Reflection (3/4)

During this unit I learned a little but more about myself. I learned that I really like having homework that is done on a blog. I liked making blogs to start with, so it made it easier to do. What was hard for me was the time management. Keeping up with 500 words once a week seemed so easy... until you get behind due to work, family, or studying for exams and other classes, which is more important (exams), but the homework still needs to get done! In English classes you need to keep up on your writing because it is good practice, and it helps you stay on track. Staying on track and practicing regularly, will make you a better writer. By having homework every week due on a blog is a great way to practice your writing.

What I learned about Reconstruction was not necessarily new, but a refresher in a way. I learned this stuff back in high school, but History doesn't stick with me that well. I like the Occurrence at Owl Creek short story by Ambrose Bierce. It touched on the relationship of the North versus the South, which was adverse. In the story Peyton, being a Confederate sympathizer, would do anything to help the South. He was tricked by a Union Scout to interfere with the North at Owl Creek Bridge, which lead to his death. This story shows the length many would go to help for their side of the war.

The Reconstruction Era followed the Civil War from 1865-1877 and focused on the freedoms and rights of slaves and of the reconstructed states in the South. Lincoln was the one to set reconstructed states in the South. He was the one who also made it so the slaves were free. The problems that arose after the slaves were free were because the free slaves had few rights, and no money to their name. The Government wanted to help them get jobs, money, homes, and education, which they did not have when they were slaves. Once they were free they had nothing, because they relied on their “owners” to provide for them. During the reconstruction era the free slaves were focused on, to improve their lives and their well-being.

Another aspect of Reconstruction was to being the South back into the Union. The people involved in the war took an oath of loyalty to the Union, which also pardoned their part in the war. Once this and the freed slaves were “fixed”, and after the assassination of Lincoln, Johnson took over. He thought that once the war was over, national unity, and the ending of slavery was achieved, that reconstruction was over. Republican did not agree and this enabled the Radical Republicans to remove power from former Confederates, and enfranchise the Freedmen. The Freedmen became second class citizens which wasn’t best. Many think that Reconstruction was a failure because of this and because poverty fell over a lot of citizens.

This is my summary what I learned about the Reconstruction Era, and I also think it was a partial failure. Changes that were made eventually had better results, but I think that the process could have been different and other changes would have helped the Reconstruction be more successful.