & Lapinski, J. S. (2018). Southern nation: Congress and white supremacy after reconstruction (Vol. 158). Princeton University Press.
Dunning, W. A. (1907). Reconstruction, political and economic, 1865-1877. Harper & Bros.
Gerber, R. (2018). Southern Reconstruction. Civil War Book Review, 20(1), 14.
Suryanarayan, P., & White, S. (2021). Slavery, reconstruction, and bureaucratic capacity in the American South. American Political Science Review, 115(2), 568-584.