Reconstruction was a period in American history following the Civil War, from 1865 to 1877, during which the country sought to rebuild and integrate the Southern states that had seceded back into the Union. For African Americans, Reconstruction represented a significant period of progress and hope for greater freedom and equality.

During Reconstruction, the federal government passed a series of laws and amendments aimed at granting rights to formerly enslaved individuals. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship and equal protection under the law, and the 15th Amendment gave Black men the right to vote.

African Americans actively participated in the political process during Reconstruction, with many serving in elected positions at the local, state, and even federal levels. African American leaders such as Hiram Revels, the first Black U.S. Senator, and P.B.S. Pinchback, the first Black governor of a U.S. state, emerged during this time.

Despite these advancements, Reconstruction was met with fierce resistance from white Southerners who opposed the granting of rights to African Americans. Acts of violence, intimidation, and the rise of organizations like the Ku Klux Klan aimed to suppress Black political power and maintain white supremacy.

Ultimately, Reconstruction came to an end in 1877 with the Compromise of 1877, which removed federal troops from the South and effectively marked the beginning of the Jim Crow era. While Reconstruction did not fully achieve its goals of equality for African Americans, it laid the foundation for future civil rights movements and advances in the fight for racial justice.