- Return of control of the south to southern democrats, ruled by a powerful, conservative oligarchy, merchants, industrialists, RR developers, and former planters. Called themselves Redeemers, critics called them Bourbons
- Bourbons were the people who started rebuilding
They were in power before the War, then after they lost it, and regained it (Ex ConFed, former slaves, poor whites)
- Believed the South needs to be modernized