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Did Reconstruction help or hurt the South and why?

Depending on your point of view, Reconstruction can be viewed as harmful or helpful to the South. I will explain both points of view so you can then make a decision.


There are ways Reconstruction helped the South. Before the Civil War, the South’s economy was primarily agricultural. After the Civil War, the economy of the South became more diverse. New industries were built in the South. While the South still had a lot of farming, there were other kinds of jobs available as a result of Reconstruction. Another change is that the railroads expanded into the South as a result of Reconstruction. Before Reconstruction, most people traveled in the South by water. Most products were shipped by water. That changed after Reconstruction. African-Americans also got new freedoms and new rights. African-American males could vote, and some held political office. While some of these improvements were temporary, it was a step forward.


It could be argued that Reconstruction hurt the South. The South regressed after Reconstruction ended. The attitudes of many white southerners didn’t change. Many of the rights African-Americans had gained were eliminated or significantly curtailed. Reconstruction created a lot of resentment in the South. Many southerners believed that Reconstruction was forced upon them. They rebelled against the Republican Party and refused to vote for their candidates for many years. This led to the development of hate groups such as the KKK, which thrived in the South for a significant period of time. Some southerners believed the growth of industries ruined the southern way of life. The rural and relaxed atmosphere was changed to some degree by the expansion of industries into the South.


Now it is your turn to decide. Did Reconstruction help or hurt the South?

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