Changes

Reconstruction earned Republicans the undying [[hatred]] of Democrats, which has been passed down generation to generation until the modern day. This hatred is so intense, the very mention of the word "Republican" is often enough of a trigger word whose mere utterance can send a fourth or fifth generation Democrat into paroxyms of rage.

Reconstruction earned Republicans the undying [[hatred]] of Democrats, which has been passed down generation to generation until the modern day. This hatred is so intense, the very mention of the word "Republican" is often enough of a trigger word whose mere utterance can send a fourth or fifth generation Democrat into paroxyms of rage.

Republican [[carpetbagger]]s flooded the South after the war to buy up tax-delinquent plantations and run for political office.  Newly freed Blacks also held local, state and federal elected and non-elected positions. Many whites were barred from holding office and voting. This disenfranchisement created enormous resentment among Democrats. They formed the [[Ku Klux Klan]] to engage in voter intimidation and suppression.  

Republican [[carpetbagger]]s flooded the South after the war to buy up tax-delinquent plantations and run for political office.  Newly freed Blacks also held local, state and federal elected and non-elected positions. Many whites were barred from holding office and voting. This disenfranchisement created enormous resentment among Democrats, so they formed the [[Ku Klux Klan]] to engage in voter intimidation and suppression.  

By 1876, the situation had become ungovernable for Republicans, who were ideological and inexperienced in party politics and the spoils system.<ref><small>"the Compromise of 1877, which resolved the disputed presidential election of 1876 by awarding the presidency to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes (who had lost the popular vote) in exchange for the removal of federal troops from the South after the Civil War (which benefitted Democrats, who wished to end Reconstruction and return white supremacy to southern state governments)."</small> [https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/the-gilded-age/gilded-age/a/gilded-age-politics-patronage Gilded Age politics: patronage]. khanacademy.org</ref> The Republicans had been able to pass the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments which guaranteed Blacks basic equality and civil rights, but at the same time an amnesty was declared for whites who engaged in rebellion. Reconstruction ended, and Republicans withdrew from [[social engineering]] which had divided the country so deeply and stirred up such bitterness and hatred among Democrats toward their fellow citizens - Blacks and Republicans.

By 1876, the situation had become ungovernable for Republicans, who were ideological and inexperienced in party politics and the spoils system.<ref><small>"the Compromise of 1877, which resolved the disputed presidential election of 1876 by awarding the presidency to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes (who had lost the popular vote) in exchange for the removal of federal troops from the South after the Civil War (which benefitted Democrats, who wished to end Reconstruction and return white supremacy to southern state governments)."</small> [https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/the-gilded-age/gilded-age/a/gilded-age-politics-patronage Gilded Age politics: patronage]. khanacademy.org</ref> The Republicans had been able to pass the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments which guaranteed Blacks basic equality and civil rights, but at the same time an amnesty was declared for whites who engaged in rebellion. Reconstruction ended, and Republicans withdrew from [[social engineering]] which had divided the country so deeply and stirred up such bitterness and hatred among Democrats toward their fellow citizens - Blacks and Republicans.