Best possible Reconstruction?

Just as it says on the tin.

What is the best possible manifestation of Reconstruction for the freedmen? With no PODs before the start of the Civil War.
 
Just as it says on the tin.

What is the best possible manifestation of Reconstruction for the freedmen? With no PODs before the start of the Civil War.

A few thoughts:

1. If Abe had asked a Radical to be his VP, waiving the risk of alienating War Democrats. 1865-1869 would go so much better.

2. Going a few years later, have Grant not be surrounded by so many corrupt friends.

3. If you want something more interesting, have Andrew Johnson impeached and Benjamin Franklin Wade as President, the remained of his term would be a waste, but a re-election would be something to see.

In all these we could see some permanent arm keeping black suffrage alive, whether it was popular or not. Complete Racial Equality would take a few generations to become fully implemented.
 
have Lincoln choose a Radical VP, and you might get Atzerodt assigned to Seward and Powell attacking the VP, with Atzerodt looking, at least in hindsight, like the least dependable. This in itself creates interesting butterflies.

Presuming the VP survives (maybe it *is* Seward in fact) he could run again in 1868. Have him put Grant in the Cabinet for a little longer and learn how to do politics without involving all his corrupt friends, as noted; perhaps this president introduces him to people who he can feel comfotable with.

Maybe have a Democrat win in 1880 then, due to public tiredness with the REpublicans, and then havce Garfield serve 8 years with the Republicans back in power.
 
As the former Confederate states reenter the Union have their constitutions require that a certain percentage of the legislature and government positions must be filled by blacks.

Before Union forces end the occupation have them train and arm freedmen militias.

Plantations either run as cooperatives by their former slaves, or more likely broken up into private lots.
 
The President prepares conditional pardons but asks for prosecution preparations for all big landowners who had supported the treasonous reballion.

orders THAT JURIES be 100 % loyal, likely to be members of USCT

The leadership of the rebellion get this choice

You give up your land and property you leave the country for 14 years and agree not to try to influence politics for 30 years or you get tried an hanged

Also try to spread the idea that ordinary southerners were tricked or forced into rebellion by the slavocracy
 
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