Was Reconstruction A Failure?

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Reconstruction in the South is a very controversial topic. It was intended to reunite the North with the Southern states that had seceded. Some say that Reconstruction was a success, while others believe it to be a failure. No matter what people believe, there were most definitely both positive and negative changes brought about by reconstruction. Many racist white men were going against the changes that were made to aid the newly freed slaves.

First, reconstruction succeeded in bringing new opportunities and rights to freed slaves and poor whites. For example, educational opportunity became an option as reconstruction was happening. School and institutions for African Americans were created. According to the ‘American Anthem’ textbook on

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