After the end of the civil war, the most important task was to consolidate the federation and restore state unity of the country. The presence of various economic, political, and legal structures impeded the progress of the United States. Direct sabotage of the southern states forced Congress to formulate a policy of Reconstruction of the South and adopt a series of laws aimed at restoring the union state. A Committee on Reconstruction was created, and rebel states were expelled from Congress. Even during the war, Congress decided to confiscate the lands of the rebels and deprive them of their voting rights. Representatives of the federal government, relying on small and medium-sized farmers, resolutely fought against the omnipotence of the slave oligarchy in the states of the South.
The South was divided into five military districts, and civilian authority in each district was led by a general with broad powers. Blacks in these states received civil and political rights. Revolutionary governments appeared on the territory of the former Confederation. The most fanatical slaveholders were expelled from the legislative assemblies of these states, from administrative and judicial posts under the control of emissaries of the North. In cases where the state administration refused to comply with the instructions of the federal government, martial law was declared in the state.
The reorganization of the socio-economic system of the Southern states began on new, bourgeois principles. Blacks actively participated in the work of local authorities. For the first time in the country's history, 16 blacks were elected to the US Congress. However, the vast majority of blacks and white poor people remained in the position of disenfranchised agricultural workers and sharecroppers.
Negroes have not received land allotments at the expense of the property of the planters. They were allowed to purchase real estate and land in accordance with the Homestead Act. The victory of the North contributed to the industrial upsurge, which affected the southern states. Restoration work stimulated the emergence of new railways and ports. The construction industry was developing. Entrepreneurial activity was not alien to the former planters who built their economy in a new way, acquired commercial skills.
Achievements in the field of education of blacks became quite tangible: by 1880, almost complete illiteracy among them was reduced to 70%.
Reconstruction acts introduced a military dictatorship in the South, transferring power in the southern states to the hands of Republicans-Northerners and their local allies. Under this regime, elections to the local governments of ten southern states were gradually held, new state constitutions were adopted, and economic and political transformations in the South were carried out.
Democratization was of forced nature. To organize life in the new conditions, federal officials and many participants in the civil war from the North arrived in the South. The presence of the army allowed the federal government to carry out all activities based on the law, helping the southern states to retreat voluntarily, "saving face." In 1868, seven of the 11 southern states agreed with the requirements of federal authorities, adopted new constitutions (subject to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments); they formed state governments, elected legislative bodies and representatives to the US Congress.
An important place during the years of the Reconstruction was occupied by the issue of the blacks vote. 14th amendment was a compromise. The leaders of the radical Republicans were not able to achieve unconditional recognition of the voting rights of blacks. The main flaw of the 14th amendment, as well as of all subsequent laws in defense of the civil rights of black Americans, was the declarative nature of this document - the rights of blacks were proclaimed, but not guaranteed.
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