Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
The end of Reconstruction was a complex process influenced by a variety of factors, including political, social, and economic changes in the United States during the late 19th century. However, there were several key events that contributed to the end of Reconstruction:
- The Compromise of 1877: The presidential election of 1876 was disputed, with both Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden claiming victory. The controversy was resolved through the Compromise of 1877, in which Hayes was declared the winner in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South. This effectively ended Reconstruction, as without federal troops to enforce the laws and protect the rights of African Americans, Southern states were free to implement discriminatory policies and practices.
- The Supreme Court's rulings: The Supreme Court issued several rulings in the late 19th century that weakened the protections of the Reconstruction amendments, such as the 1873 Slaughter-House Cases, which limited the scope of the 14th Amendment, and the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which upheld the constitutionality of segregation under the doctrine of "separate but equal."
- The rise of white supremacy: As Reconstruction ended, Southern states implemented a variety of discriminatory policies and practices, such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses, that effectively disenfranchised African American voters and reinforced white supremacy. The rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan and other paramilitary organizations also contributed to the intimidation and suppression of African Americans and their allies.
Taken together, these factors contributed to the end of Reconstruction and the rollback of many of the gains made by African Americans during the period. The legacy of Reconstruction and its ultimate failure to fully address the issues of racial equality and justice would continue to shape American history for decades to come.