Final answer:
Cultural Whiteness played a significant role in cementing the relationship between identity, status, and material benefits for Whites during and after Reconstruction in the US. It reinforced the social hierarchy and privileges enjoyed by Whites while limiting the rights and opportunities of African Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of cultural "Whiteness" in cementing a relationship between identity, status, and material benefits for Whites during and after Reconstruction in the US was significant. The ideology of White supremacy and the belief in a White man's republic shaped the culture and society of the South, which revered and glorified White identity. This cultural Whiteness served to reinforce the social hierarchy and maintain the privileges enjoyed by Whites at the expense of African Americans.
During Reconstruction, White Democrats granted African Americans legal freedom but attempted to maintain White control and dominance. By promoting the racial ideology of White supremacy, White elites and politicians were able to limit the rights and opportunities of African Americans, ensuring that Whites continued to benefit from the system.
In the aftermath of Reconstruction, cultural Whiteness played a crucial role in upholding Jim Crow laws, segregation, and systemic racism. This allowed Whites to maintain their privileged status and access to material benefits, while African Americans faced discrimination, limited opportunities, and unequal treatment.