7. Reconstruction and the Threat of Southern Resistance (1865-1877)
After the Civil War, the South’s resentment toward federal Reconstruction policies sparked intense resistance. Paramilitary groups like the Ku Klux Klan emerged, using violence to undermine federal authority and intimidate newly freed Black citizens. The threat of renewed secessionist violence loomed, as some Southern leaders openly defied Washington’s efforts to reshape the region. Although outright rebellion was averted, deep divisions endured long after federal troops withdrew. Read more
