Reconstruction Dbq

“The slave went free; stood a brief moment in the sun; then moved back again toward slavery” (Dubois 505). In other words, slavery was abolished but racism was still around. Interestingly, the Declaration of Independence’s one-hundredths anniversary was celebrating freedom, but yet black Americans were being treated unfairly and didn’t have certain rights. The election of 1876 almost caused another Civil War in the South. More rights were given to the black Americans and the dream of Reconstruction seemed to be working until the election of 1876, where the new president actually made it so that it almost guaranteed all-white governments would reclaim power in the South (Roden 505). The South was at fault for the end of Reconstruction due to

their lack of effort to stop the KKK and their focus on politics.
The Reconstruction was all about improving rights for African Americans.

Even though slavery was abolished, racism was still around. On the one- hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, America was repairing from the Civil War and trying to make themselves better. While trying to make America a better place, Congress ended the Confederate state governments and replaced them with the South the under the US Army’s rule. Three groups, the freedmen, carpetbaggers, and the scalawags, worked to form new state governments together. Even though there was still lots of racism going around, the African Americans were gaining more rights. During the election of 1876, there were a lot of controversial arguments and rumors of a new Civil War. Running for the Presidency was Rutherford B. Hayes and the other competitor, Samuel J. Tilden. The Compromise of 1877 granted Hayes the Presidency and that made it so that the last of the federal soldiers from the South would be removed. Unfortunately, this action made it so that all-white governments would regain power in the South (Roden, pg. 505). Did the North or South kill the goal of the improvement on equal rights in the

US?
The KKK was a terrorist group in the South that caused chaos that wasn’t being stopped (Colbly 513). The KKK were targeting people, including carpetbaggers, scalawags, freemen, Radical Republicans, and people from the North (Tourgee 511). Also, the KKK were targeting important people that had a position in the government. As to why to they were targeting people, the KKK didn’t have the same values as them (Tourgee 511). Their goal was to get Reconstruction to end and gain power. Abram Colbly is whipped and left for dead because he wants to vote for a Radical ticket (Colbly 513). Despite the KKK’s chaotic actions, the South let the KKK run around and didn’t stop them (Tourgee 511).
The KKK were known as “first class men” and they were not being stopped. John W. Stephens, the state senator, was murdered by the KKK. A white, Northern soldier, Tourgee, wrote to Congress to do something about the KKK. He wrote that if any member of Congress doesn’t try to stop the KKK’s outrageous doings, they are a “coward, a traitor or a fool” (Tourgee 511). Significantly, this means the KKK is targeting people with power. Another victim of the KKK was Abram Colbly, a Congress man. He was whipped and left to die by the hands of the KKK. While being interviewed, he states that he recognized the people from the KKK that assaulted him. The KKK were first-class men. A deeper meaning to that, is that the KKK infiltrated all parts of society. Out in the open, the KKK operated with no problems. It was actually well known who was a member, but yet, the KKK wasn’t being stopped (Colbly 513).
The South caused Reconstruction to end because they were more focused on political violence.

People, unfortunately, continue to be racist. People think that the black politicians are savages and uncivilized (Harper’s Weekly 517). The state senator was killed brutally by the KKK. To show what the KKK can do, they attack government officials. The KKK is also making a political statement (Tourgee 511). A Congressman is whipped and left for dead because he voted for Grant (Colbly 513). The KKK is using violence to get Reconstruction to end. Political violence is the downfall of Reconstruction due to the racism and the KKK’s political statements.
The North was making it so that Grant’s focus and public opinion shifted from Reconstruction (Danzer 515). President Grant says “I hope I shall get to the bottom soon.” He is trying is trying to find where corruption will end (Harper’s Weekly 515). However, the South wasn’t busy at all and didn’t do anything to stop the KKK so the South was at fault. The South was at fault because of their lawlessness and didn’t do anything to stop the KKK so the South was a fault for killing Reconstruction (Tourgee

511).
To sum it up, the South was at fault due to their lack of effort to stop the KKK and their focus on political violence. The South didn’t stop the KKK, who was using violence to get what they want. The Reconstruction was a point where the US was trying to improve things, but the North and especially the South, weren’t trying hard enough. The South, though, killed Reconstruction with their inexcusable lack of effort. Though the North and the South’s mistakes, there might be some stuff that might benefit the future so the same faults won’t be repeated. The South let the KKK cause chaos and was more focused on political violence.