How did African American slives change in positive negative ways during the Reconstruction Era?

During the Reconstruction Era, African American lives underwent significant changes, both positive and negative. On the positive side, they gained legal rights through the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and protected voting rights. However, these gains were met with severe backlash, leading to the rise of discriminatory laws like Jim Crow and violent groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, which sought to undermine their newfound freedoms. Thus, while Reconstruction offered opportunities for advancement, it also precipitated a harsh environment of racism and oppression that would persist for decades.