Question

Write a report analyzing the effects of Reconstruction on the political, social, and economic life of the nation

Answer 1

Politically--The South is now without many leaders from the Civil War period and before as Reconstruction will prevent those leaders from holding office during this period. This decreases the power of the Democrats in the South and will allow for more Republicans to take control. Some of those Republicans are from the North (carpetbaggers) and some are people who change parties after the war to gain power (scalawags). Many of the Republicans will be the newly emancipated black males who with the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments will gain freedom, citizenship, and the right to vote. Many of the states in the South will have to reorganize and rewrite state constitutions to reflect the changes in law taking place during and right after the war. 
Socially--The biggest social change is the removal of the slave structure and freeing of blacks. Many plantations owners will lose status as a result of losing their land and slaves. Lower classes whites are now in competition with free blacks over low paying jobs which will lead to racist ideology and the rise of such groups as the KKK. 
Economically--The South is war torn. The land is ruined, cities burned and destroyed, and transportation lines (what little they had) have been broken. In addition, the South has lost their backbone industry of slave plantations and slave trade. Many businesses were connected to this industry so the South is tasked with reinvention and rebuilding during Reconstruction.