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We've talked about this somewhat, but having read about life in Reconstruction South, I thought its' worth talking about.

What would be Lincoln's policies? One thing that's particularly interesting, to me, is how he would treat voting rights for African Americans. We've talked about this before, and the consensus seems to be "Probably little or none." Yet Lincoln's own views on the topic had been changing; shortly before his death, he was advocating giving the vote to the "More intelligent' of them, and veterans of the Union Army. Yet what's also forgotten is that Soutehrn views on black voting rights underwent a rapid change in 1865 and 1866, based on a few factors:

1) All blacks are going to be firm Republican voters, and are the only way to ensure a feasible Republican Party in those states.

2) The Black codes and a host of other legislation from whites that basically tried to leave slavery in place. Plus a lot of systemic violence against the newly freed blacks, tolerated by Johnson's "reconstructed" governments.

3) An astonishing outburst of activism on the part of the newly freed blacks, including a firm drive to get the right to vote.

And given that Johnson was actively pushed towards the constitutional amendments, tis not clear to me that Lincoln wouldn't end up going in the same direction.

Where Lincoln would be a major difference, I think, would be his views of the Freedman's Bureau and education in general. Hrmm.

Thoughts?
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