What controversy during reconstruction strained America's system of?

During Reconstruction, the controversy over the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment and the status of former Confederate states strained America's system of governance. The struggle between Congress and President Andrew Johnson over how to reintegrate the Southern states and protect the rights of newly freed African Americans led to significant political conflict, culminating in Johnson's impeachment. This period highlighted deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats, as well as differing visions for the future of the nation, ultimately undermining efforts for a cohesive national recovery. The tensions created a legacy of racial and political strife that would persist long after Reconstruction ended.