Final answer:
Reconstruction witnessed over 2,000 African American men participating in governance across various levels, including Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce as U.S. Senators. Their involvement led to impactful changes like the establishment of Southern public schools, although these gains were largely reversed after Reconstruction ended.
Step-by-step explanation:
During Reconstruction, more than 2,000 African American men were elected to public office at all levels of government, marking a significant transformation in American politics. Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce were notable figures who served as United States Senators from Mississippi. This period saw African Americans holding a variety of positions, including those in the U.S. Senate, state legislatures, and local governmental roles such as school board commissioners, justices of the peace, and sheriffs. The participation of African Americans in government was followed by positive reforms, including the establishment of public school systems in the South, and the involvement of previously disenfranchised groups in the political process. However, the end of Reconstruction saw a rollback in these advancements, with many African American officeholders losing their positions, and a subsequent long hiatus before African Americans would once again participate in politics in significant numbers.