If Reconstruction had been harsher (or even maintained as it was), you would’ve had to fight another war and keep a perpetual occupying force in the South. There was no fire in the belly amongst Northerners to do that. The 1876 elections were demonstrative of that. If Hayes didn’t end it (as the “deal” for being awarded the election), President Tilden would’ve.
As was said many times, pro-abolitionist Northerners didn’t want freed Blacks flooding into their states. They were fine with dictating terms from far away upon the South, but had they been inundated with the people they freed, would’ve turned into the most rabid and violent racists.
I guess resettlement was the best plan then.
If not Liberia (few wanted to go there) or the Central America (Lincoln’s plan but Central America didn’t want them) than perhaps to the western plains states.
http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v13/v13n5p-4_Morgan.html
“I guess resettlement was the best plan then.”
No doubt about that. We wouldn’t have the unassimilated contraband, a.k.a. the “gibmedats” bitching and moaning.
“If Reconstruction had been harsher...”
Exactly, there wouldn’t be the divisions that exist (especially by a few Rebs on this site) between the North and the South.
“That permanent enslavement was ever permitted on our soil was an abomination.”
Yep. Idiotic Luddites that were too cheap and stupid to join the Industrial Revolution were behind it in this country.