Why the Civil War Reconstruction Era began:
1. Reuniting the Union: The primary goal of the Reconstruction Era was to reunite the Union and reintegrate the Southern states into the United States after the Civil War. This involved addressing issues such as slavery, civil rights, and the status of the former Confederate states.
2. Abolishing Slavery: One of the key reasons for the Civil War was the issue of slavery. During the Reconstruction Era, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1865, officially abolishing slavery in the United States. However, the challenge remained to ensure that the newly freed slaves were given equal rights and opportunities.
3. Rebuilding the South: The Civil War had left the Southern states in ruins, with destroyed infrastructure, disrupted economies, and social upheaval. The Reconstruction Era focused on rebuilding and repairing the South, both physically and socially.
How the Civil War Reconstruction Era ended:
1. Compromise of 1877: The Reconstruction Era came to an end with the Compromise of 1877, which marked the end of federal Reconstruction policies and the withdrawal of federal troops from the Southern states. The compromise was reached in order to resolve the disputed presidential election of 1876 and ensure a peaceful transition of power.
2. White Supremacy and Jim Crow Laws: Despite the promises of equality during Reconstruction, the end of the era saw the rise of white supremacy and the implementation of Jim Crow laws in the Southern states. These laws legalized racial segregation and discrimination, effectively denying African Americans their rights and opportunities as citizens.
3. Emergence of the "New South": As Reconstruction ended, the Southern states began a period known as the "New South," which was marked by economic development, industrialization, and the rise of a new, conservative political elite. This period also witnessed the solidification of white supremacy and the disenfranchisement of African Americans.
The end of the Civil War Reconstruction Era did not bring about the full equality and justice that many had hoped for, and it set the stage for the ongoing struggles for civil rights and racial equality that would continue for decades to come.