Question

What does “reconstruction” mean? what was reconstruction in america?

Answer 1

Reconstruction in America took place after the Civil War. As you could imagine, after shots being fired and bombs going off, America would be in a wreck. Business owners, homeowners, etc. would have to reconstruct their properties. The cities would also have to reconstruct the public spaces.

Use your own words though, teachers won't believe a middle schooler wrote this. Not that it's some formal college essay, but it surely isn't a middle schooler's writing.

Answer 2

To reconstruct is to repair something, to rebuild a damaged construction in order to help it stay as safe and healthy as always.

In America, the term Reconstruction has been used to refer to a period in American history that started after the end of Civil War in 1865, when the Confederacy was defeated and the South was under Northern control, both politically and economically. There were huge differences within society, mostly about slavery, but also other minor diferences.

Therefore, as we can see, the country was almost broken. Although the secession was stopped, there was a de facto division between north and south. As a consequence, the Federal Government started to made efforts in order to end these divisions and reunite both sides of society again. This process was called Reconstruction, and included policies such as recognizing African Americans the right to vote, among other measures.