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The next historical period to consider is the Reconstruction era. The official end of slavery brought many changes to the South, including increased freedom for blacks, which led to backlash from whites, which scholars argue was a result of social jealousy (Seabrook & Wyatt-Nichol, 2016, p. 24). On the other hand, famous psychologist Sigmund Freud offers another explanation on the changing social dynamics following the Civil War. Freud argues that “sanctioned hostility towards a clearly identified minority or ‘outsider group’ can contribute significantly to social cohesion among the majority” especially during troubling times (Seabrook & Wyatt-Nichol, 2016, p. 24). Freud’s argument not only explains the social dynamics of the time, as the hostility between the whites and the blacks led to the whites coming together to continue their social dominance, thus giving them a reason to continue a system of systematic racism. This led to new forms of punishments, notably through lynching.