Problem
The Reconstruction era (1865-1877) was a time of hope and disappointment for African-Americans. What were the main goals and aspirations of freed people after emancipation? What barriers existed to the attainment of those goals? Ultimately, was Reconstruction primarily a time of change or continuity for African Americans in the South? In other words, were things mostly the same in 1877 as they had been in 1865, or mostly different? Explain.