To me 'peaceful reunification' is an acknowledgement of both sides rights, triumphs, and errors. Reconstruction was unpeaceful with army occupation and until reunification of the people, without an army occupation, it was 'peaceful subjugation'. Reunification means all come together as one, and that did not happen until the Spanish American War.

No, I didn't say reconstruction was as harsh as it could have been. I don't believe this condition was because the presidents were ex-Union officers. It most probably may have been international pressure that kept all of the horrors of losing a 'Civil War' at bay.

Hancock was in command of the 5th Military District in 1867 and issued General Order Number 40-- "the military power should cease to lead, and the civil administration resume its natural and rightful dominion." Under Hancock that part of the South saw local Republican politicians' requests to use military power to overturn elections and court verdicts denied. When the republicans won again in 1868 and General Grant President, Hancock was removed and never had another Southern command while Grant was president.

I don't believe Grant was a radical nor Garfield, they just didn't go out of their way to help the South either. Grant let the radicals do more harm than necessary. Garfield did nothing to reunify the populace.

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David Upton