In the years of the Civil War and in the Reconstruction period that followed, a plethora of issues were in dire need of attention. How were Emancipated slaves to survive? How would the southern states be readmitted to the Union? President Lincoln, and, after Lincoln’s death, President Johnson, had plans for rebuilding and reuniting the union. However, their plans would not see the light of day, for Congress, then in control by the radical Republican Party, took control and instituted its own plan. Congress deviated heavily from original ideas of amnesty and conservatism, instead opting for more drastic and radical action. By amending the Constitution and passing various forms of legislation, the Republicans attempted to instigate a massive change in the political and social scenes of the United States, particularly in the South, where the newly freed African-American population was in need of support. However, despite the efforts of Congress, no revolution of the sort took place in the US. The radical policies of the Reconstruction were counteracted by reactionary conservative ideology and policy from the South, as well as inefficiencies and complications within the policies themselves. When a northern victory in the Civil War became clear, it became necessary to address the issue of reconstructing the fragmented nation. Specifically, the union needed to determine how to readmit the southern states into the union. In addition, the glaring issue of the freedmen had to be take into consideration. Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation had freed the slaves in Confederate territory, and the thirteenth amendment, signed in 1865, completely abolished it. Thus, there were millions of now free, but homeless and out of work, African-Americans throughout the South. Lincoln’s plan was purposefully lenient; amnesty for Southerners who swore allegiance and accepted the 13th amendment. Johnson’s required southerner to take an oath of loyalty, assume war debts, and have high ranking officials apply for amnesty. However, Congress was not satisfied; neither plan addressed the issue of civil rights for freedmen. To this end, Congress took control of the federal government, and put into place various legislation with the purpose of protecting the rights of African-Americans. The underlying question is whether Congress’ policies amounted to a revolution, that is, if the policies created large changes in the political, economic, and/or social structure of the nation. As it would turn out, the efforts of Congress did not achieve their ends The legislation and constitutional amendments enacted by the Republican Congress served to protect and provide for freedmen, but failed to achieve this goal in the long run due the efforts of Southern state governments. The trinity of constitutional amendments targeting African-Americans were the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. The 13th amendment, passed in 1865, abolished slavery, thus creating a large problem; millions of freed slaves were now dependent on the federal government for their livelihood. Thus, Congress created the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, or the Freedmen’s Bureau, in 1865. Its main purpose was to aid freed blacks by providing basic necessities and opportunities. The bureau, however, was not totally capable of fulfilling its duties. To start, its budget was inadequate, drawing from the treasury of the Department of War. Second, it was undermanned, with only about nine-hundred agents working in the Bureau . With limited funding and manpower, the Bureau could not hope to achieve its gargantuan task. The Bureau was also riddled with corruption. Agents in the field often extracted money or goods from the very people they were enlisted to serve. Yet another issue was the fact that President Johnson himself was against the concept of aiding African-Americans. Indeed, Johnson returned a great deal of power to white elites. And was generally against aiding freedmen, and the Bureau as a whole, as he believed it stretched the power of the federal government . On top of these issues, forces in the south sought to counteract these efforts to deliver the blacks. In the very same year Congress passed the 13th a