<p>After the April, 1865 surrender of General Robert Lee and the Confederacy’s end, the Congressional Republicans ushered in a phase in American history known as Reconstruction, aimed at reuniting the Northern and Southern states, and closing class differences between wealthy plantation owners and poor black laborers. Logically, the quote that “Reconstruction never had any chance in the south” is ultimately correct. Reconstruction was doomed to fail in the southern states because of grudges after the Civil war, fear of black takeover, the aftermath over the ruling of Plessy V. Ferguson, and Southern indoctrination of white supremacy from one generation to the next. </p>
<p>Although these reasons factually explain why Reconstruction failed, other outside factors should be taken into account. Primarily, Lincoln’s Democratic successor, Andrew Johnson was the former governor of Tennessee, slaveholder, and southern sympathizer, who opposed many strict Republican plans by vetoing Reconstruction related bills. Moreover, carpetbagger governments (Northern Republicans who were put in charge of the South) were hated by Southerners, and thus were somewhat ineffective.
First, Southern grudges against the Union from the lack of independence brought on by the carpetbag governments made them resistant to change that the North would bring. According to “Throwing off the Yoke of Reconstruction” Mrs. Jennie Coleman recalled her experiences with the end of Reconstruction movement. “Our section yielded to none in its support of the Red Shirt movement that elected Wade Hampton governor [of South Carolina]. The Hate of oppression and love of independence united these people to throw off the yoke of carpetbag government” (Document H). THis quote shows the lack of reconciliation towards Reconstruction policies made by Republicans in the South, and desire for a Democratic governor who would then undo many changes made by carpetbaggers.
Also, fear of Black takeover by wealthy whites made many efforts to put forward Reconstruction policies difficult. The cartoon by Thomas Nast, “The Odor of the [African American] is Offensive” shows a drawing of Southerners shunning Black laborers, yet the next drawing at the bottom reads, “All the Difference in the World” and portrays a white man cleaning the shoes of a wealthy black at a party. While this satire is meant to show that Southern opinions toward Reconstruction won’t matter, but it also gives credence to Plantation owner’s fears of takeover by their former slaves. In fact, these fears were so real, that many whites joined the Ku Klux Klan to intimidate and sometimes lynch African Americans, to keep them on the fringes of society. “Throwing off the Yoke of Reconstruction” provides a first-hand account of acceptance of the Klan by whites. “The women and older children would surmise that these men were Ku Klux members in hiding, and our romantic fantasies would sumrise their deeds” (Document H). Because of the fear of takeover, and by extension, tolerance of the KKK, many Radical Reconstruction efforts to put Blacks in charge of government failed because blacks feared the Klan’s violence.
Moreover, the aftermath of the ruling of “Plessy v. Ferguson” upheld Black Codes set up by Southern states to keep segregation alive. The High Court ruled in favor of segregation because “the object of the [13th] Amendment was to undoubtedly to enforce the absolute equality of the two races before the law, but, in the nature of things, it could not have been intended to abolish distinctions based on color” (Document D). The Supreme Court did not see a reason why the 13th Amendment should block Black Codes from taking effect. Lack of Integration by races in Public Places kept mutual feelings of hostility alive, and helped doom Reconstruction.
Finally, White-Southern indoctrination of supremacy over African Americans helped fail Reconstruction. Ella Gooding from “The Goodings Describe Reconstruction in South Carolina” says “The Ku Klux Klan was a necessary organization and did much to discharge ignorant Negroes” (Document G). These beliefs, combined with the fact that Blacks had been slaves for many generations, gave whites a feeling of superiority that did not end with the Civil War. Clearly, these beliefs did not allow people like plantation owners to accept the nature of Reconstruction, policies that would have balanced out the two races, and fixed income inequality.
In summary, Reconstruction was disastrous partially, if not completely, because of the attitude Southerners held toward radical social and economic changes in their society. Mainly, it failed because of grudges against the North, fear of black takeover, “Plessy v. Ferguson”, and feelings of White Supremacy.</p>