Notice what I said, squattie:
Most Northerners were also opposed to racial equality, but it's wrong and a cop-out to assume that the problems with Reconstruction were all the fault of the Republicans.
People in those days certainly did have different views than they do now. It's only natural that they're plans, intentions, and reactions would differ from ours.
But if you wanted to get rid of slavery or segregation, you had to start somewhere. The abolition of slavery started in the North and could well have been taken up by the South. Attempts at racial equality may have started in the Reconstruction South, but they had to start somewhere, and where most African-Americans lived was as good a place as any.
But you distort history. In the postbellum years when Reconstruction was implemented some Northern states did away with earlier racial restrictions and did allow Blacks more rights. It wasn't all the way across the board, but it was significant.
There was backsliding later, as part of the general reaction to Reconstruction's problems and "failures," but it was a start that could have been conserved and taken further. I don't think one can make a case that the North -- or the South -- was all of one mind all throughout history.
I bothered to respond just in case somebody out there doesn't realize that you're actually a Bay area troupe of college-age radical performance artistes, and takes your rantings seriously.
SOME of the MOST VICIOUS RACISTS in the nation were/ARE in DAMNyankleeland.
free dixie,sw