 Since Missouri had remained in the Union, it did not suffer outside military occupation or other extreme aspects of the Reconstruction era.The immediate post-war state government was controlled by Republicans, who attempted to execute an "internal reconstruction", banning politically powerful former secessionists from the political process and empowering the state's newly emancipated African-American population.This led to major dissatisfaction among many politically important groups, and provided opportunities for reactionary elements in the state.