J) The Reconstruction Era

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:02:14 +0000

# The Reconstruction Era: America’s Struggle to Rebuild a Divided Nation (1865–1877) The Reconstruction Era—spanning from 1865 to 1877—marks one of the most pivotal and turbulent chapters in U.S. history. Following the end of the Civil War, this period aimed to heal a fractured nation, redefine the status of formerly enslaved African Americans, and restructure the Southern states’ place in the Union. While Reconstruction ultimately fell short of its full promise, it laid critical foundations for civil rights progress and reshaped American democracy. ## What Was the Reconstruction Era? After Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in April 1865, President Andrew Johnson initiated the first phase of Reconstruction. Unlike future efforts backed by Congress, Johnson’s approach emphasized rapid leniency toward the South, allowing former slaveholders to regain political power with minimal changes. However, this leniency sparked fierce opposition from Radical Republicans, who demanded stronger protections for freedmen and greater accountability.