Why were the strong politics of radical reconstruction largely ineffective in changing the attitudes of white southerners toward African Americans ?

The politics of Radical Reconstruction were largely ineffective in changing the attitudes of white Southerners toward African Americans for several reasons:

1. Deep-Rooted Prejudices: White Southerners' attitudes were shaped by long-standing racial prejudices and the belief in white supremacy. These societal views were deeply ingrained and did not change quickly just because new laws or amendments were passed.

2. Resistance and Violence: Many white Southerners actively resisted Reconstruction efforts. Organizations like the Ku Klux Klan used violence and terror to intimidate African Americans and those who supported Reconstruction, thereby undermining the efforts to create an inclusive society.

3. Economic Dependence: The Southern economy was still largely dependent on agriculture and needed a cheap labor force. Former Confederate states passed Black Codes and later Jim Crow laws to control the labor and behavior of African Americans, keeping them in a subordinate and economically disadvantaged position.

4. Political Opposition: Though Radical Republicans controlled Congress for a time and managed to pass significant legislation and amendments (such as the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments), there was strong opposition from Democratic politicians and other conservative elements that sought to preserve the pre-Civil War social order.

5. Inconsistencies in Implementation: The federal government's commitment to Reconstruction policies varied, and over time, support for Reconstruction waned. Enforcement of new laws and protections for African Americans was inconsistent, and eventually, the federal troops that were enforcing these policies were withdrawn from the South.

6. Compromise of 1877: The contested Presidential election of 1876 resulted in the Compromise of 1877, which effectively ended Reconstruction. Federal troops were withdrawn from the Southern states, further weakening the Reconstruction governments and allowing white Southerners to reassert control through segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans.