Final answer:
The lives of African Americans were changed by the passage of the Reconstruction Amendments through the granting of citizenship and voting rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lives of African Americans were changed by the passage of the Reconstruction Amendments in several ways. One significant change was the granting of citizenship to African Americans through the Fourteenth Amendment, which provided them with equal protection under the law. Another change was the granting of voting rights to African American men through the Fifteenth Amendment. However, it is important to note that African American women were still unable to vote at this time. The Reconstruction Amendments aimed to address the injustices faced by African Americans and provide them with legal protections and political rights.