fading support for reconstruction was preceded by

The fading support for Reconstruction was preceded by widespread social and economic problems, including labor unrest and depletion of public funds. After the Civil War ended in 1865, Reconstruction began to attempt to reunite the states that had seceded from the Union, restore civil order, and rebuild the economy. However, despite passing legislation and making many attempts, Reconstruction ultimately failed due to a lack of political will. With the rise of economic and social issues, many Americans began to lose faith in Reconstruction and its goals. Without enough support, Reconstruction lost momentum and ended in 1877.

white The fading support for Reconstruction was preceded by white Southerners' successful efforts to convince the federal government that Reconstruction had been too harsh. Southern Democrats—many of them former Confederates—worked to roll back Reconstruction policies, gaining control of state legislatures throughout the South in the 1870s and 1880s. They passed laws, known as Jim Crow laws, which effectively disenfranchised African Americans and severely limited their political and economic rights. Conservative white Southerners also used terrorism and violence—including lynching—to intimidate African Americans and maintain power. This process, known as the Redemption, was a critical step in the eventual development of racial segregation and discrimination across the South.