Evaluate the changes that occurred in the lives of african americans during reconstruction. what gains and setbacks did they experience

Reconstruction, the era of the Civil War, was filled with both positives and negatives for African Americans.

Positives
- Passing of the 14th and 15th amendments- These new constitutional amendments gave African-Americans rights that they never possessed. This includes citizenship rights (14th amendment) and the right for African-American men to vote (15th amendment).

- Freedmen's Bureau- This federal agency was created to help newly freed slaves find job and educational opportunities.

Setbacks
- Black codes- Southern states passed black codes in order to stop African-Americans from using their newly granted rights. These included poll taxes, literacy tests, and the grandfather clause. All three of these worked as barriers to stop African-American men from voting.