What was the primary consequence of the post-Reconstruction era in the South?

The primary consequence of the post-Reconstruction era in the South was the re-empowerment of racist Southerners, which effectively allowed white supremacist groups and ideologies to regain control over local and state governments. After the end of Reconstruction in 1877, federal troops withdrew from the South, leading to a power vacuum that Southern whites quickly filled. These individuals implemented laws and practices that enforced racial segregation, disenfranchised African Americans, and promoted Jim Crow laws that established formal systems of racial discrimination.

This period saw the resurgence of figures and groups that were committed to maintaining white supremacy and suppressing the rights of black citizens, such as the Ku Klux Klan, which used violence and intimidation to achieve their aims. While there were initial gains for African Americans during Reconstruction, the subsequent rise of these racist elements led to a significant decline in their political and social power. Thus, the re-empowerment of racist Southerners fundamentally shaped the social and political landscape of the South for decades to come.