What Was Reconstruction?

This engaging chapter book, part of the popular 'What Was?' series, provides an accessible overview of the Reconstruction period following the American Civil War. It explains the initial goals of granting equal rights to newly freed Black people, highlighting early successes like thriving Black communities and Black members of Congress. However, it also unflinchingly addresses the systemic failures, the rise of segregation, and the enduring impact of this troubled time on American civil rights. It's an excellent resource for introducing complex historical concepts to young readers.

In the same style as the New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series, What Was? focuses on compelling historical events, great battles, protests, and discoveries. Learn about a pivotal time in American history and its momentous effects on civil rights in America in this enlightening title about Reconstruction. Reconstruction -- the period after the Civil War -- was meant to give newly freed Black people the same rights as white people. And indeed there were monumental changes once slavery ended -- thriving new Black communities, the first Black members in Congress, and a new sense of dignity for many Black Americans. But this time of hope didn’t last long and instead, a deeply segregated United States continued on for another hundred years. Find out what went wrong in this fascinating overview of a troubled time.