Expansion of Government Power During the Civil War and Reconstruction Contrary to what I believed in the past, the United States federal government retained and expanded their power and authority during the years of the Civil war along with the period of Reconstruction. Through drafts and monitored elections, they exercised this power during the Civil War. Then, as Reconstruction began, they initiated other methods of increasing their authority over the citizens. Military was placed in …showed first 75 words of 756 total…

…showed last 75 words of 756 total…and literacy tests, the number of blacks voting was much less than whites. So, even though overall power and authority of the federal government steadily increased during this time period, especially during Reconstruction, there were instances in the South where authority was challenged. People found loopholes in the Constitution and used them to the fullest; however, government was still at its peak when it came to being able to tell the Americans what to do.