First and Second Reconstructions
First and Second ReconstructionsThe First and Second Reconstructions held out the great promise of rectifying racial injustices in America. The First
Reconstruction, emerging out of the chaos of the Civil War had as its
goals equality for Blacks in voting, politics, and use of public
facilities. The Second Reconstruction emerging out of the booming
economy of the 1950's, had as its goals, integration, the end of Jim
Crow and the more amorphous goal of making America a biracial
democracy where, "the sons of former slaves and the sons of former
slave holders will be able to sit down together at the table of
brotherhood." Even though both movements, were borne of high hopes
they failed in bringing about their goals. Born in hope, they died in
despair, as both movements saw many of their gains washed away. I
propose to examine why they failed in realizing their goals. My thesis
is that failure to incorporate economic justice for Blacks in both
movements led to the failure of the First and Second Reconstruction.
The First Reconstruction came after the Civil War and lasted
till 1877. The political, social, and economic conditions after the
Civil War defined the goals of the First Reconstruction. At this time
the Congress was divided politically on issues that grew out of the
Civil War: Black equality, rebuilding the South, readmitting Southern
states to Union, and deciding who would control government.1 Socially,
the South was in chaos. Newly emancipated slaves wandered the South
after having left their former masters, and the White population was
spiritually devastated, uneasy about what lay ahead. Economically, the
South was also devastated: plantations lay ruined, railroads torn up,
the system of slave labor in shambles, and cities burnt down. The
economic condition of ex-slaves after the Civil War was just as
uncertain; many had left former masters and roamed the
highways.2
Amid the post Civil War chaos, various political groups were
scrambling to further their agendas. First, Southern Democrats, a
party comprised of leaders of the confederacy and other wealthy
Southern whites, sought to end what they perceived as Northern
domination of the South. They also sought to institute Black Codes, by
limiting the rights of Blacks to move, vote, travel, and change jobs,3
which like slavery, would provide an adequate and cheap labor supply
for plantations. Second, Moderate Republicans wanted to pursue a
policy of reconciliation between North and South, but at the same time
ensure slavery was abolished.4 Third, Radical Republicans, comprised
of Northern politicians, were strongly opposed to slavery,
unsympathetic to the South, wanted to protect newly free slaves, and
keep there majority in Congress.5 The fourth political element, at the
end of the Civil War was President Andrew Johnson whose major goal was
unifying the nation. The fifth element were various fringe groups such
as, abolitionists and Quakers. Strongly motivated by principle and a
belief in equality,...
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