Reflect on the effects four years of war had on the north and south. the civil war was the deadliest in american history; destructive battles were fought and many lives were lost. lincoln’s successor had numerous critical issues facing him. which issue from the list below would you tackle first as president and why? • what to do with four million freedmen • repairing the vast destruction to buildings and other structures, mostly in the south • treatment of confederate officers, soldiers, and civilians in an atmosphere that was still hostile toward the north • integrating hundreds of thousands of military men back into civilian life (jobs, care for the injured, etc.)