HIS 114 American History: Were the Radical Republicans Correct?

President Lincoln's goal for reconstruction remained linked to his goal in the war-preserve the Union. His plan favored leniency, in order to as quickly as possible reintegrate the south, and gain the support of Southern Unionists (mostly former Whigs). Radical Republicans urged a much harsher course, believing that the south was unrepentant and should bear the costs of Reconstruction.

Write a well-organized essay,  by addressing the following question:

oach created new opportunity for continuation of political, economic and social gains which the African Americans had achieved during the Reconstruction period (Trefousse, 2014).

Discussion

Abraham Lincoln not only abhorred slavery but also considered it as a moral evil, despite of such belief you clearly declared that he has no purpose of indirectly or directly interfering with the slavery which exists in the States. In his emancipation proclamation issued in 1862, slavery was not abolished as it was applicable to only 11 Confederate States which were then against war with union. Therefore, Abraham Lincoln clearly did not set the goal for union to put an end to slavery (Rasmussen, 2016). The moderate Republicans feared that this would keep out the border slaves still loyal to the union and create more agitation among the Northerners (Sommer, 2016). By the end of 1862, the slaves themselves had put forward the issue headed by thousands of union lines as the troops came through the South. The actions led by the slaves exposed one of the stoutest rumours underlying the southern devotion that slaves truly desired bondage and this led to convincing link and that emancipation would have been necessary for both political and military reasons. In response to this, Lincoln proceeded with emancipation announcement which led to freeing of more than 3 million slaves in the Confederate States by the end of January in 1863 (Summers, 2014).

The radical Republicans were identified as the factions of American politicians under Republican Party of the U.S. between 1854-1877. The term with themselves as “radicals”, as they desired permanent eradication of slavery without any compromise. However, the notion was opposed by moderate Republicans, and the Reconstruction Democratic party and liberals in the North during the time of reconstruction (Dunning, 1877). The efforts led by the radical Republicans was done to establish universal civil rights for former slaves along with complete emancipation. This was followed by weaker measures in 1866, which led to violence against rebel states and former slaves. Moreover, the radicals introduced 14^th Amendment and statutory protections the support of Congress. Their philosophy disfavoured allowing the ex-Confederates to regain the political power in South and put an augmented focus towards voting rights, civil rights and equality for the freed people (former slaves) (Foner, 2018).

Radicals demanded for aggressive prosecution of the war which would pave the way for a faster end to slavery and total devastation of Confederacy. It is also seen that the “radical Republicans” clearly opposed Lincoln’s approach for reuniting the U.S. during the Reconstruction in 1863, and it was viewed as too lenient (Brown, 2016). Therefore, the radicals opposed this with an ironclad oath that prevented the Confederacy from casting their vote during the Southern elections. Despite of such efforts Lincoln blocked such terms put forward by the radicals and even vetoed Wade-Davis Bill passed in 1864 (Dodd, 2015).

Conclusion

After the end of elections in 1860, the moderate Republicans dominated the Congress. In my opinion, the approach led by radical Republicans was not only fast in their approach of abolition of slavery but they were also primarily self-motivated by promoting northern business interests. Therefore, the radical Republicans often viewed the approach of Lincoln to be slow in providing freedom to the slaves and supporting their legal equality. In addition to this, the radical Republicans gradually led to the construction of the South. The Republican factions supported renowned radical Republican leader Ulysses Grant for President in 1868. Despite of severe resistance brought up by Ku Klux Klan organization, the liberal Republicans believed that Reconstruction succeeded and slavery should be put to an end.

References

Brown, Z. (2016). " Indianizing the Confederacy": Understandings of War Cruelty During the American Civil War and the Sioux Uprising of 1862. Penn History Review, 23(2), 6.

Dodd, L. (2015). Coalitions in parliamentary government (Vol. 1247). Princeton University Press.

Dunning, W. A. (1877). Reconstruction, Political and Economic, 1865-1877 (Vol. 22). Harper & brothers.

Foner, E. (2018). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. The Chautauqua Journal, 2(1), 5.

Rasmussen, J. P. (2016). A History of the Missouri Court of Appeals: The Role of Regional Conflicts in Shaping Intermediate Appellate Court Structure. J. App. Prac. & Process, 17, 245.

Reid, B. H. (2014). The Origins of the American Civil War. Routledge.

Sommer, H. J. (2016). ‘To Weep over His Faults and His Fate’: America's Political Factions on the Trial and Execution of Louis XVI. History Matters, 13, 117-39.

Summers, M. W. (2014). Railroads, reconstruction, and the gospel of prosperity: aid under the radical Republicans, 1865-1877. Princeton University Press.

Trefousse, H. L. (2014). The Radical Republicans. Knopf.