Final answer:
Reconstruction was a period of political and social change post-Civil War, marked by Republican control and policies aimed to unify the nation and protect rights. It faced opposition and ultimately ended with the federal troop withdrawal in 1877. The era included significant policy struggles and issues like political terrorism and economic depressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period of Reconstruction following the Civil War represented a complex time of political and social change in the United States. Significant achievements included the establishment of public school systems, the revision of state constitutions, and the economic development programs. Black men voted in large numbers and served as delegates, while Republican officials opened various state institutions to all residents.
Presidential Reconstruction, initiated by President Lincoln, sought to reunify the nation through executive decisions. However, it faced significant opposition, particularly from conservative southerners and the Democratic Party.
Despite efforts to protect freedpeople's rights and rebuild the South, disillusionment set in as federal troops eventually withdrew in 1877, marking the official end of Reconstruction. During Ulysses S. Grant's presidency, a coherent policy towards the South and Reconstruction was a struggle. Political terrorism, the Panic of 1873, and the contestation of rights through court rulings exemplified the diffculties of the era.