Reconstruction of the South?

Question:

Reconstruction of the South?

Was Reconstruction a noble experiment that failed, a vengeful Northern punishment of the South, a weak effort that did not go far enough, or the best that could have been expected under the circumstances? What was the historical legacy of Reconstruction? (Consider particularly the 14th and 15th amendments.)

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: It is a blend of what you stated, it partially failed and most of the South considered it punishment (especially the military rule).

The Reconstruction may have been different if Lincoln had not been assassinated, perhaps less harsh on the South and better received in the North. Historical legacy is that the Reconstruction allowed greater equal rights, and Southern states were required to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment before being readmitted to the union.
On the other hand, many believe the Reconstruction was a failure; it was too radical. Because of President Johnson's position, he was deemed too easy on the South and a traitor to the Union (being born in North Carolina and a former senator representing Tennessee didn't help matters).

Booker T. Washington grew up in West Virginia during Reconstruction and he concluded that "the Reconstruction experiment in racial democracy failed because it began at the wrong end, emphasizing political means and civil rights acts rather than economic means and self-determination."

Good question.