the southern white man regained political power after the civil war by getting in good with Andrew Johnson who was later impeached no not really they gained it by committing themselves to the union.
take power from southern planters
After the war the Southern States enacted black codes as a way to restore the pre-emancipation system of the South. President Johnson also granted pardons to former Confederate soldiers, who then began to gain political power once returning home. Reconstruction was enacted to prevent the Southern States from gaining more political power and to ensure that slavery did not reoccur. Congress also passed more stringent requirements for states seeking readmission.
by being mean to them
In absolute numbers, they didn't. The best estimates of careful scholars are that 360,000 northern men died and 260,000 southern men. As a percentage of the population though, the southern loss was greater. There were four northern men, roughly, for every southern white man. There were 21 million people in the north, and 5.5 million white people in the south.
Reconstruction had absolutely nothing to do with rebuilding Southern infrastructure that was destroyed primarily by the North. Reconstruction and the goal of the radical republicans was to re-build the political male-up of the South to "look like" the north.
The Redeemers
The Redeemers
They wanted it to be a good freedom
During Reconstruction, Southern whites regained political power through various means, including the establishment of "Black Codes" that restricted the rights of freed African Americans and the use of violence and intimidation by groups like the Ku Klux Klan. The withdrawal of federal troops in 1877, following the Compromise of 1877, effectively ended federal enforcement of Reconstruction policies, allowing Southern Democrats to regain control of state governments. Additionally, discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and poll taxes disenfranchised many Black voters, further consolidating white political power in the South.
The Amnesty Act of 1872 restored voting rights and political eligibility to most former Confederates in the South. This led to the reintegration of former Confederates into Southern politics and allowed them to regain political influence. As a result, Democrats, who largely represented white Southerners, gained power in the region, leading to the end of Reconstruction and the establishment of white supremacy in Southern politics.
The southern politicians who worked to unite white southerners to regain power in Congress were often referred to as "Redeemers." This movement emerged in the late 19th century, aiming to restore white Democratic control after the Reconstruction era. Key figures included governors and legislators who sought to reverse the gains made by African Americans during Reconstruction and re-establish white supremacy in the South.
Democrats leveraged the issue of corruption to regain power in the South by highlighting scandals and misconduct associated with Republican leaders during Reconstruction. They framed themselves as the party of honesty and integrity, appealing to voters' desire for stable governance. By capitalizing on public disillusionment with corruption, Democrats successfully rallied support among white voters, portraying themselves as protectors of Southern values and interests. This strategy ultimately contributed to their resurgence in Southern political dominance.
Southern politicians who sought to unite white southerners and regain power in Congress after the Civil War included figures like William Mahone and the leaders of the Redeemer governments. These politicians often focused on white supremacy and the rollback of Reconstruction policies. They aimed to restore Democratic control by appealing to racial solidarity among white voters, leveraging economic and social grievances against the federal government and African Americans. Their efforts culminated in the establishment of Jim Crow laws, which institutionalized racial segregation and disenfranchisement.
Redeemers were Southern Democrats who sought to regain political control in the post-Civil War era by promoting white supremacy and opposing Reconstruction policies. They employed a strategy that included intimidation, violence, and voter suppression against African Americans and their allies, as well as advocating for economic policies that appealed to poor white voters. Redeemers also leveraged a narrative of Southern honor and redemption to rally support, portraying themselves as saviors of the South from perceived Northern oppression. This combination of tactics effectively helped them reclaim power in many Southern states by the late 1870s.
Rich white plantation owners and they're control of slaves and cotton.
The South regained control of its state governments primarily through the end of Reconstruction in 1877, when federal troops were withdrawn from Southern states. This withdrawal allowed Southern Democrats, often referred to as "Redeemers," to reassert their political power, frequently using tactics such as intimidation, violence, and discriminatory laws to suppress African American voting and maintain white supremacy. Additionally, the compromise of 1877, which resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election, played a crucial role in facilitating the political shift back to Southern control.
The end of the US's Reconstruction Era saw the Federal government retreat from taking an interest in Southern affairs. This resulted in the white Southern leaders reestablishing the white political power structure.