Question

how did life change in the south after the civil war

Answer 1

Life after the civil war in the South weren't too shabby. It took cheap workers away (slaves) from the farms. Wiped out a lot of the farms, their equipment, destroyed railroads and farm machinery. All this left the South economically challenged compared to the North.

For Blacks, those who were slaves are now considered "freed" and were protected by federal laws during the reconstruction era. Were able to hold office and vote. But through intimidation and attacks soon prevented many Blacks from being able to vote. In the South the democrats started to gain more and more power, and gradually started to pass bills and legislation that prevented Blacks from being able to hold office/vote and participate in politics. Jim crow laws and grandfather laws helped in preventing Blacks from gaining ground and pretty much kept them where they were originally -- slaves.

In honesty I have no idea what happened with the Whites in the South. The only thing I can think of is that cost rose for their farms, they didn't have free labor like they once did.