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whites that were displaced refugees 19, 20 . This success

was the first step of the plan that Lincoln had envisioned
for reconstruction.

On April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee surrendered to
General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox. In practicality,

the war was over, although it is generally recognized
that the Civil War officially ended on June 2, 1865.

With slavery abolished and a bloody Civil War having
reached a decisive end, Abraham Lincoln realized the

urgency of turning the nation toward healing. He
envisioned a compassionate two-fold reconstruction

plan that encompassed:

(1) Recognizing the dignity of slaves and integrating

them into their rightful productive places as self-
sufficient Americans.

(2) Restoring the Southern States and its citizens back
into a unified Union. To this end, Lincoln envisioned

a strict, yet compassionate and forgiving plan for
reunifying the nation.

However, President Lincoln did not live to witness the
th
celebrations when the 13 Amendment gained
ratification on December 6, 1865. Yet, his extraordinary
and uncompromising leadership forged America’s path

out of the abominable sins of slavery and established his

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