What was the outcome of the return of ex-Confederates to high offices immediately after the Civil War?

The return of ex-Confederates to high offices after the Civil War significantly influenced the political landscape of Reconstruction. Many Republicans in Congress were angered by this development because they had fought a brutal war to preserve the Union and were committed to changing the Southern society that had perpetuated slavery and secession. The presence of ex-Confederates in power was seen as a betrayal of the Union's wartime sacrifices and as a threat to the progress of civil rights and the political power of newly freed African Americans.

This anger among Republicans stemmed from efforts to establish a more equitable post-war South, as these former Confederates often opposed such reforms and sought to maintain white supremacy and the social order that existed prior to the war. Their reinstatement in political power was perceived as an attempt to undermine the legislative changes that aimed to secure rights and protections for freed blacks. Therefore, the anger of Republicans in Congress was a direct result of their fear that the return of ex-Confederates could derail Reconstruction and lead to the erosion of the achievements made during the war and the early years of Reconstruction.

In contrast, the strengthening of the Democratic Party as a core outcome of ex-Confederate leaders returning to power was a significant result, but