Question

"During the process of Reconstruction, many Northern politicians, including

President Andrew Johnson, wanted to show no mercy towards the South
These men wanted to punish the South for seceding and supporting
slavery. If you were a Northern legislator, would you rule and rebuild the
South with an iron fist, or would you-show mercy? Explain your answer
using examples."
A. Rule and rebuild the South with an iron fist.
B. Show mercy to the South.
C. Take a balanced approach, combining elements of both strictness and mercy.
D. Base the approach on the specific circumstances of each Southern state.

Answer 1

If I were a Northern legislator during Reconstruction, I would take a balanced approach, combining strictness and mercy to rebuild the South.

Step-by-step explanation:

If I were a Northern legislator during the Reconstruction era, I would take a balanced approach and combine elements of strictness and mercy. This approach would involve holding the Southern states accountable for their actions, but also providing them with support and assistance to rebuild and reintegrate into the Union.

For example, strictness could be shown by implementing laws and policies that ensured the protection of the rights of freed slaves and punished those who were responsible for supporting slavery. This could include measures such as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution, which granted equal protection under the law and the right to vote, respectively.

On the other hand, mercy could be shown by providing economic and educational opportunities to the Southern states to help them recover from the devastation of the Civil War. This could include programs such as the Freedmen's Bureau, which helped former slaves with education, employment, and land ownership.