Final answer:
The aftermath of the Civil War left the South economically and physically devastated, with significant social upheaval due to the transition from slavery to freedom.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, the South was left in a devastated state. The physical destruction of infrastructure such as railroads and cities created significant obstacles for economic recovery. Aside from economic destruction, the social landscape of the South underwent a transformation as a result of the emancipation of slaves. Despite their newfound freedom, African Americans faced the implementation of Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation and curtailed their rights and opportunities, entrenching them in poverty and powerlessness. Additionally, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) emerged, using terror to maintain white supremacy and undermine any progress towards equality.
The promise of equality was undermined by Jim Crow laws and KKK violence. Reconstruction's initial efforts to rebuild the South and protect African Americans' rights were largely abandoned, creating a legacy of systemic inequality.