• The Knights of the White Camelia, a political terrorist organization similar to the KKK, operated in the Southern States in the late 19th century, promoting White Supremacy and opposing freedmen’s rights.

Formation and Tactics

• Formed after the Civil War, the group engaged in guerrilla warfare, using harassment, floggings, and murder to terrorize Black populations, resulting in an estimated 1,800 deaths in 1868.

Government Response and Legal Changes

• Sporadic retribution by militia forces occurred, but significant action was only taken when the Ku Klux Klan was outlawed.
• By 1871, the Ironclad Oath, which barred ex-Confederates from office, was repealed.
• A general amnesty in 1872 restored rights to almost all ex-Confederates, influencing Southern states to shift towards Democratic control.

Political Shifts and Republican Corruption

• The Republican Party, originally aligned against slavery, began aligning with Northern industrialists in the 1870s, causing a shift in political focus.
• Corruption under President Grant and a financial panic in 1873 further weakened Republican influence.

Supreme Court Decisions and Legislative Changes

• The Dred Scott case and subsequent conservative interpretations undermined civil rights protections.
• The Enforcement Act of 1870, aimed at protecting voting rights, was eventually dismantled.
• The Civil Rights Act of 1875, designed to ensure equality, was declared unconstitutional in 1883, eroding the legal gains made during Reconstruction.

Key Figures and Legislative Efforts

• Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner, Radical Republicans, advocated for both the abolition of slavery and civil rights for freedmen.
• Despite their efforts, racial discrimination persisted, and the Enforcement Act and Civil Rights Act faced significant opposition and legal setbacks.

Conclusion

• The combination of Southern violence, Republican corruption, and shifting political alliances ultimately undermined the progress made during Reconstruction, illustrating the complex interplay of race, politics, and power in post-Civil War America.

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