Final answer:
The Panic of 1873 led to the decrease in federal commitment to Reconstruction, a shift in Congressional power from Republicans to Democrats, and ultimately to the end of Reconstruction with the withdrawal of federal troops from the South after 1877.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Panic of 1873 had a significant impact on Congressional Reconstruction efforts, leading to a shift in political power and a reduction in federal commitment to reconstruction. The severe economic downturn distracted the nation's focus from Reconstruction to more urgent economic recovery efforts. As voters elected more Democrats into Congress, there was a substantial reduction in additional enforcement measures for reconstruction, leading to a decline in support for Southern Republican governments and a rise in racial violence without adequate federal intervention.
During the midterms of 1874, the Panic of 1873's influence was apparent as a 110-vote Republican majority in the House shifted to a 60-vote Democratic majority, signaling a waning federal commitment to Reconstruction. The subsequent Civil Rights Act of 1875 was Congress's last notable effort to protect African-American rights, though many Democrats anticipated it being declared unconstitutional. The federal government's commitment to Reconstruction further declined in 1875 and fully waned post-1877 with the withdrawal of federal troops from the South.
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