Reconstruction was the time period after the Civil War. It was a plan to "reconstruct" the South; hence its name, and join the Union while giving African Americans more freedom. Though the idea theoretically was a good plan, it had variables act upon it that were not completely expected. Because of this, Reconstruction ended in 1877 and was said to be a failed attempt. The ending of Reconstruction left white governments in power in the South. Both have their contributions to the failure of this historical Era. The North mostly caused the end of the Reconstruction, but both North and South made mistakes eventually leading to the end of Reconstruction, twelve years after the end of the Civil War. .
The blame of the unsuccessful plan could not be placed completely on one side. The South had its own way of leading Reconstruction down the road not meant to be traveled. Every step that the North tried to move on during this time period, the South resisted in many ways, setting them back two steps. As stated in Document B, a particular resistance group that despised both Reconstruction and rights for freed slaves called the Ku Klux Klan did not want an African American in the Georgia State Legislature, and so they whipped and tried to bribe him into giving up his spot on the legislature to another man. Laws were put in place to give rights to African Americans, however Southerners did not agree with them nor did they abide by them completely. A prejudice against these former slaves was present in the South, because of this they fought against giving any rights to those certain individuals. .
Reconstruction was an idea placed by Northerners; however they did not seem to completely follow through with their plans. Document A says that Albion Tourgee had heard about a senator was murdered by a Ku Klux Klan member and expected for him to be targeted soon after. This would probably seem like it would be the South's fault, however the North failed to stop it.
