In the 1860’s and 1870’s, after the Civil War, the South was disastrous. The political leaders were crippled in their leadership, the economy was disastrous, and the social conflicts between the blacks and white, and the Republicans and Democrats were as high as ever. In the Reconstruction Era, Congress’ efforts failed to help ensure equal rights for freedmen by reason of the superior beliefs of many people, lacking government enforcement of the protecting laws, and political disputes. Even after the Civil War, many people still believed that the black race was lesser than the whites. The Ku Klux Klan discouraged African Americans and Republicans through illegal actions. They sat by the voting boxes to prevent the blacks and Republicans
