Southern Reconstruction

Southern Reconstruction was a period after the Civil War (1865-1877) when the U.S. aimed to rebuild the South and restore its states to the Union. This involved integrating newly freed African Americans into society with rights like voting, while also transforming the Southern economy and society that had been based on slavery. The process faced resistance from many white Southerners, leading to political struggles, violence, and the eventual rise of Jim Crow laws. Reconstruction's goals were to promote equality and stability, but its efforts were only partially successful, leaving lasting impacts on race relations and Southern politics.