Power And Authority Of The Federal Government example essay topic

Expansion of Government Power During the Civil War and Reconstruction Contrary to what I believed in the past, the United States federal government retained and expanded their power and authority during the years of the Civil war along with the period of Reconstruction. Through drafts and monitored elections, they exercised this power during the Civil War. Then, as Reconstruction began, they initiated other methods of increasing their authority over the citizens. Military was placed in Southern states, by the federal government, in order to keep control over the rebellious people. Not only that, but, the idea of putting the federal government in charge of Reconstruction and rebuilding an entire nation gave them an enormous amount of power. Finally, the creation of the 14th and 15th Amendment were two more big achievements on the part of the government.

In the month of April of 1862, the government issued the first draft of the Civil War. Throughout the war, they put out drafts because so many men were needed to fight. Citizens were expected to obey these orders, and as the war progressed, it was harder and harder for men to avoid fighting for their country. Towards the end, the government began forcing almost every able man to enlist in the army.

Men of ages 17-50 were drafted in the South (20-45 in the North); bodies were needed. And the government made sure that they got what they needed. Along with drafts, the federal government also monitored elections in order to control who the people were voting for. Ballots only contained candidates which were appropriate according to the government, and various colored slips were associated with the different nominees. Everyone could see what color slip everyone else was holding, and people holding slips that they "weren't supposed to" were later caught and punished. The power of the federal government can also be seen during Lincoln's presidency at the time of the Civil War.

He swayed the entire purpose of the war to something far off from what had been the initial purpose. From fighting for the preservation of the Union, Northerners readily began to accept that the abolition of slavery was the cause of the war for them, not the Union. Lincoln and his power made this happen. As Reconstruction began, our government was given the full responsibility of rebuilding and revising many areas of our nation. That is some incredibly power- having the authority to change an entire country to what they thought was correct. This group of individuals had control of rebuilding Southern cities and its infrastructure along with redesigning its government, now that they were going to be part of the Union once again.

As Reconstruction began to take place, the government divided up the South into five regions and placed it under military occupation in order to avoid riots and chaos. This remained for ten years and is the source of much bitterness towards the North from Southerners. This event certainly shows the extent of the government's power at the time. With the 14th and 15th amendments, the government once again showed their authority over citizens of the country. Although, at many times, the Southern people found loopholes in the Constitution, the fact that the government created these laws showed power. In the 14th Amendment, the government told everyone that, according to them and the law, blacks were in fact citizens of the United States.

Emphasis was placed on the right to life, liberty, and happiness for ALL Americans, whether they are black or white, and no state can deny this to the African Americans. The 14th Amendment also read that the government would protect all Americans, not discriminating against them based on race or any other factor. The 15th Amendment said that blacks could not be denied the right to vote based on race, color, or condition of servitude by any state. Federal government was assuming power in both instances, and states were losing the power to lessen the status of the black man. However, Southern states did find ways around these Amendments. Using grandfather clauses and literacy tests, the number of blacks voting was much less than whites.

So, even though overall power and authority of the federal government steadily increased during this time period, especially during Reconstruction, there were instances in the South where authority was challenged. People found loopholes in the Constitution and used them to the fullest; however, government was still at its peak when it came to being able to tell the Americans what to do.