1.3.2

The End of Reconstruction 1887

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The End of Reconstruction, 1887

The policy of Reconstruction that had been introduced by President Johnson came to an end in 1887.

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Successes of Reconstruction

  • Reconstruction did have some successes.
  • It gave black people greater freedom to hold positions of political power, to migrate around the country and to create their own institutions.
    • For example, in this period the Freedmen’s Bureau helped black people to get a good standard education and jobs.
    • 20% of black people became literate.
    • Many African Americans churches were created. These were very popular and influential.
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Failures of Reconstruction

  • Despite some successes, Reconstruction had some significant failures.
    • The violence in the South continued.
    • Many Northern politicians lost interest in Southern issues.
    • They even restored many ex-Confederate politicians to office after passing the 1872 Amnesty Act.
  • Many Southerners disliked the Republican government due to their commitment to defend the civil rights of black people.
    • This was worsened by an economic depression in 1873 which pushed more Southern voters away from the Republican Party and towards the Democrats.

Jump to other topics

1‘Free at Last’ 1865-77

2The Triumph of ‘Jim Crow’ 1883-c1890

3The New Deal and Race Relations, 1933–41

4‘I have a dream’, 1954–68

5Obama's Campaign for the Presidency, 2004–09

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