1. The abolition of slavery and the passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments:
- 13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery in the United States.
- 14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves.
- 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited the deprivation of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
2. The Freedmen's Bureau: Established to provide aid and assistance to former slaves during the transition from slavery to freedom.
3. Black political participation: During Reconstruction, African Americans gained unprecedented political power, serving in state legislatures, and even holding positions in the U.S. Congress and state governments.
4. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and other white supremacist organizations: Emerged as a response to Black political and social gains, engaging in violence and intimidation against African Americans.
5.Jim Crow Laws: Laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans in public facilities, transportation, and other areas.
6. The Compromise of 1877: An informal agreement between Northern and Southern politicians that led to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and the end of Reconstruction. This effectively dismantled many of the gains made by African Americans during the era.
7. Racial Violence: During Reconstruction and in the years following, there were numerous incidents of racial violence, including lynchings and massacres, committed by white supremacist groups.
Although the Reconstruction era brought significant legal advancements in racial equality, the progress was eventually undermined by the resurgence of white supremacy and Jim Crow laws, which perpetuated racial segregation and discrimination for decades to come.