Beginning a New Life

The end of the Civil War was a hopeful beginning for African Americans. Although Lincoln left no definite plan for reconstruction, many supported one, and eventually passed the Reconstruction Act of 1867. African Americans were given the right to vote, and the South was given assistance to rebuild itself. With Republican support, African Americans began to gain power socially and politically. However, discrimination persisted, and African Americans struggled to find a place in American society. When the nation fell into economic depression, interest in the Reconstruction decreased, thus leaving African Americans alone to face segregation and violence and to doubt the resiliency of their hard-won freedom. From the new set ""Slavery in the Americas"", ""African Americans during Reconstruction"" explores this intriguing time in American history more thoroughly. Topics include: Lincoln and Reconstruction; the beginning of Reconstruction; the New Reconstruction Plan; the new African-American role in politics; African-American life under Radical Reconstruction; the end of Reconstruction; and the legacy of Reconstruction.