After what was probably the most turbulent period in American history; Reconstruction had far-reaching effects on a number of areas of life in the United States. In the Deep South, one of the most obvious impacts could be observed on race relations, particularly between whites and newly freed African Americans. Legally, dramatic changes had been made at the federal level, granting African Americans a variety of rights that had never been offered to them before. It was no wonder, then, that former Southern slaveholders rejected these changes and rights, taking whatever measures were necessary to keep African Americans subjugated. The dramatic changes that occurred in terms of race relations between African Americans and whites following Reconstruction had a far-reaching impact on society, with the shockwaves of these changes being felt nearly a century into the future. After the end of the Civil War, African American slaves were recognized by the federal government as free men and women. This newfound freedom has led to a push for greater rights, including the ability to educate themselves, own property, and obtain jobs that provide support for their families. To assist in these matters, the government responded with the creation of the Freedmen's Bureau, an agency designed to create a new social order. Through the construction of schools, the provision of medical care, and access to the justice system, African Americans were granted a variety of rights that had been denied to them in years past (“Making…”, 1997). It was no wonder, then, that Southern whites rejected many of these practices and took steps to undermine this agency's progress. As they were gradually readmitted to the union, many Southern states adopted black codes,...... middle of paper... row; politics has also witnessed significant changes. However, there were no changes as profound as those seen in the decline of race relations between whites and newly freed African Americans in the South. Here, the discriminatory practices of the pre-Civil War period are revived through laws intended to disenfranchise African Americans and the Supreme Court ruling Plessy v. Ferguson. While government agencies like the Freedmen's Bureau were designed to help combat some of these problems, they lacked the expertise and funding to do so. Coupled with Northerners' growing apathy toward the plight of newly freed slaves, it was clear that race relations in the South would gradually worsen, only coming to a head with the actions of civil rights advocates in the 1950s and 1960s. demonstrating the long-term impact of these changes.