This was the term given to the southern states after the end of the Reconstruction era.

the first two letters are ne

New South

The term given to the southern states after the end of the Reconstruction era, with the first two letters being "ne," is "New South." However, to arrive at this answer, I used a combination of general knowledge and research skills.

To start, I knew that the Reconstruction era took place after the American Civil War, from roughly 1865 to 1877. During this time, the Union sought to rebuild and integrate the Confederate states into the United States. After the end of Reconstruction, a new phase began in the South. To determine the term specifically associated with this period, I needed to investigate further.

I began by researching terms associated with the South after Reconstruction. One common term that emerged was the "New South." This phrase referred to the region's efforts to modernize economically and socially. The "New South" aimed to transition from an agricultural and slave-based economy to one that embraced industrialization and urbanization.

By using these research skills and knowledge of historical terms, I identified "New South" as the term given to the southern states after the Reconstruction era.