Would reconstruction of the south be considered a success or failure based on the fact that the south's goal was to fight for slavery and the north's goal was to mantain the union. keeping in mind, both wanted the right to make their own decisions.
It was a success for the North in that slavery was abolished. Obviously those in the South consider it a failure to reach their goals.
This site has some interesting information about Reconstruction.
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To determine whether the Reconstruction of the South can be considered a success or failure, we need to examine the goals and outcomes of the process. During the Reconstruction era (1865-1877), the primary objectives were to restore the Southern states to the Union, rebuild the Southern economy, and address the social and political rights of newly freed slaves.
Considering the goals of the South and the North, it is essential to understand that the Confederacy's fight during the Civil War was primarily to preserve their right to secede and maintain the institution of slavery. On the other hand, the North aimed to preserve the Union and later sought to ensure the rights and protection of freed slaves.
Based on these differing goals, the Reconstruction can be viewed differently:
1. If we focus solely on the South's objective of preserving slavery, Reconstruction is commonly considered a failure. The newly ratified 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments abolished slavery, granted citizenship rights to African Americans, and protected their voting rights. These changes were seen as a considerable loss for the South's original goals.
2. However, if the success of Reconstruction is assessed from the perspective of the North's goal to maintain the Union and establish civil rights, it can be seen as a partial success. While the Reconstruction period provided some short-lived advancements for African Americans, such as land redistribution, access to education, and political representation, these gains were eventually eroded by oppressive racial segregation laws and systemic discrimination.
3. Additionally, the preservation of the Union achieved its intended purpose. The Southern states were restored to the United States, the Confederacy was disbanded, and the principle of secession was largely rendered invalid.
It is crucial to consider the complexities and limitations of the Reconstruction era. Various factors, such as political compromise, violence, economic instability, and the eventual withdrawal of federal support, hampered the full realization of the North's goals.
In conclusion, when evaluating the Reconstruction of the South, it is difficult to categorize it strictly as either a success or a failure. It had both successes and failures in fulfilling the conflicting goals of the North and South, leading to an ongoing debate among historians.