Assess the successes and failures of Reconstruction.

I would say that one undeniable success of Reconstruction
would be the passage of the Civil War Amendments.  The embedding  of the abolition of
slavery, the assurance of voting rights, and the extension of equal protection into the
Constitution helped to move people of color as part of the American political
landscape.  At the same time, I would say that the idea of the nation moving as one unit
towards an end where people of color, specifically African-Americans, would be seen as
part of its composition could also be considered a success.  One of the overwhelming
failures would be the lack of transitional help consistently and thoroughly offered to
African-Americans to see themselves as a part of the American vision.  It is nearly
impossible to envision what slavery was like for African-Americans and to live in its
shadow requires a greater level of empathy than what was present at the time. 
Additionally, the lack of a national focus on the elements of Reconstruction continued
to add to the fragmented nature of the country, something with which Lincoln's death did
not help.