The American republican form of representative government was based on the idea of ​​three coequal branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The three branches, in theory, operate independently of each other and act as mutual controls. It is this structure of this government, the founders believed, that would delay any establishment of a monarchical government over which the American Revolution was fought. However, the Civil War, and more specifically the Reconstruction period that followed, tested these principles to the core. While it may be accurate to characterize the governmental struggles that defined Reconstruction as inter-branch ones, a more detailed and nuanced investigation reveals that they were underpinned more by the ideologies that were dominant within each branch. This essay examines the ideological battles between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government and evaluates its impact on the idea of ​​American federalism from the past to the future. To have a coherent investigation of the impact of the Reconstruction era on federalism we must first define what federalism and reconstruction meant for the nation. The structure of the American government was widely debated during the period of this country's founding. Specifically, following the victory of several states during the Revolutionary War, two distinct factions formed regarding the form of the victors' new government. This debate was characterized by strong resistance from a considerable part of the country who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the states. While another faction supported a strong central government with the states retaining some autonomy. Ultimately, a compromise was reached whereby we… middle of paper… are able to cope with what the founders probably envisioned. Furthermore, these struggles disenfranchised an entire section of the country for a long period of time and, in turn, led to the antithesis of what American democracy was all about. Hans L. Trefousse, Andrew Johnson: A Biography (New York, 1989), P. 197; D. Simpson, The Reconstruction Presidents (Lawrence, Kansas, 1998), p. 68James M.McPherson, Ordeal of Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction 3rd ed. (McGraw-Hill 2001), p. 548-549.James M.McPherson, Ordeal of Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction 3rd ed. (McGraw-Hill 2001), p. 512-513.James M. McPherson, Ordeal of Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction 3rd ed. (McGraw-Hill 2001), p. 436James M.McPherson, Ordeal of Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction 3rd ed. (McGraw-Hill 2001), p. 425-426. Scott v. Sandford, 60 USA 393 (USA. 1857)