Question

Identify the short-term successes created by radical reconstruction.

1) Increased political participation of African Americans
2) Implementation of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
3) Creation of public schools in the South
4) Expansion of infrastructure and transportation systems

Answer 1

Radical Reconstruction led to increased political participation of African Americans, the implementation of crucial amendments, and the foundation of public schools and infrastructure improvements in the South.

Step-by-step explanation:

Short-Term Successes of Radical Reconstruction

The period of Radical Reconstruction after the American Civil War brought several short-term successes, which included:

1. Increased political participation of African Americans, as they began to vote in large numbers and also served as delegates to the state constitutional conventions.
2. The implementation of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery, defined citizenship and guaranteed equal protection under the law, and provided black men the right to vote, respectively.
3. The creation of public schools in the South, which was a significant accomplishment, as public schools were virtually nonexistent in the South before the Civil War.
4. The expansion of infrastructure and transportation systems, which included the rehabilitation of southern railroads and the investment in public services such as hospitals and orphanages.

These developments were fundamental in reconstructing the South and providing opportunities and rights to African Americans, albeit temporarily.