America’s Post-Civil War Growing Pains

In January, 1861 South Carolina secedes from the union known as the United States of America followed shortly by Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina finally joined them in secession and formed what was known as the Confederate States of America. The cause of this secession is still debated today by many with the Northerners claiming the war was over slavery while many in the South hold on theory that states’ rights were the main issue. No matter which side is correct in their argument, the fact still remains that the Southern states were left in ruins, both physically and economically.

After more than 4 years of brother against brother bloodshed, the South under the command of General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. President Lincoln had already devised a plan for reconstruction prior to the wars end. In late 1863, President Lincoln revealed his plan to help the South join back up with the union in what he felt was a smooth transition. His plan would give general amnesty to all that would take an oath to the United States professing their loyalty to the union providing they obeyed all laws involving slavery. High ranking military and civilian leaders from the South were excluded from this plan. Lincoln was willing to let a Confederate state rejoin the union once one tenth of the number of voters from that state during the 1860 election took the oath. His plan for reconstruction was met with great resistance. The President and Congress fought over control for the reconstruction process. It was during this period that Congressional power became stronger than the President’s. This was not the first battle between Congress and President Lincoln. During the war, Lincoln had declared a state of emergency and took over many of the powers that were once controlled by the Congress.

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln...