The Reconstruction era was a period in American history following the American Civil War (1861–1865); it lasted from 1865 to 1877 and marked a significant chapter in the history of civil rights in the United States. Reconstruction, as directed by Congress, abolished slavery and ended the remnants of Confederate secession in the Southern states. It proclaimed the newly freed slaves (freedmen; black people) citizens with (ostensibly) the same civil rights as those of whites; these rights were nominally guaranteed by three new constitutional amendments: the 13th, 14th, and 15th, collectively known as the Reconstruction Amendments. Reconstruction also refers to the general attempt by Congress to transform the 11 former Confederate states, and refers to the role of the Union states in that transformation. Following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln—who led the Republican Party in opposing slavery and fighting the war—Vice President Andrew Johnson assumed the presidency. He had been a prominent Unionist in the South but soon favored the ex
La Reconstrucción fue un período en la historia estadounidense después de la Guerra Civil Americana (1861–1865); duró de 1865 a 1877 y marcó un capítulo significativo en la historia de los derechos civiles en los Estados Unidos. La Reconstrucción, dirigida por el Congreso, abolió la esclavitud y terminó con los restos de la secesión confederada en los estados del Sur. La Reconstrucción también se refiere al intento general del Congreso de transformar a los 11 antiguos estados confederados, y se refiere al papel de los estados de la Unión en esa transformación. Después del asesinato del presidente Abraham Lincoln, quien llevó al Partido Republicano a luchar contra la esclavitud y a la guerra contra el presidente V. Johnson prometió pronto a la Unión a Andrew Johnson.