Question

Do you think that reconstruction had a positive effect on southern society why or why not?

Answer 1

The reconstruction had likely developed a positive effect on the southern society because through this, it helped them to survive and rise despite the struggles they faced the civil war. One example of how the reconstruction gave them a positive effect was that the reconstruction had helped the southern economy to be provided with social services and to help them repair the physical damage that occurred as the population and the farms were devasted during the war.

Answer 2

I think it had both a positive and a negative effect. While it was good that former slaves were given more rights and able to gain positions in government, there was also a sever backlash from whites in response to the black community's growing respect and power. Still unable to accept African Americans as equasl, groups like the KKK began to spring up and terrorize African Americans in the South. And beyond the KKK, these racist beliefs began to spread to other whites and the racism unfortunately became deeply ingrained in the culture.