The Democratic claimants then took undisputed possession of the executive and legislative departments of these States.

The native whites were again in entire charge of all the States which had seceded.

They now had the task of rebuilding the commonwealths shattered by war and by the aftermath of war.

A new era for the South had dawned, and here properly begins the history of the New South.
The first and most important problem, as the white South saw it, was the maintenance of white supremacy which had been gained with so much difficulty.

In only three States--South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana--were there negro majorities.