America, as a country, has experienced many political changes since its independence from Great Britain in the late 18th century. Movements, ideologies and leaders come and go, all with their own beliefs and plans for future generations. But as history evolves, most, and almost all, of these revolutionary campaigns end up dying in this era. One of these movements is known today as Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a time in America when many accomplishments and goals were met or not met. Like many other movements, Reconstruction ended and is considered a success in some ways and a failure in others. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Reconstruction began in 1865, just after the end of the Civil War. It was a time when a crippled America could rise and rebuild itself into a fully functioning country again. With the immense losses of the war still fresh in people's minds, this was not an easy task. South America was economically and politically nonexistent after the war and more than four million former slaves were freed, by the 13th Amendment, into an economy with no idea of ​​how to become self-reliant. Politicians, especially those in the South, were concerned about this issue and knew that something had to be done. They all created their own idea of ​​rebuilding, some better than others. One of the best plans created was that of then-President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln made it so that in order for the former Confederate states to join the union, they had to meet certain criteria. For a state to return to the union, it had to have at least ten percent of its voters accepting both loyalty to the union and the emancipation of slaves, and not all high-ranking officers of the state could perform their duties only if they have been approved by the President. Unfortunately, on the night of April 14, 1865, while attending the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater, Abraham was murdered before his plan could even come to fruition. After his death, many politicians, primarily Thaddeus Stevens, Charles Sumner, and former President Andrew Johnson, soon known as Radicals, formulated their own ambitions. These Republicans had two main goals: revenge on southerners and help freed slaves. They blamed the South for the war and insisted that it pay for what it had done. They all also believed that freed slaves needed help and protection. However, they all had their own ways of achieving these similar goals. Thaddeus Stevens, a member of the House of Representatives, was primarily concerned with economic opportunities for newly freed slaves. He thought they should all enter the workforce and fend for themselves. Do not depend on former slave owners, as this could cause the re-instantiation of slavery. Then Charles Sumner, a senator at the time, had a similar but different idea than Stevens. He fought for citizenship for everyone except women because he firmly believed in the phrase "All men are created equal." » Finally, former President Andrew Johnson, who served as President Lincoln's vice president until his assassination, had an idea of ​​Reconstruction that most closely resembled Lincoln's. Most radicals did not approve of Johnson's Reconstruction ideas because they.