Changes

"Reconstruction" is the 12-year period from the end of the Civil War (1865) to 1877.  The term describes exactly what happened: the South was "reconstructed" from its shambles.  To do this, the North sent troops into the South to control its operations.  Procedures were established for admitting the Confederate states back into the Union (actually, they supposedly were never allowed to leave, but they did need to be readmitted back into Congress).  Obviously much animosity -- and racism -- remained after the end of the actual fighting.  New constitutional amendments were required to make slavery illegal and to protect the rights of African Americans (Amendments 13, 14 and 15).

"Reconstruction" is the 12-year period from the end of the Civil War (1865) to 1877.  The term describes exactly what happened: the South was "reconstructed" from its shambles.  To do this, the North sent troops into the South to control its operations.  Procedures were established for admitting the Confederate states back into the Union (actually, they supposedly were never allowed to leave, but they did need to be readmitted back into Congress).  Obviously much animosity -- and racism -- remained after the end of the actual fighting.  New constitutional amendments were required to make slavery illegal and to protect the rights of African Americans (Amendments 13, 14 and 15).

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to declare the rights of blacks to testify in court, make contracts, and hold property.  President Johnson vetoed the bill, but Republicans enjoyed such a large majority in Congress that it then passed over Johnson's veto (with a 2/3rds majority, which is known as "overriding the veto").   

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to establish the rights of blacks to testify in court, make contracts, and hold property.  President Johnson vetoed the bill, but Republicans enjoyed such a large majority in Congress that it then passed the bill over Johnson's veto (with a 2/3rds majority, which is known as "overriding the veto").   

The United States divided the South into five military districts by passing the Military Reconstruction Act in 1867.  The federal government then sent in federal troops (the army) to govern each military district.  This was humiliating to the South.  Many northerners (who given the derogatory name "carpetbaggers") moved to the South to form quasi-military governments, often at the expense of southern taxpayers.  The term "carpetbaggers" is still used today to describe any politician who moves to a new state to be elected to office (as Hillary Clinton moved to New York to become a U.S. Senator).  "Scalawags" were white southerners who worked with the carpetbaggers in the South during Reconstruction.   

The United States divided the South into five military districts by passing the Military Reconstruction Act in 1867.  The federal government then sent in federal troops (the army) to govern each military district.  This was humiliating to the South.  Many northerners (who given the derogatory name "carpetbaggers") moved to the South to form quasi-military governments, often at the expense of southern taxpayers.  The term "carpetbaggers" is still used today to describe any politician who moves to a new state to be elected to office (as Hillary Clinton moved to New York to become a U.S. Senator).  "Scalawags" were white southerners who worked with the carpetbaggers in the South during Reconstruction.