Reconstruction (post-Civil War USA)

Reconstruction was the period from 1865 to 1877 following the American Civil War, aimed at rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society. The federal government implemented policies to establish rights for African Americans, including the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery and guaranteed citizenship and voting rights. However, resistance from Southern states led to the rise of discriminatory laws, known as Black Codes, and groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Reconstruction ultimately faced challenges and ended with a compromise, leading to decades of segregation and discrimination in the South.