Final answer:
At the end of Reconstruction in 1877, the South faced political dependence, severe economic destitution, and was left with racial and social challenges, despite the end of military rule and the New South's ambition to modernize and diversify its economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The end of the Reconstruction period in 1877 marked significant social, political, and economic shifts in the United States, especially in the South, which plunged into political dependence and economic destitution following the Civil War.
The political outcome was evident with the rise of White Democrats in southern politics and the eventual withdrawal of federal troops as part of the Compromise of 1877, which resulted in Republican Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president. Economically, the severe devastation left by the war meant reconstruction was slow, especially in the rural South, and the struggles faced by all demographic groups were profound, with racism and violence continuing to be a grim reality for African Americans.
The New South emerged later in the 1870s with a push for a more diverse economy and less reliance on the old plantation systems. Although some cities in the South began to see economic recovery and the push for a diversified economic landscape, the impact of the war and the Reconstruction policies continued to shape the region.