Introduction

Reconstruction was the process of bringing the southern states that had seceded during the Civil War back into the Union. Reconstruction is viewd from three (3) main perspectives; Political, Economic, and Social. There were many disagreements about the best way to accomplish the political, economic, and social aspects and many important pieces of congressional legislation emerged as a result. Reconstruction lasted from the end of the Civil War in 1865 until the Tilden-Hays Compromise in 1877 which restored the Democrats to power in the South. For almost 100 years, the Democrats controlled the South politically, and it was known as the "Solid South". It was not until the 1972 Presidential Election of Richard Nixon that the South would begin to change politically from Democrat to Republican leaning. You can now say that you have learned your first important political effect of Reconstruction!

Let's further explore the political, economic, and social aspects of Reconstruction (1865-1877)...