The Reconstruction Period after the Civil War was called the Reconstruction Era. During this period the government was supposed to contribute to the reconstruction of the South and the strengthening of the Union. The government, however, failed to help the South complete the transition to a life without slavery. The government ignored the treatment of African Americans and allowed the South to continue to treat them poorly. Furthermore, the government failed to stabilize the South's economy, and the political situation was riddled with mistrust and corruption. During the Reconstruction period in the South, the government also did little to help the social situation in the South. When the South joined the Union, they began to implement laws that would limit the rights of newly freed slaves in most southern states. These laws were called Black Codes. Some of the laws of the Black Codes stated that newly freed slaves were not allowed to speak freely, bear arms, or gather for meetings. They were also forced to sign annual employment contracts which, if they did not sign, could result in arrest or unpaid work (“Story”). These restrictive laws kept the sentiment of white supremacy alive. That same mentality is what caused the Memphis and New Orleans riots. The Memphis Riot began when African American soldiers and white men began arguing and began shooting at each other. When the riot ended there were 46 African Americans killed and 2 whites killed, along with another 100 people injured. 91 houses, 4 churches and 8 schools were also burned (“Story”). There was another riot in New Orleans, which started when the people of New Orleans were unhappy with the newly passed Code Black laws and wanted i... middle of paper ...... ranches, imbalanced representation, and corruption general. Many historians believe that the reconstruction was a success. They believe this because infrastructure was built in the South that helped them reach the North (Kennedy). Some historians also believe this because the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments were derived from it (Kennedy). Additionally, agricultural fields in the South have become much more diverse (Kennedy). The Freedman's Bureau also emerged from Reconstruction, which helped provide jobs for blacks and built schools (Kennedy). Because it was held back by various social, economic, and political factors, reconstruction failed to achieve its goals. It caused social conflict comparable to that of slavery, failed to relieve the South's economic burdens, and caused political tension that would remain intact for nearly ninety years...