What were the major problems facing the nation in April 1865? What factors stood in the way of a solution to those problems? Provide examples (

This period
from 1865 to 1877 is usually called .

The obvious problem for America in
April 1865 is the assassination of a President: Abraham Lincoln was murdered on April 14, 1865.
The sudden death of a country's leader can only bring turmoil even in the best of times---and
this was certainly not the best of times.

The United States had just emerged
from its one and only civil war, the first major war US soldiers had fought in 50 years. One
major problem that arose was what to do with these Southern states: They had started part of the
US, seceded to form their own Confederacy, and now were occupied by Union troops at the
conclusion of the war. The question of how to re-integrate them into the United States loomed
large, and raised a number of sub-questions about whether and how much they should be penalized
for their rebellion, what sort of reforms they should be required to undertake, what sort of
governance the newly re-integrated states should have. After taking office...