Answer to Question #58619 in History for Jayden Spurgeon

Question

•So what were some of Lincoln's policies towards the (defeated, or at least occupied) South?

•How did he envisage 'restoring the Union'? What was required to revalidate the American Citizenship of former Rebels?

•And why did many people in the government (especially in Congress) object to these policies?

•Likewise--and closely intertwined with these questions and issues--the fate of millions of freed African-American slaves: did Lincoln have a 'policy' for them too?

•Was there, even with Lincoln, an inherent paradox here for subsequent Reconstruction--between 'national unity' and 'racism'?

•If so, did we 'fail' at our first attempt at nation-building a conquered enemy?

•Or did Reconstruction actually achieve more than anyone could reasonably expect?