The Reconstruction period from 1865-1877 was one of the most important periods throughout history. It was a time focused on African Americans who had suffered from slavery for years. This period explores whether freed enslaved people experienced improvements or setbacks to try and gain their freedom back. As the Civil War ended, many of the slaves began their journey towards improving their lives and securing their rights. However, their paths changed drastically as some found opportunities like reuniting with their loved ones or to pursue education while others faced terrible challenges such as poverty and discrimination. The Reconstruction period was a time of hope but also a time of challenges forming the future of African American rights in the United States. …show more content…
During the Reconstruction Era, many of the enslaved people actively tried to reunite with their friends and family when they were forced into slavery. Many enslaved people reunited with their families and it led to the increase of family life. For Example, the book "Give Me Liberty" An American History" by Eric Foner says “Former slaves made remarkable efforts to locate loved ones from whom they had been separated under slavery” (566). Another example from the book is “A freedman who had walked more than 600 miles from Georgia to North Carolina, searching for the wife and children from whom he had been sold away before the war.” (566). These stories show how deeply slavery’s end affected the slaves and their families. It shows how determined African Americans were to rebuild their lives despite all the challenges and hardships they had faced during their time as