At the end of the Civil War, the Union had to rebuild a war-torn nation. The North and South were no longer at war, but their differing views on government, race, and individual rights created a deep division in the country. The war brought freedom to 3.5 million former slaves but also to many women. (Gillon & Matson p.571) With men at war or not returning from war, women possessed a new level of independence. Blacks and women wanted to be treated equally; they wanted their voices to have relevance in shaping America. Above all, they wanted equality and citizenship. Many former slaves struggled to resettle in this new free country. They found it difficult to move beyond farming or plantation work due to a lack of financial resources. They were not yet considered equal by many white Southerners or Northerners, so they would not be employed by them in other pursuits. Although they were free from slavery, by all accounts, it was a false freedom. For former slaves, the Reconstruction Plan brought great promise for their individual rights, securing freedom and new opportunities. The Reconstruction period was initially conceived by Lincoln to be a period of Southern Reconstruction. Reconstruction was supposed to help the South rebuild war-damaged infrastructure, but also help people reconcile the cultural, social, and economic changes that came with the end of slavery. Republicans believed that once black men had the right to vote, they could influence and improve their economic and living situations. (Gillon p. 577) Thus began the campaign for black enfranchisement. However, the nation struggled to adapt to the end of slavery. Individuals were challenged psychologically, socially...... middle of paper......battlefields were empty, ideologies were deeply entrenched, and the reasons for war persisted and came home to roost. The nation was left torn apart and unable to cope with the social and cultural changes that came with the end of slavery. While good intentions could be found, the nation continued to struggle and hinder its own progress. The civil rights movement would last decades, and while inequality improved, it can still be found today. Works Cited Buescher, John. “Voting Rights and the 14th Amendment.” National Historical Education Clearinghouse. N.d. Web. 16 September 2011Gillon, Steven and Matson, Cathy. The American Experiment: A History of the United States. 3rd edition. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.White,Xan. "Remembering the Colfax Massacre." Constitutional Accountability Center. April 13, 2010. Network. September 20, 2011