Final answer:
Reconstruction ended with the Compromise of 1877 following the presidential election, resulting in the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, the fall of Republican governments, and the resurgence of white supremacist control. This led to legalized discrimination and suppression of African American civil rights, lasting effects that were not seriously addressed until the mid-20th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Happened Once Reconstruction Ended?
Once Reconstruction ended after the controversial Presidential election of 1876, a series of significant changes unfolded in the southern United States. The Compromise of 1877 played a pivotal role in this transition by enabling Republican Rutherford B. Hayes to become president in exchange for the removal of federal troops from Louisiana and South Carolina, which were the last states under military influence. This withdrawal of troops was pivotal, as it led to the fall of Republican governments in the South. This transition to Democratic control, often referred to as 'Redeemer' rule, marked a regression in African American civil rights. White supremacists regained political power, and violent tactics, intimidation, and legal maneuvers were utilized to suppress the Black vote.
The end of Reconstruction led to widespread adoption of segregation laws and discriminations against Black individuals, a period characterized by a significant loss of the rights and opportunities that were meant to be assured during Reconstruction. The nation would not begin to fully address this legacy until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. It culminated in a long era where African Americans faced systemic inequalities and oppressions.