The Reconstruction Era Begins
During the post-war Reconstruction era (1865-1877), America embarked on a
 radical experiment in multiracial democracy 

Historical Context: Emancipation raised a compelling question in 1865: What would be the legal status of former slaves? Would African Americans be given full civil, social, political, and economic rights as citizens of the United States, or would they be relegated to a serf-like status, somewhere between slave and free citizen?  A second, related question involved the status of the Southern states. Would they be readmitted quickly, or would there be an indefinite period of military occupation and reshaping of Southern society 

The Civil War is over...now what?

The answers to these questions will be influenced by who controls the process…

Who is in charge? The President – is it an executive process?

Is Congress in charge – is it a legislative process?

Which wing of the Republican Party would lead reconstruction – the moderates or the radicals?

All of these things are uncertain in the weeks and months after the Civil War