Final answer:
The civil and political rights of certain groups in America were undermined after Reconstruction through the enactment of discriminatory laws such as Black codes and Jim Crow laws, which targeted African Americans and restricted their rights. It was not until the civil rights movement of the 1960s that federal legislation was passed to dismantle these discriminatory practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The civil and political rights of certain groups in America were undermined during the years after Reconstruction through various means such as the enactment of Black codes, Jim Crow laws, and racial segregation. These laws and practices targeted African Americans and sought to limit their rights and freedoms. For example, Black codes were laws passed by southern states to restrict the rights of African Americans, including denying them the right to vote and subjecting them to arrest and imprisonment for minor offenses. Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation and discrimination in public places, such as restaurants and transportation.
These actions were aimed at maintaining white supremacy and restoring power to former Confederate politicians and sympathizers. The federal government's failure to uphold the promises and ideals of Reconstruction allowed for a widespread infringement of civil and political rights for African Americans.
It was only during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, known as the Second Reconstruction, that federal legislation was enacted to dismantle these discriminatory laws and provide equal rights and protections to African Americans.