Morgan Liaudaitis

Mr. Peck
Grade 8 History, Period 3
January 22, 2015
Reconstruction- Success or Failure?
As a country, America has gone through many economic and political changes, these
changes being both successes and failures. One change that turned out to be a success was the
Reconstruction era. The Reconstruction era was referred to as a time period of putting back the
pieces. The Reconstruction era did many beneficial things such as bringing our nation back
together, had all former Confederate states ratify the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth
Amendments, and the Freedmens Bureau. The Reconstruction era helped to bring our nation
back together.

During the Reconstruction era, our nation was brought back together. Lincoln came up with
the 10 percent plan to make it an easy transition back into the Union for all former Confederate
states. For the Confederate states to rejoin the Union 10% of voters in each state had to take a
loyalty oath for amnesty. The Southern states could make new state constitutions after they
ratified the 13th Amendment. They then could elect new representatives. This was a very
important part in history because our country became whole again and without reconstruction the
plan would never have been made. Also, the Amendment s that were made during this time
period had a positive effect nation wide.
The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments were ratified during this era. These
Amendments gave rights to African Americans. The 13 Amendment banned slavery which
finally let African Americans free into the community to live a somewhat independent life. The

14th Amendment set the rights for citizenship for any African American that was born in or
naturalized in the United States. The 15th Amendment gave African Americans the right to vote
which was a huge step to equality in the country. These amendments are an important part in our
history because it then led to equality in the later years after reconstruction. The Freedmens
Bureau was an organization that also left its mark in our nation during this time.

The Freedmens Bureau was set up during Reconstruction. The Freedmens Bureau provided
schools and hospitals for African Americans and helped to get them jobs. It also helped to settle
law disputes between Whites and African Americans. This bureau was very important during this
time because it was helping African Americans in a way that not many other people where. The
bureau stood behind blacks and helped them through tough times when nobody else would.
Although the Reconstruction Era was successful in many ways, there could have been a few
things done differently.

Reconstruction was a very successful time period in our nations history but there could have
been a few things done differently. The equalization of African Americans could have been sped
up to make the nation a more welcoming place for its citizens. Also, more voters could have been
required to take the loyalty oath to ensure no states or groups of people in the state would rebel.
Other than a few things that could have been changed, the Reconstruction era was an important
time period in our nations history. Without Reconstruction our nation may not be the way it is in
present day.