Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War

Reconstruction

The era between 1865 and 1877 is known as The Reconstruction Era. During the civil war the southern economy was destroyed. Plantations, crops, houses and railroads were ruined. There were two different views on how the south would get rebuilt and how blacks would get equal rights.

One way was the Presidential Plan. It was originally Lincoln’s plan and Johnson tried to follow it but he failed. The presidential plan was easier and more lenient towards former confederates. The second way was the Congressional Plan. It was created by radical republicans and it had a tougher stand against the South. The Congressional Plan wanted to guarantee civil rights of African America...