Reconstruction

Definition

The period from 1865 to 1877 when the federal government worked to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved people into American society after the Civil War. It saw passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments but ended with the Compromise of 1877, leading to decades of Jim Crow segregation.

Examples

  • The Freedmen's Bureau helped formerly enslaved people find jobs, housing, and education
  • African Americans were elected to Congress during Reconstruction, including Hiram Revels
  • Sharecropping trapped many Black families in cycles of debt and poverty
Key Fact

Reconstruction lasted from 1865 to 1877, ending with the Compromise of 1877.

Related Terms

Civil war battles Causes of civil war Amendments Civil rights movements

Study This Concept

Practice Reconstruction with free review games in these units:

AP US History Unit 5: 1844-1877: Civil War and Reconstruction