Who were the 'Redeemers' in the post-Civil War South?

The 'Redeemers' were a coalition of southern Democrats who sought to reclaim control of state governments in the South after the Civil War. They emerged during the Reconstruction era as opponents of the policies implemented by the Republican Party, which included the protection and advancement of African American civil rights. The Redeemers aimed to reverse the changes brought about by Reconstruction, which they viewed as a period of misrule characterized by the dominance of what they perceived as corrupt, incompetent, and overly progressive governments. They advocated for white supremacy and sought to restore the pre-war social order, promoting policies that disenfranchised African Americans and curtailed their rights. The resurgence of the Redeemers ultimately led to the end of Reconstruction and the establishment of Jim Crow laws, which institutionalized racial segregation and oppression in the South.