![]() But those twelve years changed the meaning of citizenship fundamentally, for black people and for all Americans.Īmerica was founded on revolutionary principles: the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, democracy, and equality. ![]() The struggle for black freedom and equality during Reconstruction produced long strides forward and bruising setbacks. An urgent contest for power erupted in Washington and throughout the country. He brought his support for white supremacy to the helm of government. President Johnson agreed with the latter. Others wanted the old America, with strict racial lines intact and whites in control. Some envisioned a radically new interracial democracy. Would black people now be accepted as equals? The country was deeply divided. Vice President Andrew Johnson took over.Ī burning question faced the nation during Reconstruction. Just at this crucial moment, a Southern sympathizer killed President Lincoln. America needed to reunite, heal, and change. Reconstruction began with the Confederate surrender that ended the Civil War.
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