What was the major cause of the end of Reconstruction?

The major cause of the end of Reconstruction was the Compromise of 1877. Here's a step-by-step explanation:

1. The Reconstruction era was a period after the American Civil War where the United States, particularly the South, underwent a process of political and social change. The main goal was to reintegrate the Southern states back into the Union and to help the African American population integrate into society as free citizens.

2. However, the process was met with a lot of resistance from the Southern states. There were many instances of violence and intimidation against African Americans and their white allies in the South, which hindered the progress of Reconstruction.

3. The presidential election of 1876 between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden was highly contested, with no clear winner. This led to the Compromise of 1877.

4. In the Compromise of 1877, the Democrats agreed to accept Hayes as president on the condition that he would end federal support for Republican governments in the South, effectively ending Reconstruction.

5. With the withdrawal of federal troops, Southern states were free to enforce laws known as "Jim Crow" laws, which severely limited the rights and freedoms of African Americans. This marked the end of the Reconstruction era.