For many Southerners, Reconstruction was a time of deep resentment and bitterness. They felt that they had been defeated and humiliated by the North, and they were unwilling to accept the changes that were being imposed upon them. Some Southerners resorted to violence and terrorism in an attempt to resist these changes, and the Ku Klux Klan was founded during this time.
Others Southerners, however, were more willing to accept the new reality and work to rebuild their lives. They saw Reconstruction as an opportunity to improve their own lives and those of their children. These southerners sought to create a new society based on equality and opportunity for all, regardless of race.
The Reconstruction Era was a time of great hope and promise for the South, but it was also a time of great pain and suffering. The changes that were made during this time were profound, and they would have a lasting impact on the South for years to come.