The civil war is over and the United States faced tremendous problems. What were they going to do with the freed slaves? How were they going to revive the devastated economies of the south? Who would lead the southern states? How would the rebellious states be returned to the Union? These and other problems needed to be dealt with however the Lincoln, main figure of the reconstruction, was killed and the job was left to his successors. America went through a trying period of corruption, disappointment and confusion.