What is home rule and how does it relate to Reconstruction?

Home rule is the principle that local governments should have the power to make decisions and enact laws without interference from higher levels of government. It is often contrasted with centralization, in which all power is concentrated in the central government.

During the Reconstruction era (1865-1877), home rule was a major issue in the debate over the relationship between the federal government and the southern states. The federal government, under the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln and his successors, believed that home rule would allow the southern states to continue to oppress African Americans. As a result, the federal government imposed a number of restrictions on the southern states, including the requirement that they ratify the 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution, which guaranteed civil rights to African Americans.

The southern states resisted these restrictions, arguing that they violated their right to home rule. They also argued that African Americans were not yet ready for full citizenship and that giving them the right to vote would lead to chaos.

The debate over home rule was finally resolved with the Compromise of 1877, which ended Reconstruction. Under the terms of the compromise, the federal government agreed to withdraw its troops from the southern states and to allow them to return to home rule. In return, the southern states agreed to protect the civil rights of African Americans.

Home rule remains a contentious issue in the United States today. There is ongoing debate about the proper balance between the power of the federal government and the power of state and local governments.