MILITARY OCCUPATION OF THE SOUTH HELPED REUNITE OUR COUNTRY


By bblouin
The military occupation of the South during the reconstruction era.

The period between the end of the American Civil War and the Compromise of 1877 is the Reconstruction Era. This was when the United States was attempting to get both the Union and Confederate states to work together again. Historians would call Reconstruction a success. In many ways it was, but that’s not the whole story, and repercussions are still felt today in many different communities. The military occupation of the South would have Union troops staying to enforce laws and keep the peace long after the Civil War was over. Suggested read: Breaking News! Leader of Hamas Killed In Lebanon

What Was the Military Occupation of the South?

Following the events of the Civil War, the military occupation of the South was a period of time in which around 40,000 Union troops remained in states below the Mason–Dixon line. This was to keep the peace and make sure there were no more separations. The military occupation of the South during Reconstruction meant that tens of thousands of troops were needed to maintain control and keep America united. Furthermore, there were civil rights issues involving Freedmen along with social-economical issues with poorer whites tired of the plantation system. Confederate states were not keen on providing Blacks with the freedoms they were now afforded and there was a need to reconnect the political aspect of the South to the North. These connected, complicated notions only made the tension worse. In hindsight, many have wondered whether or not the military occupation of the South was good or bad. Obviously, the reinstatement of the southern states and the improvement of civil rights for Blacks were a good thing, but having Union troops in the South made both sides face even more issues than there were before the war started.

The Pros and Cons of the Union Remaining In the South

To determine whether or not the military occupation of the South was positive or negative may be a matter of perspective and opinion. Nevertheless, there were some repercussions that came about as a result of the Union Soldiers staying in the South. Pros:

  • Maintaining a military force provided protection for Blacks.
  • Blacks would also be provided the opportunities politically that were previously not available.
  • Peacekeeping and order were a priority. Thus, Blacks had protection from the Ku Klux Klan by the Union.
  • A variety of aspects were able to become organized. This includes the government, social aspects, and the reconstruction of physical infrastructure destroyed by war.

Cons:

  • Economic issues arose on many fronts. For the North, it was because of the cost of occupation. The South shifted its economy.
  • The occupation further fueled the idea that southern states had limitations in what they could do.
  • Racial tensions were only part of the problem. POW camps on both sides and the resistance/violence popping up during Reconstruction didn’t help anyone.
  • Ultimately, these tensions grew and laid the framework for the Jim Crow Era after the end of the Federal military occupation of the South.

Was the Military Occupation of the South Good for Slaves?

Yes, the Union was good for slaves, Freedmen, Blacks, and many others. Here’s how Union Soldiers helped before the Compromise of 1877 brought about the end to the military occupation of the South:

  • The establishment and preservation of the Reconstruction amendments that would come to be.
  • Union Soldiers protected Blacks from attacks by racists, most notably, the Ku Klux Klan.
  • Juneteenth was because of Union Soldiers freeing slaves in Galveston after the Civil War.
  • Slaves who had run away and were in need of basic necessities got camps.

The military occupation of the South wasn't perfect. Overall, it helped reunite our nation. In the process, Union Soldiers were able to make a direct impact on the lives and welfare of Blacks living in a post-slavery world. Read next: The Last Surviving Merrill’s Marauders Member Has Passed


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