Reforms Can Backfire: How US Reconstruction Fostered Institutionalized Grievance

This paper examines how revolutionary social changes during U.S. Reconstruction created long-term institutional violence.

Using historical, county-level data from post-Civil War America and qualitative evidence, it builds a framework for understanding the conditions of transformation.

Data & Methods

The study uses quantitative analysis with historical datasets alongside qualitative case studies to explore mechanisms.

Key FindingsThe research shows that social reforms often created enduring institutionalized violence against their intended beneficiaries. This finding challenges conventional wisdom about revolutionary change.

Violence wasn't just a temporary feature but frequently persisted within newly established institutions long after the initial upheaval.