Ku Klux Klan – Who Killed Reconstruction?
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Who Killed Reconstruction?
The period after the civil war was proved to be a difficult time in America. This time was known as Reconstruction by historians. The reason being was because there was a huge increase for freedom for the slaves. Though this change was brought about, some parties were not to pleased in the change being brought about. This period lasted from 1865-1877 and in 1877 attempts to reconstruct the south officially ended. This left white-only governments in charge.The South was responsible for the end of reconstruction for reasons such as the Black codes, white supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan, etc.
Reconstruction efforts were challenged in the South because of racially biased groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. The Ku Klux Klan brutalized and or killed african american men who seeked to gain political power and also whites that helped them. Many soldiers and northerners were cautious of helping because they knew about the attacks. Document 4 demonstrates this situation perfectly, it shows a horse with the initials KKK written on it walking away from a tree with who I assume to be a carpetbagger hanging from it. Many freedman just like Abram Colby were cautious of obtaining political power. Though Coby was whipped and tortured for hours, he refused to stop voting for the radical ticket. Coby was one of the many men targeted because he attempted to gain power (Document 5). The KKK’s attack was a main reason as to why the south was responsible for the termination of Reconstruction.
Though the North was not primarily responsible for the ending of reconstruction, they did contribute to the closing to an extent.The slightly racist attitude of Northerners contributed to it.Blacks may have been free from slavery in the North, but they were not seen as equals and were not trusted to run in government. In document 7, blacks are portrayed to be wild making the assumption that they