The Civil War was a long and hard fought war that resulted in heated tensions between the North and the South. The south was fighting to keep slavery in the United States while the North was fighting to free the slaves. Reconstruction was needed after the war in order to rebuild the nation. Although this period was meant to mend the broken ties and help restore the nation, the process was flawed which resulted in several unresolved issues that still occur in this modern day.

Reconstruction was successful in restoring and unifying the United States once again after the Civil War. The Confederate States had acknowledged and accepted the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment. These amendments were crucial for black rights. The 13th abolished slavery. The 14th amendment stated that "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." And finally the 15th amendment gave African Americans the right to vote which was critical for black progression

Although this seems like a great deal of progression southerners found loopholes to thieve black people of their rights. For example, whites would implement literacy tests that only blacks would need to take. These tests were nearly impossible to prevent African Americans from voting. This was one of many Jim Crow laws that hindered African rights. According to Ferris State University, "Jim Crow was the name of the racial caste system which operated primarily, but not exclusively in southern and border states, between 1877 and the mid-1960s. Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-black laws."

The Civil Rights movement created a long lasting legacy within our country, when many African Americans campaigned for an end to racial discrimination through nonviolent protests. Despite all the efforts unfortunately African Americans still face discrimination to this today. the protests of the Civil Rights Movement greatly resemble those of the Black Lives Matter movement. After outrage of instances of police brutality African Americans started the Black Lives Matter movement This goes to show the failures of reconstruction.

Reconstruction was an important era following the Civil War in order to rebuild the nation. A major aspect of reconstruction was insuring equal rights for the newly freed slaves, but unfortunately it didn't end up as a triumph for the African Americans. For several hundred years later they still face discrimination which goes to show the failures of reconstruction.