Final answer:
Reconstruction in the South had both positive and negative outcomes. While there were some achievements such as the abolition of slavery and granting of citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, poverty and racism continued to persist. The uneven efforts of Reconstruction and resistance from white southerners hindered the South's economic and social progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reconstruction was an attempt by the Federal Government to bring the former Confederate states back into the Union and implement radical social change in the South. However, the success of Reconstruction in the South remains a debatable topic. While there were some positive changes, such as the ratification of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments which abolished slavery, granted citizenship rights, and voting rights to African Americans, poverty and racism continued to persist in the South long after Reconstruction.
The uneven efforts at Reconstruction contributed to the perpetual poverty in many Southern states. The South's economy remained largely agrarian, with most farmers, both white and black, unable to afford land and becoming sharecroppers. The physical devastation caused by the war and the lack of investment hindered the economic development of the South.
Furthermore, resistance from white southerners led to the rise of racist laws and practices such as Jim Crow segregation, which undermined the progress made during Reconstruction. Overall, while there were some positive changes, the failure to address the economic and social challenges facing the South meant that Reconstruction cannot be considered a complete success.