The First Reconstruction came after the Civil War and lasted till 1877. The political, social, and economic conditions after the Civil War defined the goals of the First Reconstruction. At this time the Congress was divided politically on issues that grew out of the Civil War: Black equality, rebuilding the South, readmitting Southern states to Union, and deciding who would control government. Socially, the South was in chaos. Newly emancipated slaves wandered the South after having …showed first 75 words of 867 total…

…showed last 75 words of 867 total…reside with Moderate and Radical Republicans in Congress, whites who ran Southern state governments, and federal troops. Emancipated slaves had little to do with either fashioning Reconstruction policy or its implementation. Blacks political rights were dependent upon alliances made with groups with conflicting interests White Northern Republicans and White elites in the South. Though they pursued political equality for Blacks, their goals were shaped more by self-interest than for concern for Black equality. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**