Question

Why do you think many white Southern politicians were forbidden to take part in politics after the Civil War?

Answer 1

Many white Southern politicians were forbidden to take part in politics after the Civil War because they were seen as having played a key role in creating and enforcing the system of slavery and racial oppression that had dominated the South for centuries. Many of these politicians had served in the Confederate government or had been active supporters of states' rights and the Confederacy. By temporarily excluding them from the political process, Reconstruction-era lawmakers hoped to create a more inclusive and democratic system of governance that could help heal the wounds of the Civil War and ensure that all citizens of the United States, regardless of race, were treated fairly and had a say in their government.