The Civil War began in April 1861 as a conflict – according to Republican President Abraham Lincoln – to “preserve the Union.” Before it was over, the war also became one to abolish slavery.

A few days after the war ended in April 1865 Lincoln was – as everyone knows – assassinated by so-called southern “sympathizer” John Wilkes Booth.

For the next 12 years Republican leaders set about to “reconstruct” the South so that southern society and northern society would be alike.

Republicans not only freed the South’s slaves but they granted those who were adult men the right to vote. Moreover, they...