Final answer:
The Reconstruction Acts brought about extensive changes in southern life, specifically in voting rights and education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two general categories in southern life that were extensively changed by the constitutions required by the Reconstruction Acts were voting rights and education. Under the new constitutions, property qualifications for voting were removed, allowing for universal manhood suffrage. This meant that more people, regardless of their economic status, were able to vote. Additionally, all references to racial distinctions were removed from the constitutions, expanding the rights of African Americans and ending imprisonment for debt.
Another significant change brought about by the new constitutions was the establishment of a public school system. Before Reconstruction, public schools were virtually nonexistent in the South. However, by the end of Reconstruction, every Southern state had established a public school system, providing opportunities for education to a wider population.