The factors that contributed to ending Reconstruction primarily include:
- The North focused on other political and economic issues: After the Civil War, attention in the North shifted towards rebuilding the economy and addressing various political concerns, leading to a waning commitment to Reconstruction efforts in the South.
The other options are not accurate contributors to the end of Reconstruction:
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The African American population gained equality: While African Americans did make some gains during Reconstruction, they did not achieve full equality, and many of the gains were rolled back after Reconstruction ended.
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The South focused on other political and economic issues: This statement is less about the general context of Reconstruction coming to an end, as the South's focus on maintaining white supremacy and resisting federal policies played a significant role in the violence and backlash against Reconstruction efforts.
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The Freedman's Bureau gained power: The Freedman's Bureau was created to help newly freed slaves, but it faced significant opposition and dwindling support, ultimately losing power rather than gaining it.
So the primary reason cited here that contributed to the end of Reconstruction would be that "The North focused on other political and economic issues."