Reconstruction in the USA lasted more than ten years after the Civil War in the period from 1865-1866 to 1877. It brought far-going changes in the structure of the government and society in the former Confederacy. Overall, the reconstruction had a colossal impact on the lives of African Americans. The first policies expanded their rights, but even more, they gave them hope.

The process of black slaves’ liberation not only caused the end of the slave labor, but also led to the foundation of the African-American self-government. Exemption provided additional opportunities for Africans’ self-affirmation and self-identification. Former slaves registered their marriages in civil courts, received family names and chose new names. The efforts of Republicans, amendments to the Constitution, federal laws and the general policy in the period of Reconstruction had powerful effect. As a result, former slaves received not only the right to vote, but also the right to own property and officially register marriage. They had the opportunity to get education, to sue and even hold political office.

The Reconstruction Act passed in 1867, together with other measures, led to 14 African Americans taking places in the House of Representatives. Therefore, they reached the goal of being part of the legislature. In that period, they registered 700,000 people who received a right to vote. These were not the only achievements of the beginning of 1868. Among the issues that politicians needed to solve, and the needs that people required, was building of the social and economic lives in the African Americans community. They formed their churches, organizations, schools and business affairs. After gaining the right to move, they reunited with their families and searched for better working conditions. Hundreds of thousands of them used the capabilities of the Freedmen's Bureau and learned to read and write. In 1865 the US Congress established the organization in order to guaranty and guard the needs of former slaves and help them find work or receive education.

The liberated southern African Americans became the key figures in the reconstruction process. After gaining freedom, they began to actively build a new life. Thanks to their activity, people defined the postwar South not only as a territory free from slavery, but as a region with a growing African-American influence. During the first two years of the reconstruction period, they organized Equal Rights Leagues in order to protect themselves from discrimination and achieve equality for former slaves.

The adoption of the amendments to the US Constitution played a huge role during that period. The 14th Amendment dated 1868 gave African Americans the right to receive citizenship in the State, introduced its granting to any person born in the United States, and promised the prohibition of deprivation of rights. Separately, it noted that all citizens had the equal protection of the law. The next, 15th Amendment of 1870 banned the authorities from limiting any citizen from participating in the active suffrage based on race, color, or in connection with the condition of servitude in the past. Although, officials widely used such restrictions as educational or property qualifications. The system of primaries for whites only and intimidation under the threat of force also reduced participation of African Americans in politics.

The post-war devastation led to the fact that the landowners lost their income, and former slaves had no land where they could work. It engendered the new form of relationship called sharecropping. Croppers were poor black or white renters who gave half or more of their crops to the landowners as the payment for the lease of land, farm implements, draft animals, and seeds. Along with sharecropping, the share of family farming was increasing significantly in the South.

Reconstruction had a positive impact on African Americans. However, in some respects it fell short of expectations. Thus, some white members perceived empowerment of former slaves with hostility. The emergence of the terrorist organization Ku Klux Klan was a clear sign of racial discrimination against African Americans. In addition, white residents clearly felt superiority over the former slaves and publicly demonstrated their attitudes.

Thus, the Reconstruction severely affected the lifestyles of African Americans and the history of the United States. The legal amendments to the Constitution and the reforms led to empowerment, and later - to the broadening influence of African Americans in the United States.
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