In the same style as the New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series,What Was? focuses on compelling historical eventsgreat battlesprotestsand discoveries. Learn about a pivotal time in American history and its momentous effects on civil rights in America in this enlightening title about Reconstruction. Reconstruction — the period after the Civil War — was meant to give newly freed Black people the same rights as white people. And indeed there were monumental changes once slavery ended — thriving new Black communitiesthe first Black members in Congressand a new sense of dignity for many Black Americans. But this time of hope didnΓÇÖt last long and insteada deeply segregated United States continued on for another hundred years. Find out what went wrong in this fascinating overview of a troubled time.