What political gains did African Americans make during the Reconstruction Era?

During the Reconstruction Era, African Americans achieved significant political gains, including the election of the first Black legislators and the establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau, which aimed to assist formerly enslaved individuals. The 14th and 15th Amendments were passed, granting citizenship and voting rights to African American men. Additionally, some African Americans held public office at local, state, and national levels, marking a crucial shift toward political representation and participation in governance. However, these gains faced substantial backlash and were often undermined by discriminatory practices in the following decades.