Introduction to Reconstruction

This page provides an overview of the transition from the Civil War to the Reconstruction era, highlighting key events and figures.

As the Civil War ended in 1865, Americans longed for peace. President Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, spoke of healing and treating the South with kindness. However, Lincoln's assassination on April 14, 1865, just days after the war's end, left the task of Reconstruction to Vice President Andrew Johnson.

Quote: Lincoln's words "With malice to none, with charity for all... Let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds" encapsulated his vision for post-war reconciliation.

The page introduces the concept of Reconstruction, defining it as the process of rebuilding the South and reintegrating Southern states into the Union. It emphasizes that this would not be an easy task.

Definition: Reconstruction refers to the period of rebuilding and reintegration of the Southern states into the Union after the Civil War.

The page also outlines President Johnson's Reconstruction plan, which required Southern states to meet certain conditions to rejoin the Union, including writing new state constitutions, electing new governments, repealing secession acts, canceling war debts, and ratifying the 13th Amendment.

Highlight: The establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau to assist former slaves, who had no money, property, or resources, was a significant aspect of early Reconstruction efforts.